Great Grandparent Adventures with Road Scholar
Article By: Stacie Fasola
Grandparents know the most valuable presents, the ones that never break and don’t need batteries, are lessons learned and memories made together.
This year, Road Scholar offers grandparents the opportunity to give their grandchildren the gift of an educational travel adventure with memories all ages will treasure for generations to come.
Grandparent Travel a Growing Trend
In fact, grandparent travel is a growing trend in the U.S., with Road Scholar leading the way by offering 5,500 programs in 150 states and 50 countries.
Multigenerational travel is so popular because families who live far apart are looking for ways to connect. Grandparents are especially eager to share their love of learning and adventure with their grandchildren, and develop and nurture relationships that are sometimes difficult to develop with grandchildren who may live far away.
Road Scholar Learning Adventures are a Hit
More than 125,000 participants participate in a Road Scholar learning adventure each year and many are repeat guests in programs created by Elderhostel since 1975.
“Want to have the time of your life with your grandchild?” asks Jane, a participant from Elkhart, Indiana. “Come on an adventure in Yellowstone National Park with Road Scholar. Lots of outdoor activity and happy faces on the children!”
New Grandparent – Grandchild Adventures for 2019
For the summer of 2019, Road Scholar is unveiling dozens of new and varied travel experiences for grandparents and grandchildren to enjoy together.
Generations can bond while exploring the rainforest of Honduras , or on a quest to learn about the legend of King Arthur in Wales , or by going behind-the-scenes on Broadway.
One of the more thrilling types of experiences Road Scholar is offering grandparents and grandchildren is authentic camping adventures in National Parks such as Zion and Bryce Canyon in Utah, Yellowstone in Wyoming and Voaygeurs National Park in Minnesota.
Led by naturalists and expert local staff, Road Scholar participants and their grandchildren (ages 8-18) will learn about our nation’s greatest natural treasures as they camp in tents and embark on outings throughout the parks.
“Many grandparents are eager to spend one-on-one time with their grandchildren and share fond memories of camping experiences from their own childhoods, or camping trips with their children years ago,” said James Moses, President and CEO of Road Scholar.
“And grandchildren love exploring the parks and spending private time learning and discovering with their grandparents.”
Learning Adventures for Active and Curious Families
Road Scholar also offers a wide variety of other program types for all abilities, ranging from rafting in Arizona or an outdoor adventure in Costa Rica, to snorkeling the Coral Reef in Key Largo. There is even a Harry Potter program in Florida . Their key to success with all ages is having renowned faculty and experts along who offer insider access, take care of details, and make it fun.
“The family nature of the program was a great benefit. The other kids were probably the highlight of the trip for my 10-year-old granddaughter,” notes guest Randy from Atlanta. “She made friends from all over the country.”
Planning your Road Scholar Grand Adventure
As the country’s largest adult travel organizer and a not-for-profit educational organization, Road Scholar keeps trips affordable, too. Many start under $1,000 per person, and Road Scholar offers financial aid for those who otherwise could not participate in its programs.
Want to make it easy to enjoy your grandchildren and share their growth? A Road Scholar grandparent program handles all of the details, so that grandparents and grandchildren can focus on learning together.
To learn more, please visit Grandparent-Grandchild Travel Programs at Road Scholar .
Stacie Fasola is Associate Vice President of Public and Media Relations at Road Scholar, the company that sponsored this post. In addition to sharing the incredible stories of the organization’s participants, she has explored some of the world’s more off-the-beaten path destinations with Road Scholar, including Hiking the Inca Trail in Machu Picchu, Cuba, and most recently, Antarctica.
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TravelAwaits
Our mission is to serve the 50+ traveler who's ready to cross a few items off their bucket list.
Embark On Grandparent & Family Adventures With This Company’s Educational Trips
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It’s no secret that international travel is on the rise. What may be surprising, however, is that the number of grandparents traveling internationally with their grandkids is also surging.
Indeed, Road Scholar, which offers educational trips for adults, notes that enrollment in its 2023 international Grandparent Adventure programs has nearly rebounded to pre-pandemic levels. On the other hand, enrollment in its 2023 domestic Grandparent Adventure programs lags behind, at just over half of the company’s pre-pandemic numbers.
