The Family That Plays Together Stays Together

America’s changing demographics and lifestyles have broadened the definition of "family" and, as a result, have changed how we travel with our loved ones.

Each year, more than 5 million family vacations include three generations, and, as a result, many families now face the challenge of finding a vacation that is suitable for everyone from toddlers to grandparents. Multigenerational vacations used to consist mainly of everyone crowding into grandma’s house. Today, however, more and more grandparents are joining in the family vacation experience to adventurous and exciting locations.

The new breed of grandparents has no idea how to play shuffleboard, nor do they intend to learn. Give them a tennis court or nine holes of golf, but don’t think for one minute that their idea of a vacation is sitting on the porch with a good book — well, maybe sometimes. But an inactive lifestyle is generally no longer in the equation for this generation. Some say that 60 is the new 40, making multigenerational vacations in great demand for family members of all ages.

An important consideration in putting together a three-generational vacation is accommodating everyone's needs. A good rule to remember is that the whole group does not need to spend the entire time together. Scheduling mini-adventures along the way enables the grandparents to spend valuable time alone with the grandkids to share stories and go on voyages of discovery. Parents can use the free time to enjoy other activities and will benefit from having a built-in sitter.

Multigenerational travel is being fueled by America’s large aging population and an increased separation anxiety among family members scattered nationwide. Reportedly, a third of all family travel is multigenerational. Since Sept. 11, an increasing number of people are traveling in family units due to a re-evaluation of priorities. Multigenerational travel has recently become one of the fastest growing areas of the travel industry as many families are now including grandparents, aunts, and uncles in the family getaway.

All across America, families continue to use travel as an opportunity for a family reunion. Independent numbers from the Travel Industry Association of America (TIA) confirm this trend and state that 34 percent of all adults have traveled to a family reunion in the past 3 years. With 52 percent of reunions being held in someone's home, 48 percent are selecting alternative destinations, which represent a tremendous opportunity for travel companies. Family reunions or multigenerational trips — at sea, at a beach resort, in a AAA Vacation Home, or in a city such as Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, or New York — which combine educational aspects with family entertainment, are a growing trend.

Choosing the right accommodations is crucial. For much less than the cost of multiple hotel rooms, a vacation rental home provides exactly what multigenerational families need — a sense of togetherness and privacy. An ideal alternative when one room/one bath accommodations is not enough, vacation rental homes include three-, four-, five- and even six-bedroom single-family homes with full kitchens, multiple bedrooms, and bathrooms, private pools, and washers/dryers. Grandparents and grandchildren often have different meal schedules, and young children may find it difficult to sit through three meals a day in restaurants, so stay in and save money. A vacation rental home allows the flexibility of dining in for breakfast, preparing sandwiches for lunch, and then giving the whole family a treat by going out for dinner.

A visit to Washington, D.C., with the AAA Exclusive Getaway “Our Nation’s Capital” includes hotel accommodations, plus the Old Town Trolley; hop on and off to explore the attractions that interest you most. Philadelphia’s Great American Getaway includes hotel accommodations along with the CityPass Sightseeing Ticket Book. Discover the sights and sounds of this historical city together — children will not even realize that they are learning along the way.

The multigenerational family vacation provides a unique opportunity to experience each other outside of the pressures of daily life and to create family memories to last a lifetime.

When planning your trip, contact your AAA Travel counselor or visit www.AAA.com to learn more about AAA Exclusive Getaways. Travel packages include hotel accommodations, plus some of the most popular attractions in cities across the United States and Canada.