A family vacation with 12 people, spanning ages 14 to 80, sounds like the perfect recipe for unforgettable memories, a few challenges, and plenty of stories to tell. On this episode of Walks with Mom, Kim, a proud Gen Xer, and her 80 year old Baby Boomer mom, Karen, sit down to talk about their recent multi generational family trip to Big Bear Lake, California. After previously traveling together to Yellowstone, this family has learned that bringing multiple generations together takes more than booking a great house. It takes communication, flexibility, planning, and a willingness to let everyone enjoy the experience in their own way. Kim and Karen talk about the difference between a true vacation and a family trip, why everyone needs a role, and how giving family members the freedom to participate or opt out can make the experience more enjoyable for everyone. They also share how their nightly family dinners and family councils created opportunities to reconnect, laugh, share photos, celebrate the day's adventures, and have the conversations that often get lost in everyday life. In This Episode • The difference between a vacation and a family trip • What it takes to plan a multi generational getaway • Traveling with 12 family members ages 14 to 80 • Why everyone should have a role in planning • Creating meal and entertainment teams • Giving everyone permission to participate or opt out • The importance of advocating for yourself • How shared meals create opportunities for connection • Why family councils became a highlight of the trip • Turning everyday moments into lasting family memories • Making room for different ages, personalities, interests, and abilities • The importance of slowing down and having organic conversations with family Family Trips Are About More Than the Destination The destination may have been Big Bear Lake, but the real purpose of the trip was connection. With multiple generations together under one roof, Kim and Karen discovered that some of the most meaningful moments weren't necessarily the planned activities. They happened over coffee in the morning, around the dinner table, and during those unexpected conversations when everyone finally had time to slow down. Give Everyone a Voice One of the biggest lessons from this family trip was the importance of allowing everyone to advocate for themselves. Not everyone wants to do every activity, and that's okay. A successful multi generational trip doesn't require everyone to participate in everything. Instead, it creates opportunities for people to choose what works for them. The Family Council Every evening, the family gathered for a family council. They shared photos, talked about the day's challenges, voted on favorite pictures and outfits, and celebrated everyone's participation. And then came one of the biggest highlights: family games. It was a simple way to get everyone together, laugh, compete, and create memories that will last long after the suitcases are unpacked. A Conversation About Family, Aging, and Connection At its heart, Walks with Mom is about navigating life and aging together. This episode is a reminder that multi generational time together can create something incredibly valuable: an opportunity to know the people we love a little better. Because sometimes the best family memories aren't the perfectly planned moments. They're the conversations over coffee, the jokes at dinner, the unexpected laughs, and the stories everyone will tell for years to come. Listen to Walks with Mom Grab your coffee, pour yourself a glass of wine, invite your family into the conversation, and join Kim and Karen as they continue exploring what it means to navigate aging, family, relationships, and life together. Walks with Mom: Because aging isn't for the faint of heart, but you don't have to navigate it alone. multi generational vacations, family vacations, family trips, aging parents, aging loved ones, mother daughter podcast, Baby Boomer, Generation X, family relationships, family dynamics, aging together, family connection, family memories, traveling with aging parents, senior aging, intergenerational family, Big Bear Lake, California family vacation, family communication, Walks with Mom Subscribe to Walks with Mom for more honest conversations that help families prepare, plan, and navigate aging with clarity and connection. https://walkswithmompodcast.com/ Come with us as we explore what it means to navigate these years with our aging loved ones. So grab a cup of coffee—or maybe a glass of wine—subscribe, invite your friends or family, and join us for Walks with Mom. https://youtube.com/@walkswithmom Special thanks to our Sponsor Amada Senior Care Phoenix and the East Valley serving families and seniors in Phoenix, Scottsdale, Chandler, Mesa, and the surrounding East Valley area. Accredited VA Provider (NPI # 1558048199) and Trusted resource for Long-Term Care Insurance Claims Compassionate, personalized in-home senior care starts here – contact Amada Senior Care Phoenix and the East Valley today by phone at (480)999-5250 or visit us online to get started and give your loved one the support, dignity, and independence they deserve. www.amadaphoenix.com