“The appetite for global exploration is stronger than ever,” Maeve Hartney, Road Scholar’s chief program officer, told TravelAwaits in a statement. “Our participants have shown us that they’re really ready to get out there and explore the world again this year, and their grandkids are just as eager to travel abroad with them.”
To accommodate that demand, Road Scholar has announced it’s adding more international trips to its 2024 Grandparent and Family programs.
That includes grandparent and grandkid trips to Germany, Copenhagen, and the Amalfi Coast. Grandparent and Family Programs for grandparents, their kids, and their grandkids include trips to Alaska and the Barrier Islands. Both Grandparent and Family Programs will soon be offered in Panama as well.
For 2023, Road Scholar expanded its program by adding Grandparent and Family Adventures to Japan, Australia, Greece, Idaho Whitewater Rafting, Hawaii, Virginia’s Chincoteague Bay, New Hampshire, Minnesota, Sailing the Maine Coast, Puerto Rico, San Juan Islands, San Diego, and STEM Kansas to its offerings.
How The Program Works
Road Scholar has been offering a program for grandparents and their grandkids — or families of grandparents, their kids, and their grandkids — to travel together since 1985.
“Looking for a special way to spend time with your grandchild?” Road Scholar asks .
“Share the best of the great outdoors with them as you snorkel in coral reefs, go whitewater rafting, or learn about animals at a zoo. You can even share their love for STEM projects as you learn about robots or even rockets!” Road Scholar continues. “Each learning adventure is created with your grandchild’s age and learning level in mind, allowing you both to have fun, learn, and make new friends. Together, you’ll make memories that will last a lifetime!”
You can choose from several adventures tailored to suit grandkids’ ages, or by interest, such as STEM, animals and wildlife, city discoveries, active outdoor adventures, and nature and environment.
Another approach is to choose a trip based on destination, including those in France, Florida, North America, national parks, and locations around the world.
What Grandparents Think Of The Program
Cindy and Jim Horner took their two grandsons on an African safari with Road Scholar in 2022, and this year, they traveled to Iceland with their two granddaughters.
“We have chosen to take our grandchildren on international trips to expose them to different geographical settings, cultures, and standards of living,” Cindy Horner said, according to Road Scholar. “It’s our hope that they return with a broadened understanding of the world.”
Meanwhile, Jean McMillan has taken three of her grandchildren on Road Scholar adventures. Her grandkids chose international trips, with her encouragement.
“I would have taken them on any of the trips,” McMillan said, according to Road Scholar. “I encouraged them to dream big so we could share memories of big adventures we had together.”
For more about traveling with grandkids, or kids and grandkids, be sure to read our Family Vacations content, including:
- Our Writers’ 8 Favorite Places To Travel With Their Grandkids In The U.S.
- 10 Perfect Multigenerational Trips To Experience This Summer
- 17 Tips For Planning The Perfect Multigenerational Trip
Jim Fulcher has been a writer and editor his entire career. In addition to writing, he also enjoys traveling--particularly in an RV. Over the course of numerous trips, Jim has driven an RV through West Virginia, Virginia, Tennessee, Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Iowa, Nebraska, South Dakota, and Wyoming. His favorite national park is Yellowstone, which he has visited three times.
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The Joys of Educational Travel with the Grandkids: 4 Generations Experience Road Scholar
Claire Westdahl is a legacy. The 71-year-old retired nurse-midwife recently took her 10-year-old granddaughter Mae on her first Road Scholar educational adventure, walking in the footsteps of her mother, who took Claire’s then pre-teen son John on his first Road Scholar adventure over 30 years ago.
She recently shared her story to encourage other grandparents to experience the unique joys of educational travel and the pleasures of creating memories with grandchildren.
Continuous Learning is a Way of Life
Claire’s parents, Kenneth and Gertrude McCamman, were considered trailblazers when they enrolled in their first Road Scholar program in the mid-1970s. The not-for-profit educational travel institution was one of the first to focus on learning for adults over 50, and Kenneth and Gertrude understood early on the importance of continuous learning.
