Grand Travel

Traveling with the Grandchildren
When I was a kid, I spent a lot of time with each of my grandparents.  Some of my fondest memories of them are the trips and outings we took together.  I remember one time my paternal grandparents took my brother and I to Washington D.C.  We drove from Ohio to the D.C. area and then took a bus tour of the city. 

My maternal grandparents spent most of their free time camping, and they would often take us with them for the weekend.  It was special time to spend with each of them (without our parents) on these little trips.

Of course, that was over 30-something years ago.  Nowadays, grandparents traveling with their grandkids (with or without the parents) has become so popular that it’s earned a new term—multigenerational travel or grand travel. My own kids have traveled with my parents to such places as Ohio Caverns, to festivals, horseback-riding stables, historic sites and even to Guatemala.

Amir Eylon, State Tourism Director for Ohio says that this kind of travel is a trend that has been growing both nationally and in Ohio over the past decade.  “There are a few reasons why this is happening,” he explained. “First of all, parents are working longer and the grandparents have more discretionary income (pre current recession) and the flexibility of time to travel. Also, today’s grandparents are more mobile than any generation of grandparents before them, so they have a thirst to show their grandchildren the world if they can. And lastly, travel is an easy way for generations to connect, as they rely on active shared experiences versus passive activities.”

Sometimes grandparents want to expose their grandchildren to new cultures and experiences.  Seniors today are more travel savvy and may enjoy taking their grandkids on a foreign adventure. This type of travel works best with grandchildren at least eight years old.
Christina Woycitzky, travel specialist with Barefoot Travel says she is seeing more resorts catering to multigenerational travel. “We see more families traveling together (grandparents, parents and grandkids) and the travel industry is recognizing that,” she said. “Many resort hotels and cruise ships are converting their rooms into suites so that there is room for these larger groups traveling together. The big parks like Disney even offer multigenerational travel programs called ‘grand gatherings’ so that the grandparents and their grandchildren can experience the fun together.”
Tips for a Successful Grand Travel Experience.

Whether it’s a day trip or a weeklong adventure, here are a few tips to help create a memorable experience:
1. Plan carefully, considering your own limitations and the child’s age, energy level and interests.
2. Include the grandkids in the planning process. Show them pictures of where you plan to go and explain what the travel will be like (plane, car, train, etc.).
3. Have an emergency plan in the case of a lost child and take along a parent’s notarized authorization for medical care.
4. Pack children’s acetaminophen and cold medicine, ointment for bug bites and wounds, bug repellant, sunscreen, and a first aid kit.
5. Take their favorite snacks, games, toys, books and music.
6. Resist the urge to do too much. Try to have some down time and be flexible.
7. Start out with a short day trip before embarking on an extended trip.
8. Discuss rules in advance such as spending limits or how much time they are allowed on their DS or on their cell phone.
9. Include recreation time for the children.
10. Build memories by working together on journals and taking photos.