The clichés about grandparents—slow-moving, chair rocking, “good old days” talking—have gone out the window. These days, they’re more likely to be found rocking and rolling down a river with a grandchild or two.

Margie Wholey, standing on left, joins her granddaughter Sunny, front left, grandson Zephyr and their other grandmother, CiCi, on the riverbank in Idaho.

Take Margie Wholey, for example. At 76, the retired lawyer and social worker, and grandmother of three, was preparing for her 26th Road Scholar trip in early July: six days of whitewater rafting and camping on Idaho’s Salmon and Snake rivers with grandson Zephyr, 15, and granddaughter Sunny, 13. 

This wasn’t her first whitewater adventure, though. She enjoyed rafting and kayaking long before discovering Road Scholar and their skip-gen programs.

Wholey’s first Road Scholar trip was in 2000, when she traveled with her mother and sister to Arizona’s Apache Lake. Years later, she and her sister embarked on one of Road Scholar’s skip-gen programs, bringing along three grandchildren, then 11, 9 and 9, on a rafting adventure through the Grand Canyon. 

“That was the lower part of the Grand Canyon, so that was more exciting and big water,” Wholey recalled. 

The experience was thrilling for the children, who were confronted with big rapids, and equally exhilarating for Wholey, who got to see her grandkids embrace the adventure.

Jackie and Charlie Berger of Montrose have also embraced skip-gen travel. Inspired by friends who introduced them to the program, the Bergers began taking their four grandchildren on adventures of their own. Their journeys have included Yosemite with Sarah, now 16, and William, now 18; the Channel Islands with Jesse, now 15; and Glacier National Park with Grant, now 13.

For both sets of grandparents, these trips were an opportunity to give their grandkids one-of-a-kind experiences, all while spending meaningful time together. 

GRAND ADVENTURES

Through these adventures, Wholey and the Bergers have discovered new dimensions to their grandchildren's personalities.

“It’s nice to see them in a different environment with other grandparents and kids and watching everybody connect,” said Jackie, 77. 

Wholey noticed that Zephyr socializes by sharing his enthusiasm for sports, while Sunny prefers to bond with a special buddy during the trip. 

These excursions have also revealed some delightful surprises. 

“We learned that our grandson knows every word to ‘Bohemian Rhapsody,’” said Jackie. “I didn’t even know he knew the song!” 

Wholey has enjoyed every Road Scholar trip she’s taken. Even activities she wasn’t initially enthusiastic about—like a scavenger hunt involving selfies with 15 different items—ended up being more fun than she expected.

She also emphasized that Road Scholar trips are extraordinarily safe, thanks to the expertise of the counselors and guides. 

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“They completely engage them. I just kind of watch it all happen and let the kids go,” she said.

The Bergers shared similar praise, acknowledging the way the guides skillfully balance the needs of both the kids and the grandparents. 

Jackie Berger goes ziplining with her grandkids.

“You are responsible for your grandchildren. You need to make sure they follow the rules and stay out of trouble,” said Charlie, 80. “But there are activities designed specifically for kids. They go off and do their thing, and grandparents can watch—and there are other programs where grandparents aren’t invited.” 

This structure encourages the children to become more independent while the grandparents enjoy some well-earned downtime, either alone or in the company of others their own age.

VARIETY—THE SPICE OF SKIP-GEN

With Road Scholar, one of the biggest perks for grandparents is that they don’t have to worry about the logistics—the company takes care of most of the planning, leaving them free to enjoy the experience.

“Their catalog is unbelievable,” said Charlie. “Just decide how much money you want to spend and how long you want to be with your grandkid. Then just pay them the money, get your kid and go.”

For younger kids, ages 5-8, there are trips like exploring Revolutionary War history in Virginia or wildlife in Costa Rica. Kids aged 9-12 might embark on a Harry Potter-themed outing at Universal Studios or snorkel in Puerto Rico. Meanwhile, older teens (13-18) can enjoy trips like sailing on a shrimp boat in Georgia’s Barrier Islands, climbing a lighthouse or meeting injured sea turtles.

“Road Scholar has a variety of trips that aren’t national parks, but somehow, with our kids, these just seemed to work best based on their interests and ours,” Jackie said.

She also remarked on how much Road Scholar has evolved since her parents’ days of traveling with the organization, formerly known as Elderhostel. 

“Over the years, the hotel accommodations have become better and better,” echoed Wholey. “We’re staying in pretty nice hotels, we’re eating in pretty nice restaurants.”

INTERGENERATIONAL BONDING 

The Salmon River trip concluded on July 27, and Wholey reflected on the experience a few days later. The highlight wasn’t just the breathtaking scenery or the whitewater thrills, but the time spent with Zephyr and Sunny. 

Charlie Berger with grandkids, William and Sarah, on Road Scholar’s Magical Yosemite trip in 2018.

Jackie added, “I think they really appreciate having all of your attention with no parents around.”

Beyond the fun activities, skip-gen trips allow grandchildren to see their grandparents in new ways. On her Salmon River trip, Wholey “co-grandparented” with Cici, the mother of her daughter-in-law, Shana. For Sunny and Zephyr, this meant learning more about both grandmothers.

“It’s a gift,” said Jackie. “It shows them that you care about each of them individually, and you want to share this time with them.”

The Bergers let their grandkids choose the trip, but, just like with any gift, Jackie admitted she worries whether or not they’re going to enjoy it.

But on their most recent trip with their grandson Grant, the answer was clear. After they took him home and his mother tucked him in that night, he told her, “I wish I could do this trip all over again.”

“That made it all worthwhile,” said Jackie. 

Charlie added that traveling with grandkids has one clear advantage for grandparents over parents.

“The kids usually have figured out their parents’ buttons by age 10, but with grandparents, they don’t know those buttons yet,” Charlie said with a grin. “Plus, you can buy them an ice cream cone without having to ask permission first.” 

Learn more about traveling with grandkids at: RoadScholar.org/browse-collections/grandparent