4th ideas with older teens?

[cjcouple]

My 17yo son was asking if we were doing anything on the 4th.  There honestly is nothing going on. 

We have a party of 5th and 6th but nothing ON 4th.  He was invited to the beach with a friend but he truly dislikes the beach so I was trying to think of another idea.    

No open bodies of water/beach (he burns, hates sand and is not afraid of the ocean/deep dark water)
They also said "Nah" to hiking

Water Parks/amusement parks would probably be insane and are kind of far and tbh very expensive for the 4th. we might do one of these on our vacation anyway. 

Any other ideas?

[formerlyak]

Is one of the pro sports teams near you playing at home on the 4th? That could be fun and may include fireworks or a drone show. Or a fun outdoor concert? I know by me the Hollywood Bowl usually has a good concert on the 4th.

[jinkies]

Movies? Mini golf? Set up an outdoor game like croquet, badminton*, cornhole, and have a family tournament?

Not sure if they'd be open on the 4th, but you could also look into bowling, top golf, dave and busters-type places.


*I have played badminton a fair amount in my life, and apparently have never, in 46 years, seen it spelled?? When did that first "n" get there? Had to google after several attempts with the squiggly red line.

[cjcouple]

formerlyak not really seeing anything.

I mean, there's stuff in Boston and Hartford bit not sure I want to drive in there.

Maybe we could head to Mystic to walk around and eat? I will see what they think of that.

[cjcouple]

Jul 1, 2024 9:00:42 GMT -5 jinkies said:

Movies? Mini golf? Set up an outdoor game like croquet, badminton*, cornhole, and have a family tournament?

Not sure if they'd be open on the 4th, but you could also look into bowling, top golf, dave and busters-type places.


*I have played badminton a fair amount in my life, and apparently have never, in 46 years, seen it spelled?? When did that first "n" get there? Had to google after several attempts with the squiggly red line.

lol

Oh, i forgot about top golf. Mini golf might work too.

[charteroakstate]

Jul 1, 2024 7:42:13 GMT -5 cjcouple said:

My 17yo son was asking if we were doing anything on the 4th.  There honestly is nothing going on. 

We have a party of 5th and 6th but nothing ON 4th.  He was invited to the beach with a friend but he truly dislikes the beach so I was trying to think of another idea.    

No open bodies of water/beach (he burns, hates sand and is not afraid of the ocean/deep dark water)
They also said "Nah" to hiking

Water Parks/amusement parks would probably be insane and are kind of far and tbh very expensive for the 4th. we might do one of these on our vacation anyway. 

Any other ideas?

It sounds like you may be not too far from the Boom Box parade in W? That always seems to be fun!

[tacokick]

When I was his age everyone went to the fireworks at the rival high school, had a picnic, ditched their families and made out in the woods.

It seems like a lot of places don’t have fireworks on the actual day anymore though.

[archiethedragon]

go kart racing
ropes course
biking along the rails to trails
paddle board or tubing on the river
yard goats game

[thebreakfastclub]

Bowling, escape room, movie marathon, board game tournament

[hermione]

With a party on the 5th and 6th, the 4th would be a lazy day for us.

[macmars45]

Jul 1, 2024 9:12:30 GMT -5 tacokick said:

When I was his age everyone went to the fireworks at the rival high school, had a picnic, ditched their families and made out in the woods.

It seems like a lot of places don’t have fireworks on the actual day anymore though.

My city has fireworks at the fairgrounds. You could go earlier than that and do fair type stuff too. I went 2-3 times as a kid. It meant we got home close to midnight due to traffic and parking off site so my parents weren't fans.

[cjcouple]

Jul 1, 2024 9:09:52 GMT -5 charteroakstate said:

Jul 1, 2024 7:42:13 GMT -5 cjcouple said:

My 17yo son was asking if we were doing anything on the 4th.  There honestly is nothing going on. 

We have a party of 5th and 6th but nothing ON 4th.  He was invited to the beach with a friend but he truly dislikes the beach so I was trying to think of another idea.    

No open bodies of water/beach (he burns, hates sand and is not afraid of the ocean/deep dark water)
They also said "Nah" to hiking

Water Parks/amusement parks would probably be insane and are kind of far and tbh very expensive for the 4th. we might do one of these on our vacation anyway. 

Any other ideas?

It sounds like you may be not too far from the Boom Box parade in W? That always seems to be fun!

I never heard of that! that might be the winner. Not far ar all