I remember feeling trapped at grandma’s house; fourteen-year-old Casey, trying to figure out how to play Uno by myself. Columbus, Neb. has never been a playground for the rich and famous, but when I was six it was great fun. I remember my pre-puberty-self digging through dusty crates of old toys, finding my father’s discarded army men or walking around in a “little backyard” that could have fit my house twice over. All of the sudden, at 14, this little town wasn’t exciting anymore.

It’s an awkward age. At middle school in the interval between being a kid and a full on teenager, it’s hard to know which childhood things will still be fun and which will feel remedial. Being stuck in the middle can be particularly confusing when traveling.

When you’re a tween, a lot of culture is pointed above or below you. Children’s museums are generally for children a little younger than you; more adult museums can be hard to access, or boring. Historical sites are as interesting as you are interested in them, concerts are often 18 or 21 and over and (in this country) they won’t let you into a bar.

For adults, traveling with a kid (or a tween) can have unexpected perks. A kid with a good attitude can lead you to do things you wouldn’t think to do otherwise. Going to a zoo, a carnival or a toy store may not be on your agenda, but these stops can be the most fun part of a trip.

Adults often forget the things that liked so much as children and it is during those years between 12-15 that they do that forgetting. As adults, we don’t deal with bullies or peers who would make fun of ...