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Posted by Jon Hoffman in Pigeon Forge
Being together with the entire family on vacation is one of the joys of getting away. Sometimes it is also one of the biggest challenges! After another one of my impromptu surveys of the pros (parents of teens and teens themselves), here are the essentials for having a great Smokies vacation with teenagers on board (both physically and mentally).
1. Give them an activities planning assignment. Choose one or more activity windows during your trip, and allow your teen to plan the entire adventure, using online resources and/or local brochures. Check this Things to Do tab for some creative ideas. There are so many options, anyone can find something that is of interest to them, something they have never done before.
Teen suggestion: Outdoor Gravity Park http://outdoorgravitypark.com
2. Allow your teen to choose the food. Kids can be involved in meal planning for dining at your Pigeon Forge cabin rental, and also can make location choices while eating out. I'm not suggesting that every meal should include french fries or off the wall cuisine. But fresh opinions for at least a couple of meals could easily become a fond vacation memory, and maybe even a tradition when returning to the area.
Teen suggestion: Little Tokyo Hibachi Grill & Sushi
3. Go laissez faire for an afternoon. To maximize every vacation moment, most parents attempt to make that happen by overscheduling. Tap into the spontaneity of youth by playing it by ear. Hit the Parkway with no plan, and let the vehicle destination be unknown. You just may discover a treasure you otherwise would have missed.
Teen suggestion: Top Jump Trampoline Park http://topjump.com
4. Include water. Even the most jaded child usually enjoys water activities, and our area offers many unique opportunities. Some of our cabins even include local swimming pool privileges, and there are multiple water parks and slides in the county. Or go more natural with a waterfall hike, river wading at a national park picnic area (like Chimney Tops or Metcalf Bottoms), or river tubing.
Teen suggestion: Smoky Mountain River Rat Tubing http://smokymtnriverrat.com
5. Schedule downtime. Most adults struggle with doing nothing, but teens thrive when relaxed and unscheduled. Our cabins offer plenty of room to spread out for some private time away from each other to sleep, catch up on social media, play video games, whatever needs to be done to maintain equilibrium.
Teen suggestion: Zzzzzzzz
Beware that the selections may include some elements that are not exactly your style! Yet these steps can help ensure that everyone has a part in making this Smokies exploration more interesting and fun for all. Good luck, from our VCR families to yours!
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