Emily was watching a YouTube video recently that talked about hotels in Las Vegas. The narrator had basically categorized hotels into two groups – ones aimed at the “young, party crowd” and ones aimed at “seniors.” The “party” hotels tend to be loud, crowded, and full of young adults, while the “senior” hotels are quiet, tend to close up by 9pm, and have a mostly older clientelle.

My first thought was, “What if we’re neither of those??” Being in our early 40’s (and married), we’re over the all-night partying and hooking up, but we’re also not to the point of shutting everything down after Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy! (depending on the night, anyway). We still want to have fun; just a happy medium where we might stay up a little too late, have one too many drinks, but keep the noise to dull roar and respectfully return to our rooms without waking the rest of the floor.

Of course, Las Vegas isn’t necessarily a “family” location, so I can kind of understand why our particular demographic is not viewed as being “targeted,” but even family-friendly locations tend to miss out on our age brackets. Entertainment and activities are often geared towards elementary-aged children (which is fine), but what about when we’re traveling with teenagers? What might there be for them to actually enjoy?

Aidan and Emily at the Penny Arcade in Colorado Springs

On our recent trip to Colorado, we made a concerted effort to ensure our boys had fun, not just dragged along. One of our sons is a fan of Stephen King, so we visited the Stanley Hotel and took “The Shining Tour.” All three of our kids are big into gaming, so the Penny Arcade in Colorado Springs was a huge hit. There was also the Terror-Dactyl thrill ride, which they all enjoyed, but these are often the exception rather than the rule.

Maybe it’s because our particular age group is not one known for frequent leisurely travel. We’re the ones thought of as working full-time while raising our families. Once the kids come along, travel becomes something you do once a year for a week or two, not something done regularly. School, sports, extra curriculars, and of course, work can make travel schedules a hassle, and we’re no exception, but that doesn’t mean we don’t at least make the effort. Whether it’s the whole family, one-on-one trips with each of the boys, or just a couples getaway, traveling is something we all love to do. We just wish there were more options for stays and activities aimed at our particular ages: 40-something adults with teenagers.

Heck, it’s not even just traveling – finding activities even around home can be a struggle at times. It’s like the “parents of teens” demographic is limited to trivia nights and the occasional neighborhood get-together. None of those are bad, mind you – it’s just that there aren’t many other options available to us as a group.

What do you think? Are you part of the “not-quite-empty-nesters” generation? Do you find yourself wishing there were more locations, events, and activities that fit into where you are in life?