I could use your help & suggestions

[cobalt1999]

I'm taking my daughter and her friend (both 13) SOMEWHERE for Spring Break.

Anywhere in the U.S.

Where should a dad take two 13 year old girls where they'll have a good time?

I'm open to any ideas. Strangely enough they vetoed my idea of camping.

Where to go? What to do? I have no idea.

You folks know this country, you know young girls...any thoughts?

[Midlodemocrat]

1. Myrtle Beach, SC.

Stay at the Breakers. $199 a night for a suite like room with kitchenette right on the water.

They'll love it. You? Probably not so much. There is a bar downstairs, however and a Starbucks across the street. And the best Italian restaurant I've ever been to. Ramado's.

[cobalt1999]

2. So, what is there for them to do?

I don't want them bored after a couple of days.

[Midlodemocrat]

8. All kinds of things for kids. barefoot landing for shopping. aquarium

ripley's, house of horrors, ligers. Seriously. It paradise for that age.

[cobalt1999]

11. Cool.

I'm googling it now.

[Skip Intro]

35. I love Myrtle Beach.

But I tend to hit the bars - not exactly 13 yr old stuff.

[CreekDog]

3. Disneyworld

:D

[cobalt1999]

5. We've done Disney to death

Besides, Spring Break is NOT the time to go...WAY too busy.

[Maraya1969]

56. I was going to suggest Discovery Cove but it is in Orlando. It might

not be as crowed though because you have to pay for the packages up front and I bet it is hard to get tickets.

You can swim the manterays and other fish though and dolphins too, (although I don't like the idea of dolphin swimming.)

http://www.discoverycove.com/DCO2/

http://www.discoverycove.com/DCO2/Plan/Default.aspx

[XemaSab]

4. If they're at all into Hollywood or music

Los Angeles might be a fun trip.

You can hit some of the cheesy tourist attractions, then drive up the coast a ways to Malibu, Ventura, and Santa Barbara.

But I guess being from Florida the beach might not be as attractive. :shrug:

[cobalt1999]

6. It is a different kind of beach though

The studios might be interesting for them. I'd like the coast ride. I suppose there are things for minors to do there in the evenings?

[XemaSab]

7. I'm sure there are all-ages shows they could go to

A lot of museums and other activities are open reasonably late, too.

For example, the LA County Museum of Art is open until 8.

http://www.lacma.org/

And if all else fails, there are movies and plays.

[cobalt1999]

9. Plays they might enjoy.

We are from a small town so that would be something they can't get at home.

[cbayer]

12. That's a great idea. A ferry ride over to Catalina is a great way to spend a day or two.

Venice Beach is just fun to walk down (during the day) with lots of beach activity.

The ride up Pacific Coast Highway is spectacular and you can stop at Hearst Castle. If you go all the way up to Monterey, the aquarium is really good, too.

[cobalt1999]

14. Catalina!

Horseback riding, they'd love that!

[cbayer]

17. The stables in Avalon are, sadly, gone, but you can take a trip up to the stables

at Middle Ranch and rent horses there. There's a lot to do in Avalon, if they like water based things, but the water is still very cold and you would need to rent wet suits for snorkeling or swimming.

I love Catalina.

:hi:

[flvegan]

10. I'd suggest central Florida, but it would be stupidly expensive.

There's Disney and Epcot :eyes: in Orlando, Adventure Island and Busch Gardens in Tampa, beaches in Daytona or Clearwater.

Just my thoughts, considering I have no idea what a 13 year old girl would be interested in that wouldn't bore you to tears. Personally, I'd listen to Midlo above.

[cobalt1999]

13. I don't understand young teen girls, so I'm lost.

Hell, I don't understand my wife yet. :)

[flvegan]

16. I don't think we're supposed to understand, you know...them.

No matter the age. I know I don't.

[hippywife]

15. Washington DC?

I would really be tempted to take them somewhere like that so there is a lot to do and also some edumacation thrown in, ya know? :hi:

[cobalt1999]

18. I could easily spend a few days at the museums

I wonder about the girls though. I could see them yawning as I gush over Lucky Lindy's airplane and achievement.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

58. They'd love the museums...

...but make it a group planning effort. The Natural History Museum's gem and mineral collection is always a crowd pleaser. The American History Museum has the inaugural gowns of the First Ladies, if your girls are into fashion history.

