While the Midwest is known as a good place to raise a family, it is also a great place to take a family vacation. Teenagers are usually hard to please, but if you take them to the right spot, they'll ask to go back next year. Parents and teenagers can both enjoy a vacation in the Midwest.
As the third largest city in America, there aren't many teenagers who aren't thoroughly impressed by Chicago. Massive skyscrapers, deep-dish pizza and unavoidable arts and culture will keep teenagers busy for days. If your teenagers like music, there are concerts every night somewhere in the city. If they're sports fans, make sure to go to a Bulls, Bears, Blackhawks, White Sox or Cubs game. If they love shopping, there may be no better street than Michigan Avenue, the "Magnificent Mile."
The Midwest is known for its plains and fields, but there are also some of the most beautiful forests in America in states like Michigan and Wisconsin. Camping out in the Midwest forests will go over better if it's a short trip, like a weekend. This should allow just enough time for teenagers to appreciate the beauty of nature before they get bored and want to go home to TV and video games. The key is to involve them in adventurous activities like chopping wood or off-trail exploration.
It's rare to find a teenager who doesn't love roller coasters. Sandusky, Ohio, claims not only to be the roller coaster capital of the Midwest, but of the entire world. With 75 rides, the Cedar Point theme park requires at least two days' time if you want to ride every coaster. Granted, parents who go to Cedar Point for a family vacation are likely thrill-seekers already, but for adults who feel a little old for roller coasters, there is an outdoor water park with a mile-long white sand beach.
