Teens Want More Active Vacations

We spent most of our family vacations growing up visiting other family — my grandparents in Florida or Maine or my cousins in Massachusetts. I can't remember that many big vacations we went on together as a teenager, but we did like to go white water rafting down the Ocoee River in east Tennessee. There was something about having to paddle through rapids and work as team that provided some needed comic relief (my parents split up when I was 17). Like when my dad fell overboard and we didn't realize it until we looked back and saw him floating on his back with his hands and feet in the air several feet behind us.

Today's teens appear to be demanding more "adventure" on their vacations. Granted "swimming with dolphins" is a far cry from floating down a river, but it's adventure all the same. According to this press release, the stereotype of teens glued to their video games or computers is just that — at least when it comes to going on vacation. Although I have to say, I'm pretty surprised that 16 percent of kids said they DO want to stay in their hotel rooms playing video games.

Keep in mind that this research from Harris Interactive was commissioned by Anheuser-Busch Adventure Parks:

- About 4 in 5 Teens (78%) desire a unique, once-in-a-lifetime vacation event or activity that will provide them with bragging rights, and about 3 in 4 parents(2) (72%) want the same for their children.

- More than half of teens say their parents join in on their adventurous activities, while only 14% say their parents want to be left alone.

- About 4 in 5 parents (80%) allow their children to influence their vacation planning.

- Teens favor real-life action on vacation, such as participating in adventurous activities (84%) to playing video games at their hotel (16%).

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