Ideas For Fun Times With Your Teen

Teens don’t often beckon parents to spend time with them. But your task as the parent of a teen is to create regular times, as well as special times, with your teen because you believe your teen still needs time with you, you love your teen, and you want to grow your relationship.

So, get out this month’s calendar. Find one morning, one afternoon and one evening, or any combination that works for the two of you. Block off two to four hours. Now, get ready for fun and adventure.

Explore your back yard, waterfalls, hikes and glamping

Healthful benefits, mental and physical, come from being in nature,   so include at least one of outdoor adventure in your plans.

How long has it been since you sat in your backyard together? Perhaps you could look at the stars or talk about the moon phases or throw a tennis ball for the dog. Leave the electronic devices inside for 30 minutes of time with your teen.

Hike to a North State waterfall. With this past winter’s plentiful rains, our local waterfalls are sure to be stunning. There are three great choices open at Whiskeytown National Recreational Area in western Shasta County. Crystal Creek Falls is noted to be an easy hike; the other two are strenuous.

Burney Falls is another awe-inspiring sight, — “not the highest or largest waterfall in the state, but possibly the most beautiful.” Find this beauty at the McArthur-Burney Memorial State Park.

If a short but impressive hike is what you’re looking for, head over to Dunsmuir and set out on the Hedge Creek Falls trail. This one is on my to-go-to list due to an especially fun feature: Hikers can get very close to the waterfall and the trail even goes behind the fall, into a little cave-like area. After soaking in that thrill, follow the creek, lined with many smaller waterfalls, and the trail will take you to an observation deck that overlooks the Sacramento River. The top of Mt. Shasta may be seen rising above the surrounding forest.

Up for more rigor? At Castle Crags State Park in Shasta County, you can’t fail to be impressed by the towering crag formations and the scenic views from up high.

Lassen Volcanic National Park’s “Hike and Bike the Highway” event takes place over the weeks and months of spring and early summer as the highways through Lassen are cleared of snow. Each newly-cleared segment of highway is opened to walkers and cyclists for a brief opportunity to enjoy the scenery from the road without the hazard of vehicular traffic. Hikers may take a leashed dog too.

Take your teen glamping. There is a tent with two twin beds for rent at a campsite at Mill Creek Resort. You will find this gem near the southwest entrance of Lassen Volcanic National Park. Lots of giggles are sure to come out when you both try the hula hoops. Then, work together to get a fire going  in the fire pit, stay up late, and watch the stars. Cabins and RVs are also available for rent.

The Shasta Caverns tour — open year-round — includes a boat ride over beautiful Shasta Lake, a panoramic bus ride up the mountain, and a guided walking tour of the caverns.

How cool is this? Take a walk through a hollow lava tube created by a volcano at Subway Cave.

Share a meal at home or on a picnic

Sharing a meal is a time-tested way to connect, and what teen doesn’t love to eat?

Invite your teen to help you prepare a special meal. Include the meal planning and grocery shopping too, and this can add up to three special times together. Or try out a program such as Blue Apron (blueapron.com) or Hello Fresh (hellofresh.com), where the ingredients and recipe cards arrive at your door. If this all sounds too ambitious, there’s nothing better than baking cookies together.

For an old-fashioned picnic, a wonderful place is in the shade along the Sacramento River at the peaceful William B. Ide Adobe State Historic Park. Bring a tablecloth. Watch the river flow by as you eat together. My teen daughter has requested that we do this again—bringing sushi from Raley’s deli again too, of course.

If a meadow setting suits you best, grab your blanket and picnic basket and head for the Dunsmuir Botanical Gardens in the Dunsmuir City Park. After your feast, meander through the easy paths and observe the plants. You may especially enjoy seeing the white blossoms of the dogwood trees.

Do you both like chocolate? Another cool picnic place is the pond at Pumpkin Land in Tehama County, where you can sit on a swinging bench; and don’t forget to buy a special bit of candy or ice cream from their handmade candies shop for dessert.

Selah and her mother, Linda Martin, get in a fun game before lunch at Branch House Riverfront Bistro in Redding.

Indoor fun — rock climbing, mini golf, art and shopping

Head for a rock-climbing gym and wow each other. Shasta Rock Club is in Redding and Terrain Park is in Chico.

At Chico’s FunLand, let your teen decide if the two of you will skate, play miniature golf, or use the batting cages. Further north, in the City of Shasta Lake, the Oasis Fun Center also has miniature golf, plus go-karts, bumper boats, and laser tag.

Take a guided painting class together. Red Bluff is home to muralist Lacy Wilson, who offers group classes. Art Studio Saturday is a program for all ages at the Turtle Bay Exploration Park in Redding. Turtle Bay has changing exhibits, botanical gardens, and animal shows, so there is always something new to discover.

And a stroll across the Sundial Bridge is always free, always breathtaking. If hunger strikes, there are two options there: the Branch House Riverfront Bistro, where you could try a yogurt parfait for breakfast, or order a croissant or grilled cheese sandwich for lunch; and Mosaic, which has a take-out menu that includes burgers and stone-oven pizzas.

All Fired Up is the place to go to paint pottery in Redding. Take note that they have moved to a new studio on Butte Street. Buy any unfinished mug, plate, or bowl, and take as long as you need to paint it using the supplies provided. It’s so fun to see the transformation in your painted piece after it has been fired. Walk in for this experience, or make a reservation for any of their art classes.

Visit a different branch of your public library instead of the one you usually use. Your mission: Select a book for each other. After checking out the two books, head for a coffee shop. The challenge is to sit quietly together and read the first chapter or two of the book that was checked out for you. Share funny or strange lines as you read them.

Maybe your teen rolls his eyes when you suggest visiting a museum? A must-see in the North State is Gaumer’s Mineral and Mining Museum in Red Bluff. This tiny shop is packed to the brim with organized displays of gems and minerals. Follow up the outing with a bit of window shopping in Red Bluff’s old downtown on Main Street.

Got a picture window in your house? Set up a bird feeder together. Have your teen download the Audubon Bird Guide app. Start a list of birds seen that everyone can add to. Make a habit of calling each other over to see when a new bird appears or when the antics get crazy around the feeder.

Make the move to find adventure with your teen and don’t be discouraged by any mild resistance that you may notice at first. Get out with your teen regularly for special times, and your relationship is sure to deepen. Now is the time. Your teen needs you!