Boston turned 16! Can you even believe it? I started this blog shortly after he was born.
I had just quit my job, the house was so quiet and I was craving community. I know so many of you have watched him grow up and hearing that he’s 16… well, we can’t believe it! I thought for weeks on how I was going to celebrate him. 16 is such a big milestone!!
Buying him a car was off the table (we have an extra vehicle he’ll have access to but that’s not a fun surprise) and if you know anything about Boston, you know he hates birthday parties. At least that’s what he says.
He also says he doesn’t like to be surprised and I know that’s not true! Alas. I needed something awesome and that’s where the scavenger hunt idea was born. My friend Mel had the idea to have him drive around our town collecting clues and I thought it was the best idea! It was perfect.
He was so happy!! Multiple times he just gave me the biggest hug thanking me for the fun surprise. Felt so good to know that the effort we put in to make his birthday magical worked! After we ate dinner we gave him our final surprise, a little trip to anywhere he wants in the continental US with just his step dad and I.
He’s been wanting a ski trip for the longest time but I may have convinced him to try out Boston, his namesake city full of rich history and charm! Ultimately it’s up to him and I’ll keep you posted on where we end up. Blink and you miss it. I’ve got two years left to make the most of my time with him, makes me sick to my stomach to think it doesn’t last forever. In some ways though… it does. He’s one of my favorite humans to hang out with and I know our relationship will continue on after he’s graduated.
I took what I did for Boston based on your guys requests over the weekend and made it into a completely done-for-you Sweet 16 Scavenger Hunt PDF. You can grab the printable below. Remember, I’m not a graphic designer. This is as basic as you can get guys. I’m not going to lie though, it was pretty perfect for Boston. It’s totally FREE below!
👉16 Birthday Scavenger Hunt PDF
While we aren’t getting Boston his own car for his birthday we did give him all the new driver essentials! You can find them HERE!
AMAZON TEEN DRIVER CAR KIT LIST!
Tips for Making the Day Feel Extra Special
Start With a Memorable Reveal
Present the first clue in a way that feels intentional. A gift box, a balloon, a favorite treat, or tucked inside a birthday card. We opted for a gift bag from Boston’s favorite brand. We knew he would be hyped about it. The vibe of the morning sets the emotional temperature for the entire day.
Don’t Overschedule
Leave breathing room between stops. Some of the sweetest memories appear in the unplanned minutes.
Involve the whole family
Not only is your child turning 16 but your family is entering into a new world. It’s a big change and everyone can be involved.
Capture the Day
Assign someone as the unofficial photographer or create a shared album so everyone can contribute.
Trust me. You will revisit these photos.
End With Something Meaningful
We went home and had cake and ice cream. One of our favorite things while we’re at dinner at birthdays is going around and having everyone share their favorite memory or something that they love about the birthday person. It just makes the birthday meal that much more special. It would be so fun to have the last stop be grandparents house for cake and ice-cream.
If the PDF I made doesn’t fit your needs you can totally do it on your own through chatgpt. Take the idea and plug it in as a prompt. The more details you give the better your results are going to be. Be sure to include as many details as you can. Things like the length of time you want it to take, places you want it to go that are familiar for your child, and that you want it to be in the most logical route for each location.