4 Fun High School Graduation Vacation Ideas
Graduation vacations are a great way to reward the student who completes high school and is ready to start the next phase of their life. These are 4 ideas that will help teens feel like their increasing maturity is being respected without making parents worry about things getting too wild.
New York, New York: New York City is a popular vacation destination for all ages. There’s theater, museums, shopping and sightseeing. Of course, living or even visiting here is not always cheap but there are accommodations that are safe and affordable if you’re willing to trade off some luxury. Try youth hostels, bed and breakfasts or some older hotels where guests still share a bathroom. Once your teens are there, they can get around easily just walking or using public transportation, and sampling all the ethnic foods creates a fine dining experience on a relatively modest budget. Yes, you can get free tickets to many TV show tapings but check the age requirements to be safe.
Tulsa, Oklahoma: With film festivals cropping up all over, you can treat your high school graduate to a special week in Tulsa or find an event in just about any city near you. Of course, their top choice may be Comic-Con 2011 which is July 21 to 24 in San Diego. Even if you can’t quite bring yourself to contemplate the crowds and logistics for all that, you can still find movies they’ll love like the Oklahoma Horror Film Festival. It’s September 3 to 5 in Tulsa this year. The 2010 event was so popular they expanded it into a Nightmare Division of the multi-genre Tulsa International Film Festival so there will be plenty of options.
Badlands, South Dakota: On the other hand, if you’re trying to cut down on screen time, National Parks will remind your teens about the great outdoors. If your plans coincide with peak summer travel times, head for the less traveled hiking trails. If you can wait until fall, you’ll face fewer crowds at the popular attractions. The Badlands in South Dakota is one of the most beautiful spots in the U.S., but you can use the National Park Service site to find any destination that will fit the schedule, budget and activities you’re looking for. While you’re there, brush up on their safety and sustainability information to keep your trip going smoothly.
Banff, Canada: What do you do with an avid skier given that most graduations are held just before the hottest months of the year? Banff in Canada has one of the longest ski seasons in North America so you can send them off anytime from about mid November to late May. There’s terrain for both seasoned skiers and beginners and everything is surrounded by the gorgeous Banff National Park.
If you’re concerned that beach parties or nights in Vegas could get out of hand, these are all healthy and enriching experiences for teens. Graduating from high school is a milestone in life so make it a vacation to remember.
About the author: Andrea Boley is a writer and blogger with Storkie.com. She has been writing articles and blogging for over 10 years and is always happy to share her passion for life and experiences through her work. Her educational backgrounds in psychology and journalism have given her a solid foundation from which to draw experience and expertise in an array of topics.