First in a series
Mom and Dad are busy working to pay for the house, put food on the table, keep everyone clothed and develop their careers. The kids are off from school, the local summer "camp" functions only from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and a boarding camp is out of the question due to age, money, etc.
Meantime, Grandma and Grandpa are simply wasting away with nothing to do – right? They have not only the time but all that money and excess energy which they no longer have to expend on their jobs/careers. Wouldn't it be a great deal all the way around if the grands could take the children traveling?
Maybe so. I mean, it sounded great in theory.
So, building my theoretical framework, I decided to incorporate three elements into traveling with my grandchildren: (1) an experience specifically designed for grandparents and their grandchildren, (2) a trip to visit family and friends, and (3) winging it.
To encompass these elements, the obvious way to go was Elderhostel.
The Elderhostel program was developed in 1975 at the University of New Hampshire. It was founded by a man who had spent some time traveling through Europe in his 50s, staying in hostels, and he wanted to share his experiences with like-minded individuals. This year Elderhostel expects to provide around 270,000 individuals with experiences in some 10,000 programs provided by over 2,000 educational institutions. Membership in the not-for-profit organization is open to anyone 55 years old or better.
For this summer, Elderhostel offers more than 112 experiences for grandparents and their grandchildren. Given the growing popularity of this type of experience, there's every reason to expect even more in the future.
Since my family has always been on the move, we have relatives and friends scattered throughout the world. We have never been shy scheduling visits and have found such visits an affirmation of our love and friendship. The trick is to give ample warning concerning your intended visit and to be prepared not only to look after yourself so you are not a burden, but also to bring a quality experience to your hosts' lives. This quality contribution can range from undertaking necessary projects (such as fixing a serious stress crack and painting the interior of a friend's house) to taking everyone out to dinner in surroundings enjoyed by all.
While where to go is a major issue, how to go is equally important.
Grandparent/grandchild travel most likely starts at the grandchild's home. The Internet can be a big help in making transportation arrangements. Rental cars with unlimited mileage are a quick fix, but driving is not really conducive to enjoying the sights along the way and can lead to great stress caused by restless young companions. I prefer taking the bus, which places you above the herd for viewing, and the train, which allows for good freedom of movement. This leaves you free to have meaningful dialogue and interaction with your grandchildren instead of concentrating on your driving while shouting at them to behave.
Start by logging on towww.amtrak.com and www.greyhound.com. These sites allow you to research schedules and fares and choose among ticketing options. While both have senior and child fares, Amtrak has a host of most interesting itineraries and passes at special prices.
Travel sites such as www.frommers.com are also a great boon. Frommers has a budget travel section with suggested travel opportunities. This section used to be posted on a quarterly basis, but I was able to persuade them to update it monthly. This is where I first found the listing of the three weeks in Budapest for the price of two, and $599 weeks in London and Paris including airfare, hotel, breakfast and transfers.
If you have a special vacation interest – say horseback riding, country music and dancing, or bicycle tours – the Internet is your best friend. Simply log on to any good search engine and ask for the topic of your choice. One of the neat trips I found was a cruise from New York to Montreal via Bar Harbor and Quebec City. Tie this together with a train from point of departure to NYC and return through the Adirondacks, and you have a unique, fun trip. Winging it has never been so easy to plan.
But back to the grand-grand vacations. I decided to take my 5-year-old grandson on a train trip from Orlando, Fla., to Charleston, S.C., to visit his cousins. And after extensive research on the web, I decided to take my 9-year-old grandson to London for 10 days and wing it. While I knew I was treading on unfamiliar ground, I could not imagine just how tricky traveling with a child over whom I had no real authority and very limited familiarity could be.
Next: Riding the rails with a 5-year-old
