Hello, dear readers. In this issue:

• Making memories through family travel

• Managing the trip for every age

• Closer to home

• Tips to travel by

Making memories through family travel

When my daughter and nephew were eleven and his brother was nine, my parents took my sibling and me, along with our kids, on a once-in-a-lifetime voyage through the Swedish Archipelago. This remarkable expedition, booked through Lindblad, was unique in several ways. We stayed in delightful Swedish inns and small hotels, and transportation was aboard a private yacht with a chef (yes, a Swedish chef the kids constantly asked to talk like the Sesame Street character), tour guides, and a foraging expert/photographer from National Geographic. The trip was filled with hikes, Viking villages and ships, seaport towns, and Scandinavian culture and cuisine – including an intimate coffee at a private home. The crew taught us a few words of Swedish that we still remember: “tack för fika.” (Thanks for the coffee.) 

Memories of the trip, the family's unity, the laughter, and the endearing moments with my parents live on in a beautiful, sentimental way. 

While your travel plans don’t need to be at the peak of luxury, trips like this are the kind that get retold at holiday dinners decades later and are the gold standard of multigenerational travel. 

The good news is that it can be replicated, and the ingredients are intentional.

Start with the why, then plan around it

The best multigenerational trips aren't built around a destination per se. They're built around a feeling. What do you want everyone to walk away with? A sense of adventure? A shared story? A slower pace that actually allows for conversation? Get clear on that first, and the logistics follow more naturally. And remember that when you’re traveling with children, their needs set the pace.

The trickier part is making the trip meaningful for all ages in your group. Siblings who are toddlers and pre-teens are, for all practical purposes, entirely different species when it comes to stamina, attention span, and what’s thought of as fun. The smartest approach is to plan for moments that work across ages – a boat ride, time at the beach, a nice meal – and inject age-specific activities throughout the day. Increasingly, the children are given a say, with "kidfluence" shaping everything from destination to daily activities.

PRO TIP: Ice cream works wonders for all ages!

The tiniest travelers (ages 2–7)

This age group thrives on pure sensory experiences. Itineraries are meaningless; they need space to roam, water to splash in, and adults who aren't stressed. 

Beach destinations along the U.S. coast, in the Caribbean, or on Mexico's Pacific coast are ideal. Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Turks and Caicos, Guanacaste in Costa Rica, or Los Cabos are easily accessible from most U.S. cities. 

Some also offer family-friendly resorts with kids' programming, so parents and grandparents can actually enjoy a quiet lunch. More on this later.

Manage expectations. Nap schedules still rule, meltdowns are part of the package, and the moments that matter most are usually the simplest: a shell found on the beach, a hammock shared with other family members, a brilliant parrot squawking its welcome.

The sweet spot: tweens (ages 8–12)

This is the golden window for multigenerational travel. Old enough to be genuinely curious and engaged, yet young enough to still think grandparents are cool. This age group can handle longer excursions, including snorkeling, kayaking, hiking, and cultural exploration, without worrying about the needs of small children.

National parks are having a well-deserved moment here. Glacier, Zion, and the Canadian Rockies (including Banff) are destinations that awe every generation at once. There's something about standing in front of something truly vast that levels the playing field between a 10-year-old and a 70-year-old.

The year after our Swedish immersion, we took another family trip through the Canadian Rockies, staying at Fairmont Hotels along the way – a trip I’d definitely take again. We left Calgary by bus, traveling through the weirdly wonderful hoodoos, majestic mountains, ice fields, and impossibly blue alluvial lakes. More information about this luxury tour is available.

Teenagers and twenties: The art of the opt-in

Here's the honest truth about traveling with teens, especially: control is an illusion, and the sooner you let go, the better the trip goes. Teenagers and twenty-somethings engage when they feel like participants rather than passengers. Give them a role: let them research one activity, choose one dinner, or navigate one afternoon.

