At first, multigenerational vacations helped reduce stress. Now, it's become so much more.

My son is 9, and we've been going on multigenerational trips with my parents since he was little. In the beginning, having extra hands mostly just helped reduce stress while traveling. Being together in new places has meant so much more, though, over the years. Our first multigenerational trip was in Carmel-by-the-Sea. My little guy was only 3 months old. In the beginning, vacationing with my parents made trips feel less stressful. If I ran out of diapers, my dad would run out and get them. If my son got bored, my mom would draw pictures with him. Multigenerational travel meant I had time to put my feet up and drink a cup of coffee before it got cold. Over the years, traveling with three generations has become so much more meaningful than simply an extra set of hands. Now that my son is 9, I feel like we're in a sweet spot: my son still thinks I'm fun to be around, my parents are a huge help, and we all enjoy vacationing together.

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