Taking the Kids™
When Grandma and Grandpa Take the Grandkids
Go for it, Grandma!
Some hearty grandparents are out skiing, playing golf, and touring New York or Yellowstone with their grandchildren. Others lead the way in wheelchairs or motorized scooters. It doesn't matter. What counts is how hard they try to create happy vacation memories for their grandchildren, many of whom live thousands of miles away.
I hear from grandparents all over the country who want to plan trips with their grandchildren. (Send your favorite tales about traveling with grandkids and grandparents to Eileen@takingthekids.com.)
Here are some useful rules for multigenerational vacations. I hope they make your travels with your grandchildren easier, happier and, in some cases, cheaper.
- Always plan to go someplace where there will be other children. No matter how much you love your grandkids, you'll need a break and some adult time.
- Cruises are always a good bet - they usually feature organized children's activities.
- Share a favorite passion. If you love baseball, take your Little League pitcher to watch their favorite team or to Cooperstown.
- Sign on for one of Elderhostel's grandparent-grandchild programs, some of which cost less than $600 a week per adult, and even less for kids (visit www.elderhostel.org).
- Don't let disabilities hold you back. Let the kids help wheel around the bags or the wheelchair. Avis now offers "Avis Access," which makes it easier for those with disabilities to rent cars with transfer boards to help ease passengers (or drivers) from a wheelchair into the car and other accommodations (Visit www.avis.com).
- Dust off the old photo albums. Take the opportunity to tell the grandkids what your life was like when you were their age, and show them some of your favorite haunts, whether a museum, hotel, or the part of the country where you were raised.
- Leave the planning to others. Whatever your budget and interests, you can let a company or an outfitter that specializes in multigenerational travel handle the logistics like Grandtravel (www.grandtrvl.com), Generations Touring Company (www.generationstouringcompany.com), and Tauck Bridges (www.tauckfamilydiscovery.com).
- Ask the kids what they'd like to do and where they'd like to go. They're bound to steer you to places you might have otherwise missed.
© Copyright Eileen Ogintz 2005