And the cherry blossoms are a must see!

[noamnety]

19. relief work somewhere?

Something that has meaning, and that you can bond over - instead of being just their chaperone in the background while they are entertained.

[cobalt1999]

20. LOL

Great idea, I'm just laughing thinking about the look on their faces if I suggested it. :rofl:

Two years ago, they'd probably go for it, and in 5 more years they'd probably go for it. Right now, that's not going to fly!

[riderinthestorm]

21. My 12 3/4 yr old daughter just told me she wants to go to Forks, OR - the location for Twilight

the movie.

Not sure if your girls are into the "Twilight" craze but perhaps start in the upper northwest and end up somewhere on a beach in CA?!

If your kids are into riding, have you considered the Grand Canyon with the rides up and down and around? Or a "dude" ranch? We're serious, competitive riders at the highest levels but even some of our crowd has had a blast doing the tourist thang with horses at these places.

[cobalt1999]

22. Yep, huge Twilight fans.

We did the Grand Canyon last year, but I know they'd love horseback riding...is there a place near Forks, OR to do that?

[XemaSab]

24. Forks is in WA

And It's not too far from Seattle...

[Tangerine LaBamba]

23. The Mall of America

Give them cash and wait for them. At that age, malls are heaven.

Plus, girls that age are already into shopping.

You can sit.

http://www.mallofamerica.com/

On the other hand, if you can get accommodations, the cherry blossoms will be in bloom here in Washington, and there are a zillion museums on the Mall - the real one - all for free.

Plus, the mall at Pentagon City is just a Metro ride away ..............

[Jamastiene]

45. Seconded. n/t

[jellen]

25. 2 13 yo girls

I don;t think a dad should take 2 13 y.o. girls without a female parent or whatever on an extended trip.

[cobalt1999]

26. Why?

One is my daughter, the other has been her friend for 10 years.

Seriously, why? It won't look right? I won't understand them?

[jellen]

28. It wouldn't look right. n/t

[sammythecat]

37. That's pathetic.

[sammythecat]

41. I regret saying "that's pathetic" to you

I do think it's pathetic that some people do indeed look at a man with two teenage girls suspiciously. I understand where that kind of thinking comes from, but it's wrong and unfair.

My tone toward you was insulting, and since I know nothing of the reasoning behind your comment, it was stupid of me to just assume the very worst when it's just as, if not more, likely that your comment was well intentioned and not at all deserving of insult.

So I'm sorry I said that.

[jellen]

50. 13 yo girls

Thanks for taking time to reconsider your comments.

[cobalt1999]

31. Well, they'll have their own hotel room & the other girls parents are okay with it.

My wife & other daughter can't make it due to prior commitments.

I guess some folks might think it doesn't look right.

Shit, I hate that they are growing up!

[RoyGBiv]

34. Don't even listen to that crap ...

I'll try my best not to turn this all into a massive flame-fest, but I am going to say this.

I'm a single father with a daughter who is now 19. Throughout her teen years I carted her and her friends all over the city, state, and country. The very idea that I should not because I am a male is so positively absurd I ... well, I'm just speechless.

Ignore this sub-thread entirely and spend time with your kid. You'll be thankful, she'll be thankful, and all will be right with the world.

[cobalt1999]

38. Thanks,

It had me second guessing myself for a second there.

[madmom]

47. As a woman/mother I agree. Enjoy her while you can, They DO grow up entirely to fast! : )

[RoyGBiv]

30. What?

What a load of crap.

[Heidi]

44. Would you feel it wouldn't "look right" for a mom to take her two 13 yo sons

on an extended trip without a male parent?

[KitchenWitch]

54. Heidi FTW!

Seriously.

[OmahaBlueDog]

27. Chicago

Chicago has something for everybody. They can do high end shopping on the Magnificent Mile; you can take them to the Art Institute and the Field Museum in a vain attempt to whip a little culture on them; Navy Pier is a lot of fun; check out a Sox of Cubs game; deep dish pizza; ride the river boat tour; see the view from the Sears tower.

[riderinthestorm]

39. I just brought in my 12 3/4 yr old to read this thread and she seconds the "big city" thing as well

while she's a Twilight fan, and would love to see Forks (in WA - not OR :blush: ), we live west of Chicago and she absolutely loves going into the city. Any of the "big" tourist spots are actually really fun. While she's never been to NYC, I know that at "this age" she'd also really love a trip to the Big Apple as well.

