As our family of four packed for our trip to Kauai, I was looking forward to a lying on a beach and working on my suntan. Little did I know what my two teenage children had in store. After checking into our resort condo in Kauai, our teenagers who had done all their research online, informed us that we were going to have an action packed trip. After coming to a mutual agreement of dividing the days equally between action and relaxation, I agreed to go along for the ride.

Our first activity was a zip line adventure at a resort on the North shore. When we got there, we were glad to see that there were several other first timers just as nervous as we were. The whole experience was exhilarating and my teenagers were proud of me for having stepped out of my comfort zone and I would like to think that they respect me more.

No trip with teenage daughters is complete without a shopping experience. Walking around the shopping areas in Poipu, we found swimsuits and bargain souvenirs. Vendors are found at most tourist locations where you can find great deals on jewelry and earrings.

Another mother-daughter bonding moment was the trip to the spa. There's nothing like enjoying a manicure and pedicure together at a world renowned day spa. After our chocolate papaya mud wrap, we sat in the hot tub under the stars and drank water from the carafe that had floating strawberries and oranges.

While we were at the spa, my husband and my teenage son spent the day fishing. They went as part of a chartered boat tour and caught fish that they then brought to the local grill. The chef at the grill then cleaned and grilled the fish for them.

Next came the day at Anini beach. This experience afforded each of us the chance to do what each of us wanted without getting in each other's way. The teenagers chose to snorkel and swim in the ocean while the adults chose to snorkel a bit but then to lay on the beach and enjoy the sun.

As parents of teenagers, we strive very hard to find moments to bond with them. This grows harder as they grow older and have interests of their own. But if you can come up with a compromise, a trip to Kauai can be a trip of a lifetime creating memories that will be treasured for many years to come.

This travel advice for parents visiting Kauai with teens was contributed by Anita Menon.

Most parents agree that the best strategy to enjoy your family vacation in Kauai is to give everyone some of their own personal space to get some much needed private time Families with teens can spread out in 2 or 3 bedroom condo rentals or vacation home rentals in Kauai.