Tips For Planning a Trip with Grandchildren
Do you remember road trips with your grandparents? It didn't matter if you were sandwiched between your younger sibling and a cooler filled with all the fixings for a roadside rest area picnic, you were going on an adventure and that's what counted.
Fast forward to today, and you’re ready to relive those memories only now you’re the grandparents driving the trusty sedan. Multi-generational vacations have always been around, but now you’re the one in charge.
Traveling with grandchildren can provide a great bonding experience. Kids can be great tourists, especially after you determine how to balance the wants and needs of the kids with the adults. You can create great memories when you gear activities toward their interests. For example, if you’re a museum lover but know they won’t spend hours poring over old photographs or art pieces, consider attractions like the National Museum of Naval Aviation in nearby Pensacola. You can also give the kids room to stretch their legs and burn energy while you dive into history at Fort Morgan in Gulf Shores.
Plan a few low-key days at your Gulf Shores condo or Orange Beach hotel. Consider lodging options with unique water features like lazy rivers, slides or splash pads. Kids even love a great indoor pool. You’ll appreciate the ability to keep an eye on the grandchildren in a confined space, and they’ll be happy spending hours creating their own adventures in the pool area.
There’s no shortage of kid-friendly restaurants with sand areas or activities for the young and young-at-heart in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach. During the summer months, consider going to lunch rather than dinner or choose an earlier dinnertime to avoid long waits.
If you’re not ready for a full vacation with you and the grandchildren, a trip with the entire multi-generational family may be a fun way to ease into the idea. For more ideas read Three Tips to Planning a Multi-Generational Vacation.
