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Teens can be equal parts fun-loving and frustrating, especially when it comes to travel. They鈥檝e outgrown petting zoos, merry-go-rounds and kiddie coasters. Now they want exhilarating adventures they can share, 鈥檊ram and brag about to their friends. We鈥檝e got you covered: here are eight of our favorite high-octane trip ideas for teens in the U.S.

San Luis Obispo County, California

San Luis Obispo County (fondly known as 鈥�SLO CAL鈥�) lies mid-way between Los Angeles and San Francisco on California鈥檚 Central Coast. Boasting 315 days of sunshine and 80 miles of exquisite coastline, it鈥檚 no surprise the area is widely considered among the happiest places on the planet. It鈥檚 also home to a treasure trove of adrenaline-fueled adventures, like along the coast and darting across wind-swept natural sand dunes in a dune buggy at , the only California State Park that allows off-roading on the beach.

Navigating arches, grottoes, sea kelp and rock gardens 鈥� trusty paddle in hand 鈥� in a colorful kayak en route to Dinosaur Caves at Shell Beach is another favorite among teens. Stay at the new , which offers loads of fun family games, like Skee-ball and shuffleboard, as well as life-sized Scrabble and Lite Brite.

Santa Fe, New Mexico

Known for its rich Native American culture and Southwest-themed arts scene, Santa Fe is also a first-rate destination for thrill-seeking teens. offers active adventures across Northern New Mexico, like mountain biking along rugged dirt trails and high elevation mountain hikes. Book an exhilarating and uber-popular off-road 鈥淧inzie鈥� tour to craggy Diablo Canyon in a 4x4 all-terrain military vehicle. This three-hour rip-roaring ride wins over teens with a striking gorge just right for hiking and rock scrambling.

Stay at the . Its dedicated organizes guided hiking and biking tours in the scrubby high desert, as well as vibrant art tours along Canyon Road in historic Santa Fe.

Panama City Beach, Florida

Panama City Beach 鈥� really, most all of coastal Florida 鈥� may conjure images of sun-soaked afternoons spent lounging on a chaise while teens catch waves on boogie boards, but there鈥檚 so much more. PCB鈥檚 27 miles of white sand beaches and emerald-green waters were made for seaside adventures. Feel the rush and gentle ocean breezes as you parasail high above the Gulf of Mexico (up to 1,200 feet above the gulf waters) with . There鈥檚 nothing like having a bird鈥檚 eye view of the entire coastline.

For more sky-high views, take a seat in a helicopter with for a 28-mile open-air flight over Grand Lagoon and en route to stunning (which, yes, is known for its abundance of sea shells). Rent a jet ski from and revel in the refreshing gulf spray on an exhilarating loop around Shell Island and St. Andrews Bay. Keep your eyes peeled for dolphins in the crystal-clear waters. The new wows with easy beach access and a lazy river pool.

Family Cycling Vacation

Cycling is a fantastic way to enjoy the outdoors and explore new destinations as a family. Plan out an itinerary on your own, or better, tap an outfitter that offers carefully curated cycling vacations tailor-made for families. offers a six-day guided bike tour of Vermont, from the Champlain Valley to the Green Mountains, which includes cycling, of course, up to 32 miles per day, as well as swimming and sampling (ice cream, at the in Waterbury).

Some tour operators, like , make electric pedal-assist bikes (e-bikes) available to riders, which can make climbing elevations more comfortable and less onerous. Uber-popular six-day guided trips take teens and families across Maine, Mississippi, Florida and Massachusetts. All trips include vehicle support for riders and overnight stays in historic inns and boutique properties.

Michigan鈥檚 Upper Peninsula

For an action-packed winter adventure your teens won't soon forget, look to Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Here you鈥檒l have to make tough choices. As in, whether to snowshoe, snowmobile, go dog sledding or ride a fat bike on any given day to maximize your time in this glistening snow-covered winter paradise. In Marquette County, more than 60 miles of snow-packed trails await fat bikers eager to explore the terrain. Meanwhile, the state has more than 6,000 miles of groomed snowmobile trails and kids as young as 10 to 12 can drive their own snowmobiles across the powdery snow-packed trails.

Go in mid-February for the , a 230-mile sled dog race that is a spectator-favorite. Teens can drive their own team of dogs across 10 or 20 miles of snow-laded trails at in McMillan. Kick up the fun quotient with an overnight adventure that includes a stay in a yurt, a snowshoe hike and two dog sled treks.

When considering dogsledding activities, you should know People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) is opposed to dogsledding, while other groups like the Sled Dog Action Coalition and US Humane Society support recreational mushing as long as cruel practices (like beating dogs) do not occur.

Southern Utah

Southern Utah is a haven for outdoor enthusiasts thanks to a bounty of spectacularly beautiful state and national parks, like and Zion National Park. Go in shoulder season to bypass the summer crowds and enjoy Utah鈥檚 parks with room to move and explore. Consider decidedly underrated state parks, like Snow Canyon State Park. Set in the high desert of Ivins, this postcard-perfect park wows with its towering sandstone cliffs and stunning red rocks.

Kayak with your teens in the sparkling turquoise waters of the reservoir at in Hurricane or ride ATVs on 6,000 acres of orange-red sand dunes. Rent four-wheelers, like ATVs and UTVs, at . In Kanab, slow down and spend a few hours caring for homeless animals at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary. You鈥檒l gain serious cool points with your teens when you roll up to your stay in an Airstream trailer at in Escalante.

Las Vegas, Nevada

There鈥檚 much more to Las Vegas than casinos and shows. Here you鈥檒l find extreme adventures of all kinds that will wow even the most discerning teens, like ziplines, rugged hikes and . In Downtown Las Vegas (as in, Old Vegas), fly Superman-style at speeds up to 40 miles per hour across five blocks of Fremont Street with . It鈥檚 an exhilarating way to see the oddities and entertainers down below on Fremont Street, if very quickly.

Back on The Strip, one of the most heart-pounding attractions you'll find 鈥� possibly anywhere 鈥� is the , an open-air leap from 85 stories above Las Vegas Blvd. Don鈥檛 forget to breathe. For a terra firma adventure, look to nearby Red Rock Canyon. The 4.6-mile Turtlehead Peak Trail may be strenuous, but the sweeping summit views are rewarding. Escape the in-hotel slots with a stay at the where you can cool off in the private lagoon or take a stand-up paddleboard out on the lake.

Active Multi-Sport Adventure

For active adventures including a mix of activities, like hiking, biking, paddling and cruising, look to well-rated outdoor outfitters, like or , both of which offer thoughtful multi-sport adventure itineraries. REI Adventures, for one, offers family-centric adventures, like an action-packed at Zion National Park. Teens will be awed by the grandeur of this national park, including its 鈥檊ram-worthy red sandstone canyons, soaring peaks and thrilling hiking trails, like Angels Landing and The Narrows.

For an added boost of exhilaration, as well as s鈥檓ores-making after-dark, a on Washington鈥檚 San Juan Islands wows with scenic hikes and bike rides across gently rolling hills. On the water, go for a whale watch and an overnight kayak trip to Jones Island State Park. You can even sneak learning into your teen鈥檚 adventure vacay with a visit to a marine biology research lab.

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