Family Vacations With Young Adults: Ideas and Tips

Montreal, Canada

The combination of museums, a European aesthetic, boutiques, and clubs made Montreal a top pick among teens and 20-somethings, as well as their parents. There are plenty of things for families with older kids to do in Montreal and street performers, jugglers, and musicians fill the former marketplace of Place Jacques-Cartier.

Families can also explore Mount Royal, which rises above the city’s center, and offers beautiful parks, hiking trails, and horseback riding.

San Diego, California

San Diego is known for its beautiful beaches which attract surfers, sunbathers, divers, and kayakers alike. The city also boasts fabulous museums, a world-famous zoo, and the clubs and cafes of its Gaslamp Quarter, where 20-somethings will want to hang after their parents go to bed.

Nearby, La Jolla is packed with swanky boutiques and posh shops, and Coronado Island lends a retro vibe and powdery soft beaches to your must-see list.

Other places to see include coastal towns nearby like Leucadia, Cardiff-by-the-Sea, and Del Mar, home of the famous race track. The Del Mar Racetrack season runs from mid-July through early September. Families can also explore the very popular Del Mar Fair.

New Orleans

New Orleans’ French Quarter provides jazzy nightlife and outrageously wonderful dining possibilities that are great for families with older kids. Teens and 20-somethings may also be very interested in the ample volunteer opportunities. Among the groups working here: Hands on New Orleans and Habitat for Humanity.

Other great things to do in New Orleans and the surrounding area include bayou tours, architectural tours, and museums. 

Dublin, Ireland

Europe offers so many exciting destinations, but Dublin has a particularly cool vibe, says Business Travel News senior transportation editor Donna Airoldi, that combines “outdoorsy days and then at night, live music, restaurants, and clubs.”

In addition to the historical attractions and hiking possibilities, Dublin’s Temple Bar area, the narrow, cobblestoned streets near Christ Church Cathedral, is home to bohemian shops, a thriving arts scene, and plenty of late-night clubbing. In short, there’s tons to do here for teens and enough nightlife to satisfy the 20-something crowd.

If your family enjoys hitting the links, there are plenty of gorgeous golf courses in Ireland. Moreover, visiting the countryside—which is located outside the city of Dublin—is a day trip that is worth the time, as it is unique and beautiful.

Granada, Nicaragua

Costa Rica is an undeniably popular vacation destination, but Airoldi calls neighboring Nicaragua, with its Pacific and Caribbean coasts, an undiscovered jewel.

It’s not “uber-developed,” she says, so prices are still low, but it’s only a matter of time before the rest of the world discovers the Central American country’s beach towns, towering volcanoes, lush jungles, and great cities. They include Granada, a colonial-era jewel on the shores of Lake Nicaragua, one of the largest freshwater lakes in the world.

There are ample opportunities to explore, she says, everything from coffee farm tours to petroglyphs, jungle hikes, and other adventures that will keep teens and 20-somethings enthralled.

Glamping

If you haven’t yet heard about glamping, it’s a great idea for a fun and adventurous vacation with your family. Glamping is a play on the word camping, and refers to glamorous camping.

Families can choose from camping sites in places like Montana, California, or upstate New York to try out glamping. Glamping is perfect for those picky family members who prefer running water and a mattress to sleep on, but still want an outdoorsy experience. You can try out horseback riding, take a hike, or create a gourmet outdoor meal as a part of your glamping family vacation. 

More Suggestions

New York City, Seattle, Portland, and Austin are all great cities for families traveling with older teens and 20-somethings. Got skiers? Try Vail or Aspen, which lounge and restaurant scenes are always popular, too.