<p>^ No problem. I’m exploring New York state options, several of which you suggested! Also, this thread could be helpful to others in the future.</p>
<p>If you are still considering the spectacular West, Grand Teton National Park (just south of Yellowstone NP) offers some of the best mountain scenery outside the Alps, as well as great adventures for your son.</p>
<p>The Exxum Climbing School within the park offers 1, 2, 3+ day climbing lessons which can include guided climbs up the Grand Teton, a granite 13,000 ft.+ ascent. River rafting on the Snake River, canoeing on Jackson Lake, horse riding, fly fishing, are great alternatives to “boring hiking”. </p>
<p>If you stay in the town of Jackson, son can find party time at the Cowboy Bar and others, with plenty of the young 20 somethings. There is a huge range of accomodations in Jackson, and Teton Village at the foot of the ski area. Hotels in the park are usually booked months in advance.</p>
<p>I was going to sat Nova Scotia before mythmom said it. A wonderful place to vacation and I live in VT. This felt like a place apart. Would like to go to PEI one day. There are tourist bureaus all over the place. You don’t even have to plan ahead.</p>
<p>OP:</p>
<p>Many vacation spots I would have suggested have been already mentioned.</p>
<p>If you are a foodie, you may want to consider New Orleans…even Las Vegas is fun and we are not gamblers…plenty to do there and around there…Hoover Dam, etc…I guess maybe those cities are too hot, though…but it’s a dry heat (in Vegas) so not so bad…</p>
<p>Honestly San Diego or the coastal Drive down from San Fran are gorgeous…Sacremento was fun for a day or so…</p>
<p>Maybe Adirondacks or NY side of the Berkshires…</p>
<p>Maybe combine the trip with a Professional Baseball game? Heard Baltimore area is fun too…Baltimore, Philly, Wash DC areas…</p>
<p>Have fun deciding! :)</p>
<p>MONTANA–Glacier National Park, raft/horseback trip the Middle Fork of the Flathead River The water level is good through September. Temp? It snowed a little when we did this over the 4th of July one year.</p>
<p>Or is that viewed as the Pacific NorthWest?</p>
<p>NM-raft the Taos Box but I’m not sure about the water level</p>
<p>Northern Europe. So much cultural stuff to take in. I know you said no cruises-- we did a cruise on the baltic sea… stockholm, st petersburg, estonia etc. Maybe you can find a tour group or take a look at itineraries to see where travel groups go. Yes, it will be busy in July but at least everything should be open. City vacations can be really interesting.</p>
<p>How’s his Spanish? Oaxaca, Mexico is in the foothills of the Sierra Madre with enough elevation to keep the climate temperate. It has a stunning mixture of natural and cultural attractions that would be interesting for adults and different enough to keep a teens attention.</p>
<p>I second (or third or whatever) San Diego; fantastic weather. We’ve been there with our geeky son and had a great time. Yes, there are beaches, but there’s a ton of stuff to do besides just lay around or swim. If you’re all athletic, try surfing if you haven’t already. Do some short hikes with great views (Torrey Pines or Cabrillo Point) or cliff walks (Sunset Cliffs). Bring binoculars and search for whales. Rent bikes on Coronado - check out the Navy Seals training area. Go to the National Comedy Theater. Tour the USS Midway. Check out the Glider Port and try it out if you dare. Do a Segway tour (we did one on Coronado). Go on the San Diego Speedboat Adventures (drive your own little boat around the bay and get a tour at the same time). Spend a day at Balboa Park and pick out one or two different kinds of museums (like the miniature railroad).</p>
<p>I don’t think there are any good waterfalls that don’t involve hiking!</p>
<p>How about Vermont? Stowe, VT, is a great vacation spot, and nearby is Smuggler’s Notch resort and also near Stowe is Ben & Jerry’s factory, where they give fabulous tours and ice cream at the end. Burlington, VT, is a hop and a skip away if you need a break from all the beauty and want to shop, dine or listen to great music.</p>
<p>p.s. despite my userid, I don’t work for the state of VT, I just live here and love it!</p>
<p>I second the Jackson Hole area. Grand Teton National Park is right there, and Yellowstone is about an hour away. You can hike, bike, white water raft, and climb for activities, or just sit around and enjoy the views. The wildlife is amazing as are the wild flowers. This time of year is still pretty chilly at night.</p>
<p>Park City in Utah is also a great place to hang out for a week. Again, evenings are quite cool still. They have more mountain activities (alpine slide types of rides) than Jackson Hole - great for the teens.</p>
<p>Park City is fun in the summer. We went to a wedding in SLC and got a 2 bedroom condo in Park City on Expedia for $99/night. </p>
<p>Besides the hiking, we enjoyed visiting the Olympic bobsled/luge/ski jumping area. Be careful of the elevation, however, as it’s 7000’+ and H got quickly dehydrated.</p>