Grandparents will criticize parenting styles. It will rain. Journeys International offers small group family trips to Belize, Costa Rica, Australia, Panama, Peru, Greece, Tanzania, Nepal, the Galapagos Islands and Samoa. Besides touring rainforests or mountain journeys, trips include cross-cultural meetings with other children. Boston-based Thomson Family Adventures sends multigenerational families on individualized trips to Alaska, Costa Rica and Africa, among other places, all designed with the kids in mind.
Cruises offer the benefits of an all-inclusive vacation with the bonus of seeing a new place.
And, because of increased competition in the industry, cruising has never been more affordable. Princess, Carnival, Holland America, Royal Caribbean and The Disney Cruiseline are especially popular with multigenerational groups. Book with a cruise expert. Tour the Basque country of France, the Austrian cities of Salzburg and Vienna, or cruise Alaska on a small boat, with activities designed to engage and educate children at the same time. Check with your university alumni association or favorite museum to see if they're now offering family trips.