Adventures for Teens and Tweens

We pulled these 48 teen-worthy adventures out of our full catalog of kid-friendly spots in Texas, New York and Hawaii. Every listing has the ages it suits, what it costs, how long to budget, parking notes, and what to pack.

48 adventures found

Captain Cook Monument Snorkel Trail

Captain Cook, HI

Snorkeling
Ages 8–18+ Free

Steep hike down to world-class snorkeling in a marine sanctuary with dolphins. Free. Better for ages …

Kealakekua Bay State Historical Park

Captain Cook, HI

Kayaking
Ages 5–18+ Paid

Kayak across a marine sanctuary to world-class snorkeling with dolphins and turtles. Paid entry. …

Halawa Valley Cultural Hike

Halawa, HI

Hiking
Ages 6–18+ Paid

Guided cultural hike through an ancient valley to a 250-foot double waterfall. Paid entry. Better …

Kalalau Trail (First 2 Miles to Hanakapi ai Beach)

Hanalei, HI

Hiking
Ages 8–18+ Paid

Dramatic cliff-hugging trail to a wild Na Pali Coast beach. Paid entry. Better for ages 8 and up. A …

Hosmer Grove Campground

Kula, HI

Camping
Ages 5–18+ Paid

First-come tent camping at 6,800 feet in Haleakala, which turns the brutal predawn sunrise drive …

Sliding Sands Trail (Haleakala)

Kula, HI

Hiking
Ages 8–18+ Paid

Hike into a volcanic crater through a Mars-like landscape of cinder cones. Paid entry. Better for …

South Point Green Sand Beach (Papakolea)

Naalehu, HI

Hiking
Ages 8–18+ Free

Hike to one of only four green sand beaches in the world at the US southernmost point. Free. Better …

Blue Mountain Trail

Blue Mountain Lake, NY

Hiking
Ages 6–18+ Free

Popular fire tower hike with panoramic views over Blue Mountain Lake. Free. Better for ages 6 and …

Storm King State Park

Cornwall-on-Hudson, NY

Hiking
Ages 7–18+ Free

Rugged Highland trails with dramatic Hudson River panoramas. Free. Better for ages 7 and up. A …

Sleeping Beauty Mountain

Fort Ann, NY

Hiking
Ages 6–18+ Free

Moderate summit hike with one of the best Lake George panoramic views. Free. Better for ages 6 and …

Zoar Valley Multiple Use Area

Gowanda, NY

Hiking
Ages 8–18+ Free

Wild 600-foot gorge with old-growth forest and deep swimming holes. Free. Better for ages 8 and up. …

Indian Lake Islands Campground

Indian Lake, NY

Camping
Ages 5–18+ Paid

Paddle-in island camping on scenic Indian Lake in the central Adirondacks. Paid entry. Best from …

Snowy Mountain Trail

Indian Lake, NY

Hiking
Ages 8–18+ Free

Challenging hike to the tallest peak in the southern Adirondacks with fire tower summit. Free. …

Indian Head and Rainbow Falls Trail

Keene Valley, NY

Hiking
Ages 8–18+ Free

Epic hike past a 150-foot waterfall to the iconic Ausable Lakes cliff-top view. Free. Better for …

Forked Lake Campground

Long Lake, NY

Camping
Ages 6–18+ Paid

Mostly paddle-in shoreline campsites on a quiet Adirondack lake, a real step up from car camping for …

Camp Santanoni Historic Area

Newcomb, NY

Hiking
Ages 5–18+ Free

Carriage road hike or bike to a historic Great Camp on pristine Newcomb Lake. Free. Best from about …

Buck Mountain Trail

Pilot Knob, NY

Hiking
Ages 7–18+ Free

Challenging summit hike with sweeping Lake George views from 2,334 feet. Free. Better for ages 7 and …

Ampersand Mountain

Saranac Lake, NY

Hiking
Ages 8–18+ Free

Challenging hike to a bald summit with 360-degree Adirondack panorama. Free. Better for ages 8 and …

Pharaoh Lake Wilderness

Schroon Lake, NY

Hiking
Ages 7–18+ Free

Pristine wilderness lake with backcountry camping far from the crowds. Free. Better for ages 7 and …

Slide Mountain Trail

Shandaken, NY

Hiking
Ages 8–18+ Free

Hike the highest peak in the Catskills at 4,180 feet. Free. Better for ages 8 and up. Easily a full …

Colorado Bend State Park Camping

Bend, TX

Camping
Ages 5–18+ Paid

Rustic no-hookup river camping down six miles of gravel road, with Gorman Falls and guided wild cave …

Reveille Peak Ranch

Burnet, TX

Rock-Climbing
Ages 5–18+ Paid

Granite bouldering and mountain biking near Burnet. Paid entry. Best from about age 5. Easily a full …

Possum Kingdom State Park

Caddo, TX

Swimming
Ages 3–18+ Paid

Clear blue lake swimming and canyon trail hiking. Paid entry. Best from about age 3. A half-day …

Cedar Hill State Park

Cedar Hill, TX

Hiking
Ages 3–18+ Paid

Family-friendly state park on Joe Pool Lake just 20 minutes from Dallas - swimming, hiking, camping, …

Cleburne State Park

Cleburne, TX

Camping
Ages 3–18+ Paid

No-wake lake for safe paddling and swimming near Fort Worth. Paid entry. Best from about age 3. A …

Eisenhower State Park

Denison, TX

Camping
Ages 3–18+ Paid

Blufftop trails and lake swimming on Lake Texoma. Paid entry. Best from about age 3. A half-day …

Reimers Ranch Park

Dripping Springs, TX

Rock-Climbing
Ages 6–18+ Paid

Premier Central Texas rock climbing with 18 miles of trails. Paid entry. Better for ages 6 and up. A …

Davis Mountains State Park

Fort Davis, TX

Camping
Ages 4–18+ Paid

Cool mountain camping with skyline trail and historic pueblo lodge. Paid entry. Best from about age …

Rough Creek Lodge

Glen Rose, TX

Camping
Ages 5–18+ Paid

Luxury family ranch resort with outdoor activities near Glen Rose. Paid entry. Best from about age …

Big Bend Ranch State Park

Presidio, TX

Hiking
Ages 8–18+ Paid

300,000-acre desert wilderness along the Rio Grande for experienced families. Paid entry. Better for …

Caprock Canyons State Park & Trailway

Quitaque, TX

Hiking
Ages 4–18+ Paid

Red rock canyons with free-roaming bison and a bat colony tunnel. Paid entry. Best from about age 4. …

Grelle Recreation Area

Spicewood, TX

Hiking
Ages 4–18+ Paid

Uncrowded Lake Travis cove with wooded trails and swimming. Paid entry. Best from about age 4. A …

Pace Bend Park

Spicewood, TX

Swimming
Ages 3–18+ Paid

Rocky limestone coves and cliff jumping on Lake Travis. Paid entry. Best from about age 3. A …

Lost Maples State Natural Area

Vanderpool, TX

Hiking
Ages 5–18+ Paid

Stunning fall foliage and limestone canyon trails along the Sabinal River. Paid entry. Best from …