Skip-Generational Vacations

By Jackie Devine Fairfield and its sister community, Lakes of Fairhaven, are unique. Possibly a third of their residents are at least 50 years old, and many of those folks are grandparents living close to and, like me, within walking distance of their grandchildren. However, even though many of us drive our grandkids to school and attend their ballgames, music programs, or dance recitals, we often don't spend quality time getting to know each other on a deeper level. Daily, we go about our scheduled routine and attend to the business at hand, and sometimes special opportunities to play and have fun fall by the wayside. That is why I decided to take my 12-year-old grandson Robbie on what has been coined a Skip-Generational Vacation. I felt it might give us a break from our fast-paced, hectic lifestyle. And if we succeeded in getting away together on vacation, all our other distractions and daily concerns might magically evaporate. I was also hoping it would give us time to build stronger bonds and allow me to play a unique role in imparting a few old-fashioned values, instilling a sense of family, and creating some cherished memories. So, in June, Robbie, his grandfather, and I charted our course, traveled over 2800 miles together, and delved into American history. We explored our nation's birthplace in Virginia. We walked along the site John Smith settled in Jamestown and explored replicas of the ships that brought him and other settlers to this country. We strolled down the streets of Williamsburg and traversed the halls of William and Mary College—one of the oldest institutions of learning in the country—and sat in the hall where many of our forefathers listened to lectures. We also participated in reenacting the British surrender to General Washington at Yorktown, where I played the part of George. Then we ventured to Washington, D.C., where we visited the Lincoln Memorial. Standing there together we recited Lincoln's Gettysburg Address. We toured the city, where we took in the monuments and caught glimpses of the other magnificent buildings we often see on TV. Our last stop was the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, where we had a private tour that proved to me how much Robbie already knew about paleontology and Egyptian history. The unexpected benefit of our trip was that Robbie got a chance to visit his ancestors' homeland, in both Missouri and Virginia, and discuss facets of his genealogy, allowing him to learn more about his family history. He reveled in hearing stories about his two greatgrandfathers who fought in WWII, where they were stationed, and their part in winning the war. Plus, he had the chance to listen to his granddad’s “fish” stories and catch a peek where he used to camp on the banks of Missouri's Meramec River. I firmly believe that our 2022 get-away was a total success. It brought us closer together and gave us a renewed appreciation of how lucky we are to be Americans.

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If you haven't taken a skip-generational vacation, you might want to consider one. Studies show that vacations where kids and grandparents travel together—and leave parents at home—are becoming increasingly popular. According to lifestyle magazine Sixty and Me and AARP. • One in five parents say their children have taken a skip-gen trip—that is, traveled with grandparents without the parents. • Six in 10 kids say they feel closer to their grandparents after taking a trip together. • 65% of children say they like to reminisce about taking vacations with grandparents. • More than a third of grandparents said they plan a skip-gen vacation in the next three years. I'll gladly offer my insight if you have questions or want more information about skip-generational vacations. I have plenty of experience. Over the years, I’ve scooped up my grands and taken them to San Antonio, Lake Medina, St. Louis, Memphis, and the east coast, sans parents. You can reach me at jackiedevine@peelinc.com.