Just wondering how many take mother/daughter trips and what types of places do you visit. My daughters are 16 and 17, we've never taken a trip without the guys ( I have a 19 yr. old son too), they both go on a hunting trip once a year. I thought it would be nice for just us girls to travel and bond. I've heard of others doing this, but always felt guilty for excluding the guys. How many do this and any ideas on what to do are appreciated?!

Mom would take me swimsuit shopping as a teen without my brother. Sometimes my cousin and aunt would come. It was fun (back when buying a suit wasn't a horrid experience as it is now). We would also have lunch out or catch a movie.

My DD is almost 8. I have taken her to lunch and had our nails done (filed and painted...the $5 job at the salon). She loved it. I've taken her to a place that does cool stuff with your hair (bows, braids, etc). I don't do all that jazz but it's fun for a day for her. I also do stuff with just my son. He likes to wander around Best Buy or Game Stop or we'll play mini golf and do lunch. DH doesn't have as much one on one time with the kids as I do which stinks. His schedule doesn't allow it.

I would start by doing a lunch or movie or getting your nails done. Have fun!

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We had some really great trips with my mom when my sister and I were younger. We did a weekend at the outlet mall, which included a day at the spa. We also did a camping trip that was SO much fun! It was hilarious I'm sure being a bystandered, since the things we had to do were what Dad normally did!! We would also go for a weekend up to my great grandmas in Pennsylvania and take her out for the weekend. She really, really enjoyed that.

Now that were older, we takes trips with my mom every few years. The last one was to Chicago. We visited the Navy Pier, a park, and each had pedicures and a massage done.

We did one big trip before we got married with just my mom (my friend's mom did the same thing for her). We went to Chicago for the weekend and shopped. The only trips I take with my dd are for Girl Scouts, and having been on a few I'd gladly send someone else with her if I could.
What about the Mall of America? Lots of shopping, food, and a mini amusement park.

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I go on trips with my Mother with some frequency. We've gone to Nova Scotia, Alaska, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Maryland, Orlando, California and one year to celebrate my graduating high school we went on a 20+ day tour of England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

I'd suggest a Cruise myself, you can be together and be separate. You know they're pretty safe on the boat - you can take excursions together or separately. We particularly enjoyed our Alaskan Cruise Tour (land and sea) with Holland America.

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All of my trips have been just me and dd12 and dd14. I am married but we have a dairy farm so someone has to be home. Also my dh is only interested in motorcycles and motorcycle races so he doesn't want to go places with us anyway, sad but true.

Anyway we live in WI and have been to Wisconsin Dells many times. We also enjoy the Mall of America in MN.

This October will be our first big trip. We're going to Disney World for a week.

A few years back before my boys left for college I took them one at a time to the Mall of America in Minnesota. The youngest one wanted to go over Easter break and the oldest one wasn't available so just the 2 of us went. Then the oldest one wanted to go in early August so I took him. It was great just to have some one on one time with each of them.

By doing it this way, I got to go to the Mall of America 2 times. Yippee!

We live in NW Ohio so we flew out of Detroit. At the time it wasn't too pricey and when we got there we bought one of those mall entertainment books and got a discount on just about everything we wanted to do and buy.

Why would you feel guilty leaving the guys, when they go on a hunting trip once a year and leave the girls behind?

Anyway, I have taken many trips with my mom and sisters over the years (for example, Australia, Japan, China, NYC, etc.). I have the best memories of those trips and am so thankful that my mom was able to take us on those trips.

As a mom of a boy and girl, I still do the mother/daughter trips, although they're not quite as exotic as the ones I took with my own mother. And the boys get to bond while we're away.

Yes! My daughter, who will be 21 this year, has been my Pearl Jam show buddy.
In 2006 we flew to Chicago to see them.
Last summer we flew to SC to see them and then flew to Milwaukee to see Eddie Vedder.
PJ is not one of her favorite bands, but she does always enjoy the trips.
We do other stuff too. Since we have never been to most of these places we always go a day early to see some sights too.
We usually organize a fundraiser before the shows and she likes to help out with those too.

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Are either of them college-bound? I have been doing college visits with DD over the past 6 months. They are very fun and informational. College towns have alot going on and make for some very fun trips. Sometimes DH comes with us.

Thank you for your replies and suggestions! I got to thinking after I posted how co-dependent that sounds about the guilt....one of those things you learn with age, I suppose. I do take yearly trips to Ks. with all the kids to see family, but for some reason felt like going for a joy trip without seeing family would be brazen! ha! We are planning our first all girl trip for the summer and hope to make it a part of their adult lives too.

I don't have daughters, but I would definitely take mother/daughter trips if I did. I have taken mother/son trips though...many times with each of them independently. It's a nice way to bond and just enjoy them without the "competition" of their brother (boys can be that way )

cj/

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