Zipline in Costa Rica, courtesy Ken Haufle via Wikimedia
March and April are prime spring break months for families to travel with their teens and tweens. Many public schools get at least a week off and a number of private high schools here in the Northeast get 2 weeks or more.
While not all of the following blog posts about family travel with teens and tweens were written specifically about spring break adventures, they all offer lots of inspiration for trips that teens and tweens will love. So, get outdoors, learn about other cultures and give back a little too. Hope this blog carnival helps get you pumped for your spring break.
Explore the Real World in Costa Rica
Jennifer Miner of The Vacation Gals has been busy visiting the rain forests of Costa Rica with her family. Read her article: Zip Lining in a Costa Rica Rainforest to see how a tween faces her fear of heights while zip lining. She must have survived because in another post about their trip we learn what it is like to volunteer at a sea turtle hatchery and conservation project. Watch Jennifer’s Sea Turtle Conservation in Action Video to see why her tween daughter may become a lifelong advocate for endangered sea turtles.
Suzita Cochran at Play. Fight. Repeat also shares a 2-part story. This one is about her family with kids ages 11, 9 and 6 spending a month in Costa Rica as part of a family Spanish immersion vacation. Her oldest said it felt like a year but Suzita isn’t sure if that is a good thing or a bad thing. Her article Learning Spanish as a Family in Costa Rica describes the challenges and benefits of jumping in with both feet for an extended stay. Her second article: Spanish Immersion in Costa Rica: Unexpected Highpoints for My Kids describes the weird and wonderful experiences to be found off the tourist path riding the local Costa Rica bus system. This family definitely keeps it real.
Hit the Slopes One Last Time for Spring Skiing
Spring skiing is a great spring break option
Amy at Pit Stops for Kids reminds us that spring skiing at destinations like Lake Tahoe are a great option. Her article: Best Ski Towns: South Lake Tahoe, CA describes Amy’s tips and tactics for making the most of your spring ski trip with kids, teens and tweens in tow. Be sure to check out the noodle bowls at Freshies
Thinking about an east coast spring break ski trip with your teens? Read our recent series about our Top Five Things to do in Winter at Smugglers Notch in Vermont. Find out about the best trails, condos and off slope activities. Speaking of ziplines, don’t miss Arbortrek.
RV Across America
Eighteen-year-old Cody Smith gives us a lesson or two about the life of a working farmer and cowhand based on his family’s visit to a working ranch as part of their full-time RV adventure across America. Read Adventures at the Lee’s Ranch posted at Cody Across America. Cody travels full-time in an RV with his family of seven! So far they have hit 24 different states and done all kinds of great stuff including four-wheeling, mountain biking, hiking, kayaking, and much much more. He makes us think about taking a road trip!
But Wait, There’s More:
Still need some more ideas? There is lots of inspiration out there in the blogsphere. One great resource is the Best Family Travel Advice site. Read what their experts picked as the Top Spring Break destinations for families. Or ask a question about a trip of your own.
We are always interested in hearing about the travel experiences of other families with teens and tweens. Our next blog carnival will be published in early May 2011 in time to recap your wonderful Spring Break blog posts and to get us all ready for the busy summer travel season.
Please share your blog article for the next edition of the family travel with teens and tweens blog carnival using our carnival submission form. Past posts and future hosts can be found on our blog carnival index page.
