Good destinations with teens?

And one more thing I forgot to mention...this trip will likely take place in August (argh) as my then 16 year old wants to work that summer before we go. I dread the crowds in August, but then it seems a shame to plan a trip without seeing some of the most amazing sites..esp. since they are both studying world history this year!

If your teens do not have any European language skills, possibly they would find an English speaking destination such as Great Britain more enjoyable? As you already know, August is the most crowded month because that is when many Europeans take their long vacations. If you are limited to going in August, you may want to consider how hot it can be in the more southernly destinations such as Italy, south of France, and similar locations.

Chris before you go you should discuss with your teen and make a parental decision on how you are going to cope with the difference in the drinking age and culture. Since you were an exchange student, you will have first hand experience on this issue. We allowed our 16 year old son to drink, legally while we travelled. It did make for some tricky conversations and a revisit to rules when we got home to the good old USA, "it's hard to keep them down on the farm after they've seen Paree"

Chris, I think you and your husband need to think w/out teenage input, where you both would like to visit together. I'm sure there will be home exchange possibilities. Then figure out w/a small amt of info from the kids, their general likes and dislikes.(Teenagers can be so fickle!) Finally, can your choice of destination reasonably accommodate your kids' personalities, likes, activity level, etc?...I think most places can. No destination will be perfect; but based on my years as a teenager & other teenagers that I know, almost any trip is better than vacationing at home. Good luck.

Our teenage daughters and my teenage nephews all love Switzerland---we've been twice now together. We have not found the mountain areas "too crowded" in August. The kids loved the food, the scenery, the trains and cablecars, the outdoor adventures, and learning to pick up a bit of German.

I have often pondered the same question about a home base. There are just too many great places to explore in Europe. Our 16 yr old enjoys large cities because there is so much to see and do--and loves to ride the metro. Here are some things he enjoyed in our last 3 trips. Pisa--climbing the tower; Orvieto--unique hill town; Venice--so different & unique; Bozen--the Ice Man; Munich--the Deutsches Museum; Dachau; Neuschwanstein & Linderhof; Halstaat--salt mine tour; Rothenburg--Nightwatchman's tour; Brugges--clock tower, canal ride, chocolates, etc; Paris--Eiffel Tower, riding the metro; Amboise--Leonardo Da Vinci Museum; Appenzell--cheese factory; sommerrodelbahn (luge ride)--in Reutte, Biberwier (he likes this one the best), by Neuschwanstein and several in Salzburgergammut(sp?). What site do you use to do your home exchanges? I would love to do it.

We just returned from a 2 week trip to Rome , Paris, and Munich with our boys 15, 13 and 10. Had an amazing time. We say most of the major sites in all the place - we were always on the move. I don't think there was anywhere they didn't love. There was English everywhere (much more than when I was there 15 years ago). We never had a menu that wasn't in English in any of the places that we were. I was a great experience and I highly recommend you take them just about anywhere in Europe!!

Thanks everyone. Denise—These are great ideas. Aside from Paris and Dachau, I haven't visited any of the places you mention! Re: home exchange, I'm actually writing a book on it. There are lots of great sites with various pros and cons. For exchanges in N. Ameica I like homeexchange.com. Homelink (swapnow.com) seems to have more international listings. We've done 6 exchanges and they have been wonderful in every way. It also makes for a much more personal and relaxed travel experience when you can cook at home, get to know the neighbors, and the kids have their own rooms.

I have taken my oldest son when he was 14 to London and Paris, this year my husband took our next oldest, now 14 to London, Paris and Germany.Next summer I am taking our daughter( who will be 12) to Paris and possibly Italy or Switzerland.
We travel one on one for bonding ,, plus with three kids we find it more economical then buying 5 airfares and two hotels rooms at once.

One of our rules is, the kids had to contribute by researching the destinations and naming at least two things they wanted to see or do. This makes it their trip too, not just being dragged along by mom and dad. This also puts some responsiblity on them for the sucess of the trip.

My oldest found the " Catacombs" in Paris, so off we went,,, would not have been my idea of fun( tunnels underground lined with human bones dug up from old Parisian graveyards in the 17 th and 18 th century) , but he loved it, worked out well since the next day we had to go to a museum he didn't love, but turnabout is fair play!

My personal faves with boys is Paris and Switzerland, I loved Zermat, and this is where I hope to take my daughter this next year,,it seems like a nice change from a big city destination, so a week in Paris and a week in Zermatt may be in the works.