MegaSack DRAW - This year's winner is user - rgwb
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Our family has reached the transition stage where one daughter has left home, one is at Uni and our 13 yr old is now facing a two week holiday with her parents....alone! 😯
Now, we've done a lot of AI's over that past 8 yrs which has suited us all, but now I'm considering a bit more of an adventurous holiday, that will interest us all. Immediate thoughts are a fly drive to the States, but looking for some ideas. Beach/safari is another. Must haves are sunny hot weather, opportunities for some time on the beach.
Anything a bit different?
Cardigan Bay?
We looked at flying to the states this summer, but the flights (to Salt Lake City) were really expensive. So, we're driving to Norway instead for a road trip (Ferry from Harwich to Denmark, then 3hrs drive, then ferry from Denmark to Norway). I'm already stupidly exciting about riding bikes in the midnight sun and seeing the fjords. Other destinations on the imminent adventure list? Iceland, New Zealand and Patagonia.
Depends on what your family like doing and what your budget is!
Horse riding in Arizona? White water rafting in Utah/Colorado? Nielson type AI beach holiday to learn wind-surfing / surfing? Kayak-camping adventure (loads of options from [url= http://www.responsibletravel.com/holiday/4922/sea-kayaking-in-turkey ]cheap[/url] to expensive!)? I think for most activities, 13 will be old enough. For safaris, the Ngorogoro Crater has very high density of animals. We've done 4 days including Tanganyiki and Manyara as well and it was amazing, but I like wildlife watching. Be aware that driving for 2 weeks through very similar scenery in the States might be a bit dull for your daughter! So think about activities and try to have a long driving day followed by a bit of time in a location.
You could do a PADI course with her, although be aware that some people really just can't handle being underwater - if you do decide to do a course, try and get a practice "taster dive" in first.
Closer to home the Balkan states are supposed to have amazing scenery (lakes, mountains, waterfalls, caves, as well as the pretty cities); you could tour around Slovenia / Croatia and then spend a week on a Croatian island.
How about a Neilson Sail/Beach holiday?
Week on a yacht, week at the beach
I'd say Neilson as well
Stay and Sail. I have done this but with younger kids
Week 1
Teenager learns sailing and windsurfing with other kids of the same age. You and your wife I think have 3 days learning to sail a yacht. The other days you can do what you like. Beach, sailing even mountain biking
Week 2
You all sail in a yacht around some where nice. You hav a morning briefing and a destination 3 or 4 hours away and a time they expect you to arrive by. At this point you daughter will now know all the other teenagers in the hotel. Neilson will the put try and put all the teenagers into one Flotilla so every night daughter can hang out with new teenage mates. The restaurants were really well set up for this. The kids all sit at one table and the waiter asks the name of their yacht when they order, at the end of the meal there's one bill per yacht You can anchor for lunch in a raft with other yachts. Again a chance for teenagers to swim together
By far our most expansive holiday but I thought it was brilliant