Good luck with whatever you decide and let us know where you're headed!

Peace.

[ThomCat]

29. Have they ever been to New York?

If they might like a broadway show or too, and a chance to see a few famous places, and a chance to go shopping in some trendy places in city, then suggest NYC. :)

You can even vacation here fairly inexpensively if you plan it right.

[RoyGBiv]

32. I second this ...

New York, especially for anyone who hasn't been there, can be an incredible experience.

I took my daughter and one of her friends there when she was in her early teens. We went to a Broadway show, went shopping, rode the subway, visited every landmark we had time to visit ... They never stopped having this look of awe on their faces and still talk about "that time we went to New York."

[cobalt1999]

33. NY was one of my thoughts.

They'd love Broadway (especially coming from a town with virtually no theater).

So, you did it with a couple of early teen girls too? I think they'd be really entertained and neither has been to NY before.

[RoyGBiv]

36. They were 14/15 ...

Still young enough to at least inwardly appreciate the presence of an adult whether they expressed it or not and old enough I could take them to Spamalot and not feel I was contributing to their delinquency. Well, that was mostly for my daughter's friend who had parents who are more conservative than me. My daughter grew up with Monty Python. :)

It was great. We had some tension as is prone to happen on long trips (we drove from Oklahoma), but when we got to New York that just fell away. There was so much stuff to do and see and hear, everywhere you turned.

[skygazer]

53. Just what I was going to say

My first trip to NYC was about that age and I was absolutely captivated. Tons of fun.

[applegrove]

40. Do you have any of those giant malls in the USA? You know the ones...the one with

the amusement park attached?

[AlCzervik]

42. Northern California, you can start in San Francisco and then work your way down to

Monterey and Carmel. Lotts of great twons on the northern coast.

[stewartcolbert08]

43. Vegas!

I know they are not old enough to gamble or drink BUT there is so much more to do there than that! My ex's sister took her kids every year the whole all through their high school years and they always had a blast and were still left with things they had not done! And its usually fairly cheap to get a package w/ rooms and round trip tickets!

[trof]

46. Gulf Shores, AL

Beautiful beaches, lots to do, and more 'family oriented' than most beach resorts.
Google it.

[PassingFair]

48. If you have the money...build the break around a spectacular CONCERT.

Find out who their favorite band is (it won't be YOURS)
and fly them to the city where they are performing.

You could surprise them, but I prefer to see the
agony of sweet expectations building in my 13 year old.

I was never a huge concert-goer myself, but my
youngest is a FAN...

The more interesting the city, the more fabulous
it will be for everyone, but I can guarantee, they
will NEVER forget the concert!

Jonas Bros, Taylor Swift, or the smaller boy-bands
like Rocket Summer, The Academy Is, Rocket to the Moon,
whatever they like!

I'm taking my daugher and a friend to
the "AP Tour" next week in Grand Rapids.

http://www.altpress.com/specials/theaptour/

She did chores for the tickets, and she can
barely sleep at night, even though she has
seen each band before.

These bands usually have meet and greets where
the kids have their pictures taken with the bands.

Ask you daughter who her favorite band is, then
get Googling...

Bonus if you find a location where there will be
other cultural or natural things to do and see, so
you can slip in a little edumacation!

[mentalsolstice]

49. Gatlinburg, TN

Plenty to do, and you're right on the edge of Smoky Mt. Nat'l Park. Hell, you can even camp (a tent for you, one for them) at the Elkmont campground and be close enough, 15 minutes, for day trips into Gatlinburg. We've done that several times, and it was the best of both worlds.

[EastTennesseeDem]

51. +1

Great idea.

[crispini]

52. Take them to New York!

My parents took me when I was that age (a little younger, even) and started a lifelong romance with that city. Empire State Building, Cloisters, all kinds of art museums, fantastic SHOPPING, great food, Broadway shows... Manhattan, baby!

Edited to add: Of course, I have since then been almost every other year if not more, so you may start an addiction here! But there's nothing like being that age in New York and just feeling the amazing city-ness of it... best city in the world!

[mentalsolstice]

55. So, any decision? nt

[elleng]

57. DC, if spring break is NOW;

Cherry Blossoms and Festival on-going.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/gog/features/2009/cherry-blossom-festival/index.html?hpid=topnews