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Take a Better Family Vacation

Remember your teenage summers on the lake? We can do it again with an upgrade. VRBO and Airbnb open up more options each year — more destinations, more options, less stress and more fun.

Growing up, I looked forward to our family vacations all year long — despite the fact that it often meant a full day of riding in the very back of our family station wagon, with pit stops at rest areas to quickly eat those homemade sandwiches. My grandfather rented a house every summer on Fenwick Island in Delaware for two weeks. This 5-bedroom house was 4 blocks from the beach, had no television, no telephone, no air conditioning, an outdoor shower, and housed 15 of us. As a child/teenager, it was awesome! And, there is absolutely no way to recreate that time in our lives. 

With a consistently growing reliance on technology and comfort (I kinda need air conditioning these days), family vacations seem a lot harder to schedule while rental homes certainly offer a lot more. With kids in summer camps versus roaming the streets on bikes until sundown, it is hard to find a week when 18 people are available. 

Keeping this tradition alive has been very important to my mom and her 9 grandchildren. Over the years, I’ve grown to value the hard work that goes into planning and executing a trip with this many personalities, variables, and calendar issues. The trip itself can bring such joy and so many amazing memories, but the planning — the planning can be more than stressful. 

The Benefits of a Multigenerational Family Vacation

My siblings, cousins, aunts and uncles still talk about those lazy summers full of fresh watermelon, body surfing with my grandfather, card games, fireflies, sunburns, and walks to the ice cream shoppe. We want to be able to provide those types of memories for our own kids. I’ve come to realize that while the gatherings feel different, they are still perfect in their own way for the generations behind us. All the benefits are still there, they just evolved. 

  • Creating memories. Spending extended time together allows for building shared experiences across generations. This quality time creates lasting memories and a greater sense of unity within families. Even the “bad experiences” create some of the best memories. These trips can shape who you are and how you view your place in the world. 
  • Sharing generational exchanges. Multigenerational vacations provide opportunities to share unique perspectives and traditions. This exchange can lead to a rich appreciation of each other’s backgrounds and experiences. My kids love to hear my mom talk about what life was like for her growing up and she loves teaching them the popular games of her youth. Conversely, my mom always learns a new slang word and tries to keep up on technology and social media.
  • Learning to be supportive and flexible. Having multiple generations together means more hands to help with small children, giving newer parents some downtime. My adult children love playing with their much younger cousins. Similarly, older family members can receive the connections they often crave — especially if your family is spread apart geographically. My mom is never happier than when we are all under one roof. No matter where or how short the time is. 
  • Sharing in costs. Traveling as a larger group can sometimes lead to cost savings. Dividing a rental home or condo by 4 or 5 can make the stay much more affordable. We often take turns cooking — with each family responsible for one or two nights. Although, there is always that one family member that is not so talented in the kitchen — that usually turns into a pizza night.

Don’t Wait for Perfection

This year was harder to plan and we were not able to find a full week where everyone was available. One sibling is in-between jobs, the matriarch just moved into a senior community, and one adult grandchild is in the middle of her first “real world” internship — so we had to get creative with this year’s family vacation. We found a long weekend in the city hosting the aforementioned internship and booked a spacious house with a pool and lots of outdoor space. 

When it comes to multigenerational planning, some tips to reduce a bit of stress:

  • Plan way ahead if possible. The years where we all agree on a certain week an entire calendar year prior certainly made it easier. The longer out you can plan, the better. 
  • Allow for flexibility. Life happens and sometimes one person or one family will not be able to come — and that is okay. Do your best to accommodate unique situations — like planning the trip in a non-traditional setting versus the normal beach or mountain vacation. 
  • Make space for different types of joy. Some family members love playing games or planning activities, while some prefer a bit of peace and quiet. Don’t over-plan and allow for some “free” time. 
  • Have fun. Something is bound to go wrong with larger gatherings — an illness, an injury, or a family squabble. Knowing that will be the case can allow for giving grace and keeping emotions at bay. 
  • Take the time. We all get busy and are pulled in a thousand different directions. But, time spent with family (those you were born into and those you find) is often priceless. Life can be joyful, but it can also be tragic — don’t put off that time together. 

