Grandparent-grandchild getaways through Elderhostel

Calling all grandparents: Want some quality time with your grandchild this summer while winning major brownie points with her or his parents? Invite your budding young traveler on an educational adventure –- a trip that will teach you both a little something but is disguised as (totally) fun.

You could plan something yourself, but that might prove a headache. Or you could trust the very established Elderhostel, a nonprofit organization that runs educational travel programs internationally for seniors. Their experts do the planning for you in their wide range of summer “intergenerational tours,” organized into domestic and international destinations.

Sample tour: The upcoming tour Big Island of Hawaii Odyssey: Earth, Sky, and Sea, from June 29 to July 10, 2008, is set up for grandparents accompanied by a child 9 to 12 years old. You’ll hike over Kilauea lava flows, stargaze, horseback-ride, snorkel and learn about Hawaiian culture through storytelling and more.

Rates for the 11-night package start at $1,956 per adult and $1,856 per child (including taxes). Your flight isn’t included, but your package does include accommodations, most meals, transfers, tips, guides, expert lecturers and travel insurance.

But where this one tour is listed, there are plenty more. How about a five-night stay in nearly round-the-clock sunlight for the Mammoth Hunting Under the Midnight Sun in Alaska tour? Or Balloons, Trains, Rafts and Sundance in Utah, appropriate for kids as young as 6?

Check out the Elderhostel site for numerous trips that might just inspire some excited OMGs from your young travel pal.

Contact: Elderhostel, (800) 454-5768

— Susan Derby, Special to the Los Angeles Times

[Photo: Hanaunau National Historical Park, South Kona, Hawaii; Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times]

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This entry was posted on Monday, June 16, 2008 at 9:20 am by Susan Derby and is filed under Alaska, Family & Kids, Global, Hawaii, Hawaii's Big Island, Islands & Beaches, Last Minute, Outdoors & Adventure, Summer, Tours & Cruises, Utah. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a comment, or trackback from your own site.