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. "✿" indicates that you can only do those activities in the spring. 

A Grand Vacation

Spend time together in Grand Bend and the surrounding area! Grand Bend is a destination well-suited for family fun, waterfront sports, and activities in nature.

Where to Stay in Grand Bend

Two places stand out as fit for a family vacation in Grand Bend, the Colonial Hotel ❄ and Kiwi Cottages ❄.

The Colonial Hotel has recently been renovated into a modern boutique hotel with suites that are luxurious and comfortable. Choosing this as your home base for the trip provides you with access to a full kitchen, wet bar, Jacuzzi, in-room fireplace, access to the outdoor firepits, free parking near the beach, and a view of Lake Huron sunsets.

You'll have the whole place to yourself if you book one of the stylish Kiwi Cottages. Another bonus is that all cottage guests have access to the pool at the Kiwi Motel.

What to do in Grand Bend

Fun, fast-paced, and teenager-approved things to do in Grand Bend:

• Enjoy a day of learning at the Lambton Heritage Museum. ❄
• Feel like you are on a tropical vacation with these waterfront experiences:
  • Parasail on Lake Huron with Grand Bend Parasail.
  • Catch fish from the side of a boat with Grand Bend Fishing Charters.
  • Experience the thrill of flyboarding, jet-skiing, speed boating, or jumping on a water trampoline with Xtreme Watersports.
• Catch a race at Grand Bend Motorplex.
• Spend quality time out in nature at Rock Glen Conservation Area and check out the waterfall. ❄ Travel tip: Conservation Areas are very busy on weekends. Plan to visit on a weekday to avoid the crowds.
• Visit the adorable farm animals and take part in an Alpaca Walk at S.A.M.Y’s. ❄ This suggestion is located about 30 minutes away by car but is well worth the drive.
• Even if you aren't staying there, your family can still enjoy a day golfing at Oakwood Resort.

Photo taken at Rock Glen Conservation Area.

Where to eat in Grand Bend

There is something for everyone to enjoy in Grand Bend. Here are some suggestions perfectly suited for a fun-loving teenager:

• The Lake Hound (vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free friendly) ❄
• The Tipsy Pelican (vegetarian friendly) ❄
• Midori (vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free friendly)
• Widder Station Grill & Tap House ❄
• Visit the Lambton Shores Farmers' Market near the Lambton Heritage Museum.
• Oakwood Dining Room or Dave’s Pub and Grill at the Oakwood Resort. ❄
• The Cottage Cafe (vegetarian and gluten-free friendly)

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.