Family Vacations Teenagers Actually Want to Go On

Planning a vacation that the whole family will enjoy can be challenging. Especially if you have teenagers in the mix. Convincing them to put down their phone or to take a break from video games and engage with the family is easier when they are excited by the activities planned.

Ontario’s Southwest is full of fun, opportunities to learn, and ways to spend genuine quality time together. To help you with the planning, we’ve created an itinerary that's packed full of suggestions to build a perfect family vacation.

For the most part, these suggestions work best for trips in warmer weather; however, there are many options that you can pick if you’d like to visit in the colder months. If you see "❄" beside a suggestion, that means that it's open in the winter as well as the summer.

It's Time to Touch Grass (and Maybe Lake Water Too)

This trip is perfect for families with teens who love (or need) to spend time outside. Elgin County is filled with farms, hiking trails, beaches, and cute streets lined with unique and quirky shops, the kind of places that make it easy to swap screen time for “did you see that?!” moments.

Where to Stay in Elgin County

There are two family-friendly places that stand out as wonderful places to stay if you have teens, and both for very different reasons. 

If your teens love being near the action, Port Stanley is a fun choice. Inn On the Harbour ❄ brings that easy, waterfront getaway feel. You’re close to beach time, snack stops, and a walkable main street that makes it simple to keep everyone moving and exploring.

If your family is craving something quieter, Nature Oasis Bed & Breakfast ❄ is all about slowing down and resetting. With a family suite option and a peaceful setting, it’s a great pick for families who want calm mornings, space to spread out, and a more nature-forward stay between adventures. Plus, their indoor pool and animals make this stay super fun!

What to do in Elgin County

Elgin County is built for active days and easy variety, so you can mix beaches, trails, farms, and small-town exploring without spending the whole trip in the car. Enjoy these family-friendly activities in Elgin County:

• Visit Wildflowers Farm. They have markets running from June to August.
• Check out the murals. There are over 50 of them all over St. Thomas ❄
• Pick your own farms:
  • Great Lakes Farms
  • Ferguson's Produce
  • Beary Blue Acres
  • Belkerke Farm and Orchard
• Go trail riding at Horseshow J Dude Ranch (available from May to November). 
• Check out Sparta Lavender Farm. They host lots of great events in the warmer seasons.
• Get out on the water with Apex Sailing.
• Rent kayaks or paddleboards with Jumbo Adventure Co.
• Stop in at Purely Wicked ❄

Where to eat in Elgin County

Between beach-town classics and sweet treat stops, Elgin County makes it easy to keep teenagers fed (and happy). Add these to your must-try list:

• Shaw's
• GT's On the Beach
• Mennomex
• Riva Italian Restaurant (for the whole family) and Port Stanley Brewing Company (for the parents) are located in the same building ❄
• The Fritter Shop ❄
• Boxcar Donuts ❄
• Check out some of the stops on the Pizza Trail.

It’s important for families to have fun and make memories together and Ontario’s Southwest has many vacation options that are perfectly situated to all ages. If this blog post was helpful to you when you’ve been planning a trip, please let us know by sharing on social and using the hashtag #OntSouthwest.