Destinations with built-in appeal for this age group help enormously. Mexico City is having a cultural moment and rewards curiosity at every age. Montreal and Quebec City offer international flavor without international airfare or passport anxiety (and a good time for them to practice their French). Costa Rica delivers adventure, with zip-lining, surfing lessons, butterfly forests, and wildlife that can make even the most reluctant teenager look up from their phone.

The mixed-age reality

When the grandchildren span a decade or more in age, the trip requires built-in flexibility rather than fighting the chaos. 

• A home rental, from basic to lux: A villa in the Yucatán, a lakehouse in Ontario, a compound in Barbados often outperforms a hotel for this reason. Shared common spaces allow for natural gathering while private rooms preserve everyone's sanity.

• Plan one main experience per day that works for everyone. 

• Leave the rest of the day loose; it’s inevitable that someone will discover something along the way that’s worth a second look.

Some of the best multigenerational travel memories are made in the in-between moments: a card game filled with silliness and laughter, a grandmother teaching a grandchild to cook, a grandfather and teenager discovering they share something completely unexpected.

Closer to home, right now

With world events making long-haul international travel feel less predictable, North America, Mexico, and the Caribbean offer a genuinely compelling case. The variety is remarkable, from the cultural richness of Oaxaca to the raw beauty of Nova Scotia to the unhurried elegance of St. Lucia. You don't need to cross an ocean to create a memory that lasts for years.

You just need the right people, a little intention, and the wisdom to know that the trip doesn't have to be perfect to be unforgettable.

Some of the best proof of that is still being retold by people in their mid-thirties who once island-hopped through a Swedish archipelago with their grandparents.

Designing your best life: Tips to travel by

Multigenerational travel is no longer reserved for special occasions, as nearly 40% of leisure travelers took at least one such trip in the past year. Overall, these travelers want to create lasting memories, spend quality time together, and mark milestone moments. 

The most successful trips share two key traits: built-in downtime and pre-planned transportation. Managing varying energy levels and routines is far from glamorous, but it paves the way for the best memories.

• Grandparents typically drive both planning and budgeting, particularly at higher income levels. 

• Cruises and villa rentals dominate as top choices, and for good reason – these offer shared spaces for connection and private ones for recovery. 

• Enlist a travel advisor and/or tour operator if the trip is complex, such as Extraordinary Journeys.

Many luxury and higher-end hotel companies offer outstanding children’s programming.

Luxury & High-End Chains: According to Forbes]

• Ritz-Carlton: The "Ritz Kids" program offers activities designed around water, land, environmental responsibility, and culture.

• St. Regis: Offers Family Traditions programs, including specialized children’s clubs and family-focused activities.

• Four Seasons: Known for specialized kids' clubs and, for example, the Four Seasons Hualalai provides exceptional youth programming.

• Six Senses: "Grow With Six Senses" offers hands-on experiences focused on sustainability and local culture. 

• Fairmont Hotels: Depending on the destination, many of these hotels offer kid-friendly activities and amenities.

Family-Focused & Resort Brands 

• Westin Hotels & Resorts: Features Westin Family Kids Clubs in locations like Bali, Malta, and Mauritius, focusing on wellness and play.

• Loews Hotels: "Loews Loves Families" offers curated local experiences and partnerships for immersive experiences.

• Omni Hotels: Offers "Camp Omni Kids Escape" at various resorts, including Orlando, with movies, games, and tailored dinners.

• Holiday Inn (IHG): Known for "Kids Eat Free" programs and family-friendly pools/amenities.

Unique Immersive Experiences 

• Carmel Valley Ranch: Offers, among other activities, on-site beekeeping for families.

• Tides Inn: Features the Bayside Explorer Kids Club, ecology experiences, and a Maker Space for crafts.

• Hotel del Coronado: Offers surf lessons and beach activities for kids.

• The Ranch at Rock Creek: Offers immersive nature-focused experiences. 

• The Greenbrier Resort in White Sulfur Springs, WV, offers a wide variety of activities, childcare, and restaurants to appeal to any appetite. Babysitting service available.