I’m writing this for all my grandparent friends who have wonderful grandkids and yet don’t know what they can do with them other than the usual gifts, sleepovers, family dinners, phone calls, and cards.  The relationships between grandparents and their grandchildren are individual and as unique as the hues in a rainbow, the intricacies of snowflakes, or the artfulness of a child’s drawing. 

Grandparents have the awesome opportunity to teach their grandkids culture, which according to Webster’s dictionary is “the totality of socially transmitted patterns in arts, beliefs, institutions, and all other products of human behavior and thought characteristics of a community and a population.”

One such grandparent character that I know has traveled the world, experienced cultures of many nations, and had many challenges in trying to deal with the criminal element of those cultures as well as the refined societies many of those nations exhibit.  How intriguing it is to hear stories of how he placed a small squeezable pocket light in his mouth and lit up the side of his cheek to cause the Amazonian Indian tribesmen to back away (while in the midst of attempting to push him around).  Can’t you just picture that?  Or the time he wadded through a crocodile infested lake to get to the other side of the forest?  And what about the time he strapped himself to one of the pontoons on the floatplane?  Just to name a few of the zesty zany experiences in his travels.

His grandkids are just in awe of him and his stories he tells.  Hopefully he will plan a trip and take them on an adventure.  Many grandparents don’t think about traveling with the grandkids.  While it is true that the majority of families will take the kids to Disneyland or some other themed entertainment, there are opportunities for grandparents to reserve a place on a dinosaur dig, ride the trains of the American West, see the beauty of Italy, experience London, Paris, New Zealand, Africa safaris, cruises, adventures to Galapagos Island, and even have some private trips planned all by a professional tour company, Grand Travel, a division of Academic Travel Abroad.   With over 50 years experience, these tour professionals are able to help you develop a culturally packed vacation where you invest precious time in the development of your grandchildren socially, culturally, and intellectually. 

“Developed by a team of teachers, psychologists and leisure counselors, GRANDTRAVEL is dedicated to helping grandparents create lasting memories for themselves and their grandchildren. We know that when grandparents and grandchildren travel together, they are drawn closer and relate to each other in remarkable new ways. GRANDTRAVEL expands the world of grandparent/grandchild relationships.”

Although I never experienced foreign travels with my grandmother, I did however have many adventures with her in our travels from Texas through New Mexico.  I’ll never forget the bond that developed between us and how we became best friends.  I wouldn’t ever take anything for those precious days. 

For all you grandparents who read travel, I hope this stirs a place within your heart to plan some type of vacation whether a few days or a few weeks together.  The bonding and imparting of family history will keep the family ties strong.  Your grandchildren will have a most valuable treasure that others can only dream of having.   Happy Traveling to you and the grandkids!

(photos courtesy of www.Grandtrvl.com   and www.stock.xchng)