Just as we at AGEIST believe that your journey towards better health and wellness does not need to be perfect, neither does a vacation. It does not have to be in an Instagrammable location with perfectly coordinated vacation wear. It just needs to happen — to allow for stepping away from the daily duties and relaxing a bit. 

Making New Memories

Memory formation is linked to enhanced mental health and promotes a feeling of connection. While my kids are technically adults, they both do value family time — albeit differently. They already share stories of past vacations with the cousins (ranging in age from 4 to 21) and look forward to creating new ones each year. This year, the laughter alone made the trip a success! 

We swam, played cornhole, made pancakes on the outdoor griddle, visited the chickens on the property, spit watermelon seeds, and watched the Summer Olympics each night. While it was not our normal week-long trip to the beach, we made the most of our valuable time together. 

What do your summer vacation plans look like this year? Is it a solo trip or multigenerational travel? Are you staying close to home or venturing out of the country? We’d love to hear about those memorable family vacations. Do you wax nostalgic for the summers of your youth? I certainly do. 

See medical disclaimer below. ↓

16 COMMENTS

  1. This sure brought back memories of many summer vacations! The planning can be challenging but the results are worth it. I am blessed to have children and grandchildren who love to get together as often as we can. Summers are the longest visits but sometimes we manage during the year. No matter what you do, make time for family it’s worth every headache and planning!

    • So glad to hear you have great memories of summer vacations and that new travel- related memories are still being made. Family vacations are certainly worth the time, expense, and effort!

  2. Family vacations growing up were wonderful. My parents had a very small house on the gulf and we spent so much time there every summer! My son loved his time there. He learned to bodysurf during those lazy summer days!!

    • I love that your family had a special place to go each summer – those memories are invaluable! I feel the same way about mine. I hope you are still making more.

  3. I agree with this article about the importance of family vacations. Growing up, family time had a huge impact on me, and we shared this experience with our children. I look forward to continuing this tradition and creating memories by vacationing with our grandchildren in the future.

    • Family vacations had such an impact on me growing up as well. I love hearing that others feel the same way about their youthful travel with family – and I too am looking forward to creating similar feelings for our future grandchildren.

    • I totally agree – family vacations can be all those things and more! But, it seems to be that the memories made are worth it.

  4. Looks like a perfect place to relax and recharge. For children and grandchildren can renew relationships in a beautiful place.
    Something I will be talking to family for further vacation
    Thank you for the introduction

    • I am so glad you like the idea that vacations can take many different forms. And, I agree that the time spent together can be used to relax, recharge, and renew! Let us know if you get something planned – we’d love to hear what you end up doing.

  5. What a great article! Family vacations are so important! So many memories made with family! I hope I continue with my grandkids our 4th of July family trip every year!

    • I love that you already have a traditional family trip each year! We’ve looked at taking a vacation that week, but prices can be higher and we are on a budget – so we usually default to a different week. That is what I love about Airbnb and VRBO – you can easily look at a variety of dates and options for pricing and availability.

  6. Highlighting the importance of intergeneration engagement is so important, so many lessons and stories to pass down.

    • I have to agree – time spent with my grandparents during those summers has stayed with me for decades. And, you learn to value the contributions of extended family.

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The ideas expressed here are solely the opinions of the author and are not researched or verified by AGEIST LLC, or anyone associated with AGEIST LLC. This material should not be construed as medical advice or recommendation, it is for informational use only. We encourage all readers to discuss with your qualified practitioners the relevance of the application of any of these ideas to your life. The recommendations contained herein are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. You should always consult your physician or other qualified health provider before starting any new treatment or stopping any treatment that has been prescribed for you by your physician or other qualified health provider. Please call your doctor or 911 immediately if you think you may have a medical or psychiatric emergency.

Ashley Feltner
Ashley is a writer, an artist, and an ideator who has placed storytelling into her process for bringing sales and marketing ideas to life for over 20 years. Her background includes recruiting, training, content development, and ERG leadership within highly matrixed organizations that provide her a unique perspective and an ability to authentically connect with individuals from all walks of life. With the desire to place a little humanity into the digital experience, Ashley believes that words do matter, a little empathy goes a long way, and having a purpose in life is imperative. She and her husband Gabe live in Nashville, TN with two very active teenage daughters and two very lazy field spaniels.

 

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