Lillian’s Decade Trip
The Decade Trip
When each of our grandchildren turn 10, Ed and I take them on a “Decade” trip (AKA “Skip-Gen” trip, no parents allowed) We choose this age because, according to the AARP article that inspired us, 10-year-olds can take care of themselves (mostly), have fairly flexible schedules, and are still eager to do things with their grandparents. Six summers ago we took our first decade trip with Michaela, and if you follow my blog you will remember the trip we took last summer with our special needs granddaughter Melanie.The RV Adventure Begins
This summer it was Lillian’s turn to celebrate her first decade of life . She is a bright, fun-loving girl who, as it turns out, is a savvy traveler. (Check out her hilarious travel-tips here: Travel Tips From a Ten-Year Old) Several years ago, we started a National Park Passport for Lillian, so her Decade trip was centered around the theme of National Parks and Monuments.
The Grand Canyon
Our trip began with a train ride from Williams, AZ to the Grand Canyon. The two-hour train ride takes you directly to the village at the South Rim. (If you have a National Park Pass, the park entrance fee is deducted from your ticket price) There are several packages to choose from, but we found the day trip was perfect for an introduction to the Canyon.
The first glimpse of the Canyon takes your breath away! We walked on the paved pathway around the rim, then went to the visitor’s center so Lillian could get her Jr. Ranger Booklet. We enjoyed lunch in the Canyon Room at the historic El Tovar Inn. Travel Tip: If you plan to eat at the Inn, make reservations ahead of time.
After lunch, we had time for a short hike down Bright Angel Trail, Then we cooled off in the gift shop as we shopped for souvenirs . Travel tip: As part of the Decade trip, we gave Lillian a set amount of cash that she could use for souvenirs. She enjoyed being in charge of her own money and it gave her the chance to budget and prioritize what she wanted to buy.
Before boarding the train for the return to Williams, we went back to the visitor’s center where Lillian presented her completed activities and was sworn in as a Jr. Ranger at Grand Canyon National Park.
Petrified Forest/Painted Desert
The next day we drove from Flagstaff, AZ to the Petrified Forest National Park. Our first stop was the visitor’s center for our second Jr. Ranger Packet. The Petrified Forest is part of the Archeology Jr Ranger program as well.
Part of the Painted Desert runs through the Petrified Forest National Park. Here we observed the interesting formations and petroglyphs.
Four Corners National Monument
This was not on our original plan, but Lillian had heard about it and thought it would be fun to stop at the only place in the US where four states meet at one point. It is very remote, a two-hour drive from Gallup, New Mexico through Native American Land .The monument is managed by the Navajo Nation. If you have the time, it is definitely worth a visit.Travel Tip: There are bathrooms at the site, but be sure to do a potty stop before you start and bring water and snacks.
Gateway Arch National Park
After driving through Texas, Oklahoma, and Missouri, we arrived at our final destination before rendezvousing with Lillian’s parents in Indiana. The area surrounding the St. Louis Arch was designated as a national park in 2018. We enjoyed the ride to the top, and the visitors center under the arch is very nice. Here Lillian received her third Jr. Ranger badge and another stamp in her National Park Passport book.
Reflections
Our third, and final (unless our children surprise us) Grandparent/ Grandchild Decade Trip is in the books. Soon Lillian will be moving on, as our other two granddaughtes have, to middle school, high school, busy schedules, lives full of promise. This is as it should be. For us, these Decade trips have been so very special. A way for us to get to know each granddaughter, enjoy their unique personalities, and share memories that will last a lifetime.
Threads of Thought:
If you’re like me, you have thousands of pictures saved on your phone. But for special trips like this, I put together a photo albulm (I use shutterfly) and make a copy for my granddaughter and one for us. That way we have pictures and details to revisit whenever we wish.
I am a grandparent,retired teacher, travler, blogger, and author. Read about my transition out of teaching and into a writer’s life in Out of the Crayon Box: Thoughts on Teaching, Retirement, andLife
what a wonderful trip for all of you. Making memories can be so much fun!!
It was a great trip!