“It had just opened, and we were beyond excited,” she says.
The family took a train from Florence, South Carolina, with stops in Michigan and Minnesota.
“People were fascinated by our Southern accents,” she recalls.
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Yet for Douglas and three other Southern grandmothers, there’s nothing quite like it.
Here’s how they makebig family tripswork.
“Our Barcelona rental has six bedrooms, each with its own bathroom,” she says.
Jen “JJ” Booth McPhee, a Fernandina Beach, Florida grandmother, agrees.
When her familyvisits her home for the holidays, she considers a hotel rather than a rental house.
“I book hotel rooms for the parents the day after Christmas,” she says.
“That way they get a break, and I get more one-on-one time with my grandkids.”
Hardaway, who has three grandkids under age four, stresses the importance of keeping things simple.
“Grandparents can give exhausted parents a much-needed break.”
Douglas, who recently took her family of 13 on a safari in Kenya, emphasizes not overscheduling.
“Kids are usually just excited to be along for the ride,” she says.
Flexible activities are key.
Curran suggests planning one optional activity per day.
Both Douglas and McPhee agree: when in doubt, opt outside.
Divvy Up Responsibilities and Consider Budget
McPhee’s family, for instance, divides up meal preparation.
Each family is assigned a dinner to handle.
Curran shares a savings strategy she’s used since her boys were little.
“We used to set aside $50 in an envelope for each day of the trip.
If everyone cannot make the trip, take it in stride, Curran says.
There’s no point in making anyone feel guilty for schedule conflicts.
The most important thing isn’t the destination or even the itineraryit’s the time spent together.
