Spend a birthday lounging on a beach in the U.S. or the Caribbean.
A 16th birthday is a momentous occasion for many teenagers and most want to ring in the day with a grander celebration than their childhood birthday parties. For a party on a big or small budget, consider a destination celebration where the party group can enjoy new sights under the supervision of nearby adults. Does this Spark an idea?
Beach Trip
Travel to the beach during warm weather for the birthday party. For a getaway birthday, consider the beaches of Hanalei Bay in Hawaii, Siesta Beach in Florida, Cooper's Beach in New York or Coronado Beach in California. Organize an outing for a large group of friends for surfing, swimming, beach volleyball and lounging on the beach during the day. Bring along a picnic lunch of sandwiches and soft drinks. For an evening event, bring a music player and enjoy an evening of dancing and hanging out together. When accompanied by adults, and where permitted, bring supplies for a barbecue or marshmallows for roasting over an open fire.
Fashion Frenzy
For a teenager whose clothes are her favorite possession, plan a birthday weekend with a few friends in New York's fashion district. Plan the party a few months in advance so that there is time to save up for a little bit of spending on the trip. Spend a day taking in the sights and arrange a tour of the district to find sample sales, discounts and private showrooms. (See Reference 1.) End the weekend with a birthday celebration dinner at a New York restaurant with everyone bedecked in their fashion district purchases.
Hiking Trip
For a group of teenagers who enjoy physical activity, spend a weekend together hiking along the trails of a mountain range. Plan a hiking trip through Zion National Park, the Appalachian Trail, the Pacific Crest Trail or the Yosemite National Park. Pack food for each hiker to bring along and be sure to pack a first aid kit, just in case. For nature areas and parks that allow overnight camping, bring a few tents to pitch when the group gets tired and enjoy an evening of talking and reminiscing over the early teen years. Adults can come along on the trip, keeping a conservative distance away, of course.
International Adventure
Teenagers can forgo the traditional birthday party and plan a two-week-long getaway on a Caribbean adventure with a friend. Tour companies that cater to teen travel offer supervised vacations, such as the Caribbean Underwater Discoveries Voyage offered by Broadreach. Teens travel to Caribbean destinations that include St. Barts, St. Martin, Saba, Nevis and Ile Fourche to go water skiing, knee boarding, body surfing and scuba diving. Throughout the trip, teens also have the opportunity to hike through rainforests and explore the various islands. (See Reference 2.)
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