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 three separate lists that are 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. 

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

There are two places that stand out as fit for a family vacation in Grand Bend, the Colonial Hotel and Oakwood Resort.

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.

The Oakwood Resort has everything that you could want in a resort including a spa, golf course, multiple restaurants, live music, proximity to the beach, and events. The Oakwood Resort is turning 100 this year, which means that they are very experienced in providing excellent customer service, but don’t worry, their rooms are up to date with everything a modern family needs.

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 in these popular locations. Travel tip: Conservation Areas and Ontario Parks are very busy on weekends. Plan to visit on a weekday to avoid the crowds.
  • Pre-purchase a day use permit to the Pinery. ❄
  • See the waterfall at Rock Glen Conservation Area. ❄
• 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.
• No matter where you choose to stay, your family can still enjoy a day golfing or relaxing at the Lakeside Spa ❄ at Oakwood Resort.

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). ❄
• Midori (vegan, vegetarian, and gluten free friendly). 
• Visit Grand Bend Village Farmers’ Market.
• Oakwood Dinning Room or Dave’s Pub and Grill at the Oakwood Resort. ❄

Getaway in Ontario’s Garden

Discover the healthy and eco-friendly attractions in Norfolk County! Norfolk County is the place to go if you want to get away from the city and explore a rural oasis.

Where to Stay in Norfolk County

Long Point Eco Adventures ❄ and Homegrown Hideaway are two eco-friendly accommodations that any eco-conscious teenager will appreciate!

Long Point Eco Adventures offers customizable vacation packages so that your family can enjoy an eco-friendly vacation without giving up any comforts. And it’s pet friendly, so you don’t need to leave your dog at home! Your family can enjoy staying in the unique glamping suites/pods, in a charming farmhouse, or a fully equipped cabin! 

Homegrown Hideaway is a luxury glamping property with access to the Lynn River for both swimming and fishing. Staying at Homegrown Hideaway also provides you with access to an outdoor prep kitchen, Lynn Valley Trail, an outdoor washroom with hot running water, a BBQ, and a fire pit with a cooking grate.

What to do in Norfolk County

Make memories in Norfolk County by checking out the following attractions:

• Visit the motocross track at Gopher Dunes.
• Walk through the beautiful gardens at Whistling Gardens.
• Go blueberry picking at Blueberry Hill in July to August.
• Enjoy the paddling, biking, axe-throwing, kayaking, and nature experiences at Long Point Eco Adventure.
• Play a round of min-golf at Arbortown Miniature Golf Course.
• Go Flyboarding at Turkey Point.
• Go on a boat tour and learn all about the Long Point Biosphere with Long Point Island Tours.

Photo taken at Arbortown Miniature Golf Course.

What to eat in Norfolk County

See why Norfolk County is called Ontario’s Garden with these delicious options:

• Norfolk Juice Co. ❄
• Specially Curated Picnic Boxes from the Good Bread Company ❄
• Canned Heat
• The Catherwood and the Kiln ❄
• Mustard + Relish ❄
• Blue Elephant Artisan Brewery (vegetarian, gluten-free friendly, and Feast On Certified) ❄
• David's Restaurant (Feast On Certified) ❄

When you visit a Feast On Certified restaurant, your money goes much further to support the local economy. Feast On Certified restaurants source at least 25% of their ingredients from local farms and suppliers. This means that the food isn’t travelling as far, which is not only better for the environment, but it tastes better because it’s local and fresh. 

Love Local in London

Learn why London is the place to create memories for all ages! London has cool and photo-worthy attractions that teenagers love! Many suggestions included in this list are available all year round. 

Where to Stay in London

Both the Best Western Plus Lamplighter Inn ❄ and the Park Hotel ❄ stand out as great options for family-friendly vacations.

Travel tip: Take Advantage of Tourism London’s “Stay a Little Longer” program to be given a $100 visa card to spend as a gift for supporting local. This offer is valid for new bookings of a minimum 2-night stay made during promotion dates (July 5, 2021 – May 20, 2022) and for arrivals between July 5, 2021 and June 30, 2022. For more information, please visit Tourism London’s website here.

The Best Western Plus Lamplighter Inn has the feel of a tropical destination. Make sure that you get a room with a balcony overlooking their bright and beautiful atrium with an indoor pool so that it can be patio season all year long. 

The Park Hotel, located in Downtown London, offers spacious and trendy suites, with a mini-kitchenette area, a flat screen cable TV in both the bedroom and living room, and plenty of USB plugs so all devices can stay charged.

What to do in London

Check out these fun adventures any teenager will be excited about in London:

• Enjoy a hot air balloon ride with Sundance Balloons.
• Visit an educational and fun exhibit at Museum London. ❄
• Try axe throwing and play games at the Rec Room. ❄
• Go bowling at Palasad SocialBowl. ❄
• Visit the interactive Fanshawe Pioneer Village. ❄
• Try out outdoor activities such as skiing, tubbing, mountain biking, yoga, or a treetop adventure at Boler Mountain. ❄
• Visit 100 Kellogg to:
  • Enjoy the trampoline park, high-ropes, or ziplines at the Factory. ❄
  • See if you can escape at the Mystery Escape Rooms. ❄
• Experience the interactive digital experience all over London with the Engage App. ❄
• Watch a race at the Delaware Speedway.

Photo taken at the Factory.

Where to eat in London

London is filled with restaurants that care about supporting local.

• Craft Farmacy (vegetarian, gluten free friendly, and Feast On Certified) ❄.
• Garlic's Of London (vegetarian, gluten free friendly, and Feast On Certified) ❄.
• Abruzzi (Feast On Certified) ❄.
• The Chef's Table (Feast On Certified) ❄.

If you want to check out a local market with your family, the Covent Market ❄ always has excellent variety of shops and vendors and lots of local food.

For the health-conscious family, both Plant Matter Kitchen ❄ (vegan) and the Tea Lounge ❄ are excellent options and have health foods.

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.