Vacationing with grandkids is a great way to bond and create fond memories (especially if the parents are not along). As soon as mom and dad are out of the picture, grandma and grandpa rise to the top of the pecking order, which is much more fun.

Don’t expect today’s vacations with children to be like those in the past. In some ways it is a far different world from when we took our own children on vacation. These days, kids don’t go anywhere without an assortment of accoutrements to keep themselves entertained and insulated: PSP (portable play station) Game Boy, portable DVD players, I Pods, even laptop computers. Don’t fight it. That’s just how it is.

In other ways, nothing has changed. Just being together with no schoolwork, loads of free time, eating out, new sites and activities is still fun.