Half term mini break with BF and his 16yr old daughter - ideas please!

[ElizabethinherGermanGarden]

It's my boyfriend's 50th birthday next month and I want to treat him to a break away during October half term - need to be home by Sat 27th but any dates in the week before that are fine. I want to invite his lovely 16 yr old to come with us - she is brilliant in all ways but we haven't been away together before and I haven't organised a trip for a family before, rather than for a couple.

I need help on two things, please:

1. how do people organise trips for two adults and a teen? For example, if we were to go on (just one idea) the Caledonian Sleeper, would a parent consider it safe for a teen to have a single berth on a train? Would you book an apartment or would two hotel rooms be okay? I don't want to share a family room and I'm pretty sure she wouldn't want this either. I'm thinking about how to make it a treat for her too.

2. ideas for where to go - just a couple of nights, doesn't have to be UK but needs to be reasonable travelling times. We can easily get to Gatwick, Heathrow, London stations, Southampton and Bournemouth airports. Don't want to fly from Luton or Stansted. Not wedded to going abroad though so UK city ideas also great.

Boyfriend loves to drive/fancy cars, photography, space, food, planes, military history, generally interested in the world around him. He is not an animal fan and doesn't like things he considers 'girly'.

I'm sure I will come up with something but O always like reading other people's ideas.

what about something like this? it is a self catering lodge, and so your BF's teen would have her own bedroom and space. you also have the option of a hot tub, and you can go out on boat trips, go to the near market town etc. it would be a lovely short break.

www.waveneyrivercentre.co.uk/

another option would be finland. at the resort linked below, you can go husky hiking, go on a horse safari and they have loads of other options. will link that below too

www.kakslauttanen.fi/

wishing you all the best

sorry, just realised that your BF isnt an animal fan. the finland resort also have canoeing in the wilderness, mountain biking etc which may be more up his street

Canal boat ?

Sleepismysuperpower, thank you, both great ideas I wouldn't have thought of. He has mentioned Norfolk Broads before so will do some looking through. I love the idea of the Northern Lights, myself - might be a bit far for two days but perhaps another time.

PrettyGreyWalls, good idea. Will check it out. Considering whether I will hate it, because I'm sure he'd love it.

Airbnb would be ideal as you can get 2 bed apartment so everyone has own space.

Edinburgh, Belfast Barcelona Lisbon Glasgow

Gibraltar is good for military history though does have lots of monkeys (one jumped on DSs head when we were there ) and the airport is interesting.

Urgh! I hate a monkey. They are bastards. Perhaps that's not the spirit, but I want to enjoy it too. Thank you though!

Krakow? Its an amazing city, lots of history too.

What about Bruges, beautiful city but small enough to see on foot. Some fab restaurants as he's interested in food, and interesting bars for craft beers. Trip on the canals, loads of opportunities for photography, art galleries, shopping, some fab hotels.....