A three-week road trip up the California Coast allowed plenty of time for discovery. ©Dawn Damico
Destination Travel/ Skip-Generation Travel Benefits
We were riding down the freeway three days after our trip to Mote Aquarium in Sarasota, which included a late lunch at Ford’s Garage, when from the back seat, a little voice said, “Nona, what was that Ford’s man name again?”
I answered, “Do you mean Henry Ford?”
“Yes,” she said. She repeated the name to herself a few times. Then came the next question: “Did he make all the cars on this road?”
From there, we talked about cars and horses and buggies. I explained that while Henry Ford didn’t make all the cars we see today, he was an inventor who thought really hard about how to make things better, and he built one of the early cars. Other people after him used some of his work to build the cars we see today.
Then I said, “Do you remember when we test drove the Tesla? Most of the cars you see on the road need gas to go, and a man named Elon Musk thought about how cars could be even better. His cars use batteries instead of gas. He thinks about solving things just like Henry Ford did.”
She practiced saying his name a couple of times. Then she asked, “Are Henry Ford and Elon Musk friends?”
I said, “They probably would have been.”
The conversation went on a little longer, but here’s why I’m telling you this: kids and grandkids remember a lot more than we think they do. A meal at a restaurant named for an inventor was not only remembered three days later, it sparked a conversation about innovation and problem solving. That’s pretty incredible.
This is the power of skip-generation travel. Little moments. Opportunities to explore and discover. And unrushed time to process the world you’ve helped them see.
I can write about where to go for skip-generation and multi-generational vacations and create itineraries I’ve tried myself. And I do. Yet, there is a reason I do that.
By 2030, every baby boomer will be 65 or older, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. And, research is starting to show that more Boomers and Gen Xers are planning, or doing, skip and multi generational travel. It’s exciting to think that we live in a time where the knowledge and experience from older generations can be shared with the newest generations through travel, something that often feels a lot like play.
Interwoven into all of the trips that I take with my grandkids is that foundational “why” for planning the experience in the first place.
But let’s be real: sometimes the planning can be overwhelming, and sometimes trips don’t go as planned. In those moment, you might wonder why bother?
And then, you get the reward during unexpected moments.
The First Trip: The Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C.
The first skip-generation travel experience can be filled with awe and wonder…and a lot of running. Embrace the adventure. ©Dawn Damico
One of our first trips with “little one” was to Washington, D.C. It was a series of museums, zoos, food, and multiple forms of transportation. And there was a lot of running…seriously!
When we travel together, I usually let her move through the whole place quickly. Then we look at the map, and she decides where to go back and explore.
For our first museum, it was a great plan, but on the second pass, she was still moving pretty fast. We didn’t have many “Let’s read this information card together” moments…at least not past the first couple of sentences.
So I pulled out my phone and started taking videos of the exhibits as we walked. Later that night, after dinner and before lights out, we cuddled up and watched them. I didn’t expect her to remember much, or even be interested, but she surprised me. She named what was in the videos, told me what she remembered and what she thought was cool and silly, and pointed out things I’d missed.
The point: she remembered more than I thought. Recording something for later was a better decision than forcing a pace that probably would have frustrated both of us.
Coral at the Aquarium: Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium
Once you decide to make the time for skip or multi generation travel, purchase a membership and a zoo, aquarium, or museum. Many have reciprocal programs with other venues around the country. This helps keep your budget in check. ©Dawn Damico
The night before our visit to Mote, we watched a documentary about the ocean. Part of it covered coral reefs.
The aquarium has a lab where they grow coral. What a great coincidence: she got to see real people doing real science, the same work the movie had talked about the night before.
Even more amazing, and another reminder that grandkids absorb more than you think, was her conversation with an aquarium volunteer. What started as a simple “Oh look, they’re growing coral!” turned into a mini lesson, with both of them fully participating.
Pro Tip: Buy a membership for a museum, zoo, or aquarium. Many have reciprocal relationships for other places around the country. Inquire with the location.
Skip-Generation: Little Moments, Big Rewards
Sometimes you just have to make a decision about how you want your grandparent years to look. However you choose to do it, the payoff is priceless. ©Dawn Damico
I can’t promise that every trip you take with your grandchildren will be idyllic. We’ve had moments that weren’t. But I can promise you’ll have opportunities to share the journey, feed their curiosity, curate their experiences, and help them navigate what they see, hear, taste, and do.
Helping build their confidence and curiosity, without rushing, might be what they carry with them as they venture out into the world on their own terms.
For me, that’s the “why” behind skip-generation and multi-generation travel.
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