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Holidays

Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

Original poster

What kind of family days out do you have with your teenagers?

23 replies

janeite · 27/08/2009 16:27

Any ideas please? They are driving me mad - don't want to do anything with us but haven't made any arrangements with friends in the next few days either. I go back to work in a couple of days and would really like a couple of nice days out before that.

Is the only answer to leave them at home and dp and I go out instead?

Please help!

OP posts:
Original poster
janeite · 27/08/2009 17:25

Oh dear - is it a really impossible dream then?

OP posts:
MrsMuddle · 27/08/2009 17:32

Not sure where you are, but we had a lovely day in Edinburgh on Saturday with ours. It's the festival so there was loads going on. Is there another city nearby you can go to?

Maybe you could go out on mountain bikes if there are any trails near you. Or if you're really desperate, a fish farm or pick your own fruit.

My teenagers roll their eyes and grunt a lot when I suggest a family day out, but then they forget to be cool and usually end up enjoying it.

Original poster
janeite · 27/08/2009 17:34

Thanks.

We live in a city (Birmingham) although we're happy to go to another one. Edinburgh is of course, gorgeous, but too far for a day.

Needs to be do-able by train, so farms not really an option.

OP posts:
unknownrebelbang · 27/08/2009 17:49

Is York too far?

We had a great day out in York last week.

(also had a good day in Birmingham a couple of weeks ago too).

Original poster
janeite · 27/08/2009 17:59

Love York too but went there fairly recently.

Would be good to know generic things which people do around their own areas for future reference too.

They have turned their noses up at -
swimming
bike ride
cinema
walk and picnic
walk and lunch out
tennis

Arghhh.

OP posts:
ilove · 27/08/2009 18:19

I don't ask my teenager...I tell him "we are going so-and-so, get ready please"

Original poster
janeite · 27/08/2009 19:05

Sounds like the best way forward!

It's actually not the teenager so much (dd1 14) but dd2 (12) who seems to want to do nothing EVER.

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bluejeans · 27/08/2009 20:19

Are they too old for a trip to the seaside? My geography's not great but there must be somewhere within day trip distance by rail?

Original poster
janeite · 27/08/2009 20:23

Nearest is Western Super Mare - must admit I have no desire whatsoever to go there though!

OP posts:
GrinnyPig · 27/08/2009 20:27

My DDs are a similar age and like

swimming
bowling
ice skating
theme parks (big favourite)
shopping (provided I'm not looking for anything for myself)
lunch/dinner out

Original poster
janeite · 27/08/2009 20:30

Thanks Grinny. They love swimming but will only go with friends or on holiday. Obviously ashamed to be seen with us!

They have agreed to go for lunch, perhaps a mooch around the shops and perhaps bowling.

Theme parks - they would love this but dp and I don't like the rides so it would be an expensive and not v exciting day for us. Better to wait until they can just go with friends maybe.

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Milliways · 27/08/2009 20:34

For a treat, DS loves (and DD enjoys) the drag racing at Santa Pod. Under 16's are free and you can sit on the bank & see the entire strip. Lots of other stuff going on as well to wander around.

Theme Parks (but expensive)

Day trips to London - shopping, museums etc.

Hire a rowing boat on the river - cheap & hysterical fun.

Trip to the coast off season, take wellies, the dog & a ball.

Group of friends over for a BBQ / meal / pizza & DVD together. They think it is a birthday & keep asking what presents to bring!

lucykate · 27/08/2009 20:35

what about some of the places near leicester?, not too far from birmingham. we've been to a place called conkers, would say the high wire climbing equipment is definitely more suited to older kids. there's also the national space centre and snibston (interactive science museum).

the new walk museum is free to get in and currently has an interactive exhibition all about sport

Original poster
janeite · 27/08/2009 21:26

Lovely ideas.

We've been to the Sports thing in Leicester - was great. London yesterday.

Conkers and rowing boat both brilliant suggestions.

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lucykate · 28/08/2009 10:41

conkers is great, my 2 were a bit young for it when we went last summer. think we're going to snibston this weekend. been before and it was a real hit.

Original poster
janeite · 28/08/2009 20:51

Thanks LucyKate. Have had a look at their website and it looks great but a bit of a faff by public transport.

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Phoenix4725 · 29/08/2009 05:38

go karting
theme parks
Bowling

do yo0u have anything like go ape by you mine love it we had fun doing

Original poster
janeite · 29/08/2009 16:45

Go Ape looks brilliant - dp is scared of heights though!

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TheDMshouldbeRivened · 29/08/2009 16:48

park them on the computer or playstation. Don't think mine (16 and 14) have moved all summer

noddyholder · 29/08/2009 16:51

Cinema pizza shopping london (for him) Some evenings we go and sit on the beach and eat chips and cups of plastic tea he likes that!Markets if he is in the mood.He is 15 and is also instructed to come otherwise he has been skateboarding for 6 weeks solid!

Original poster
janeite · 29/08/2009 16:53

Markets - ah yes, they do quite like a mooch around the Rag Market (ie sewing stuff).

Riven - that's what they're doing now! But they did come out for lunch with us earlier and dd2 even managed to smile a few times!

Lucky you to be by the beach, Noddy.

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noddyholder · 29/08/2009 16:54

I know I forget sometimes

jalopy · 30/08/2009 18:54

Just taken our kids to a chilli festival near Stevenage. Held on the grounds of Benington Lordship. It's open on Bank holiday Monday from 10am. Lots of food tasting and lots of chilli products to buy. Lovely gardens to walk around too. Very enjoyable.

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