Is your teen a science nerd? Then Darwin will be right up their alley when they spot playful seals and blue-footed boobies on a Lindblad Expedition to the Galapagos, part of a new partnership launched this autumn called National Geographic Global Explorers. The first destination in a series of educational adventures geared toward teens, Ecuador beckoned Lindblad president and CEO Sven Lindblad, who says his dad’s love of adventure-based tourism to destinations like Antarctica inspired him. The family trip commemorated the 50th anniversary of the first citizen explorer expedition to the Galapagos by Lars-Eric Lindblad in 1967, and programming includes volcano hikes, snorkeling with sea turtles and walking among giant tortoises, all the while learning to read maps, use a camera and build storytelling skills.

© Khunaspix | Dreamstime
G Adventures has another message for parents: Just because you’ve settled down and had kids doesn’t mean your adventuring days are through. Its family tours include such classic destinations as the national parks, but if you missed out on that post-grad trip to Vietnam before “settling down,” you can still take it and enjoy time as a family with teen-specific activities. Meant for ages 12 and up, destinations like Costa Rica, for instance, will include all of the wildlife of a standard tour but also appeal to youth with ziplining, caving and rappelling.

© Eden Roc at Cap Cana
Cap Cana in the Dominican Republic may offer up some of the Caribbean’s most best golf courses and beaches, but the island is also an ecological wonderland in its own right. Scape Park includes some of the best caving expeditions in the Northern Hemisphere, accessible by hiking up the slopes of El Farallon Cliff, and trekking through a pristine jungle. When you reach the mouth of the cave, teens can delight in a vast underground network of chambers and tunnels. A waterfall expedition includes village visits, coffee and cocoa tastings, and a plunge in rushing waters; and a zip line adventure meets the need for speed over El Farallón cliff.
Teens can also heed the call of adventure in the Caribbean in Aruba, where the sky’s the limit — quite literally. Opportunities to sky dive abound, along with JetLev, a water-propelled jetpack thrill ride with lift created by the thrust of 800–1,000 gallons of water per minute. There’s also hoverboards, jet-blading, Jeep safaris, wind and kite surfing, parasailing and jet-skiing. A number of activities are part of the all-inclusive package at De Palm Island, which also includes food.
Want to keep it domestic? Tweens and teens can satisfy their flight of fancy at trapeze school at Club Med Sandpiper Bay in Florida. There’s also circus classes, stand-up paddleboarding, sailing, a tennis academy and golf school. Club Med Passworld includes spaces set aside for ages 11–17 with artistic activities, too, like makeup lessons, singing and graffiti.
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Jun 1, 2023Hit the Streets of Chattanooga, Tennessee, for Non-Stop Music Events in 2023
This year, Chattanooga, Tennessee, takes center stage with a full lineup of music events, offering family travelers more than one chance to visit this town. Here are some of the upcoming music festivals and events coming to Chattanooga:
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United Airlines Celebrates its First Class of United Aviate Graduates
As the only major U.S. airline to own a flight school, United Airlines already hit a major milestone, and now the carrier celebrates another important — and historic — step as the inaugural class of United Aviate Academy pilots graduates, leading the next generation of aviators. The 51 students in the graduating class were majority, at 80 percent, women and people of color — another stride toward United’s goal of training 5,000 new pilots by 2030 with half women or POC.
Destinations / North America
Jun 1, 20233 Summer Festivals to Experience in New Orleans This Summer
If you think a New Orleans vacation means walking the streets of the French Quarter, eating beignets and drinking chicory coffee, you are only partially right. The city is ripe with fun activities that make it one of the most fascinating destinations for all types of family travelers, including what seems like a never-ending calendar of festivals where visitors can experience fun, food and culture year-round. If you plan to head to the Big Easy this summer, be sure to check out these great festivals that should definitely be on your must-do list.
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Jun 1, 20238 Tel Aviv, Israel, Destinations for Family Travel
It’s time to start dreaming of your next family trip. Here’s some destination inspiration for you. Take a visual journey through Tel Aviv, Israel, with us.
Destinations / North America
May 31, 2023The Desert of Maine: A Natural Wonder Great for Kids
The Desert of Maine, near the shopping mecca of Freeport, has been an icon since it opened in 1925. Children of family travelers along Maine’s coast were fascinated by road-side signs showing camels, sand dunes and colorful Arabian tents. At times, live camels were added to the desert landscapes.
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May 31, 2023Top 10 Summer Travel Destinations
Travel insurance company Allianz Partners recently revealed the results of its Top 10 Summer Travel Destinations study, just in time for family travelers looking for some inspiration. The team at Allianz analyzed more than 1.6 million flight itineraries of five–eight days in length booked between Memorial Day and Labor Day. Of those flight itineraries, 73 percent were for domestic trips and 27 percent were for international destinations.
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