“My father was a Shell Oil executive in the 60s and my mother was a homemaker, taking care of five children,” Claire said. “My mom said her idea of a vacation was when she didn’t have to cook. When my dad retired, my parents began traveling in earnest with Road Scholar, planning several trips a year. In fact, whenever they came to visit, it would be around a Road Scholar program , so they never really stayed with us very long; they would stay with us either before or after they’d attended a program. In all, my mother attended about 78 Road Scholar programs before she died.”
Traveling with Road Scholar Creates Priceless Memories
Gertrude would have been one of the first generations of women to experience Road Scholar as a part of a couple, as a solo traveler and finally, with her grandchildren on a Grandparent program.
“My mom took my son Jon on his first Road Scholar program to a rodeo in Reno when he was 11 years old,” Claire said. “The thing that I remember most is that she commented on how he interacted with the group and how he emerged as a leader even then. Today, at 35, he’s an entrepreneur with his own business.”
In all, Gertrude had five grandchildren and was able to share her love of Road Scholar with all of them before she passed away.
“My parents always share stories with us about the fantastic people they met on the programs, whether they were other couples or women she met while traveling solo,” Claire said. “After she died, I was clearing out a box of her things and found a bunch of old speeches she had prepared to give for her opening remarks at Road Scholar functions. She really took those speeches seriously.”
Claire and her husband, Robert, took their first of several program as a couple in the late 1990s. They were both still working, not quite empty nesters yet, with one teenager still at home. Claire has continued to travel with Road Scholar even after Robert passed away several years ago.
Fast Forward to 2017
Claire is now the grandmother of three grandchildren (10, 5 and an infant) and plans to carry on the Road Scholar tradition because of the special memories her mother created with her children.
“Mae is the first grandchild old enough to go on a Grandparent program and it was great to share this experience with her,” Claire said.
“Mae’s mother wasn’t familiar with Road Scholar , so I think it helped that the organization has such a great reputation. I had dinner with Mae and her mother and gave them the 2018 catalog and asked them to talk about choosing their next programs for summer 2018.”
Last Year, Claire Moved to Portland, Oregon to be Closer to Her Son and Grandchildren
She learned about a new style of community urban living popularized in Denmark called Co-Housing Communities, and decided to start a new life in one of these communities.
“Before I made the decision, I did my research and discovered that 45 percent of Danes over 50 are living in similar communities,” she said.
“Similar to a co-op, you have to meet the people in advance and if accepted, you’re expected to participate in a community, not just stay in your home behind closed doors. The idea is to reduce the risk of social isolation experienced by many people as they age. These communities are attempting to shift the paradigm of how people age in this country; just like Road Scholar did 40 years ago.”
Do you like to travel with your grandkids? What is the best trip that you can remember taking with your grandchildren? What made it so special? Let’s start a conversation!
To learn more about Road Scholar’s Grandparent learning adventures, please visit their website at: www.roadscholar.org/grandparent
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Sixty and Me
Sixty and Me is a community of over 500,000 women over 60 founded by Margaret Manning. Our editorial team publishes articles on lifestyle topics including fashion, dating, retirement and money.
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The Scoop: What to Know About Road Scholar
This nonprofit tour company has an inspiring educational focus..
The Scoop: What to Know About Trafalgar Tours
Part of what we do here at TourScoop is use our (human) travel expertise to vet tour companies so you have an easy way to get a bunch of trustworthy information all in one place. Today we’re digging into Road Scholar, a popular tour company that’s been around for nearly 50 years. Read on to find everything you need to know to confidently make the decision about whether it’s a good fit for you.
Road Scholar (previously known as Elderhostel) is a tour company with a difference: Since 1975 the company has been run as a nonprofit organization with an educational mission as its primary focus. That means a few things: since it’s a nonprofit, Road Scholar offers excellent value (tours aren’t priced for profit). I also like that it’s unusual among tour companies because it offers both financial aid and caregiver grants. And since it’s education-driven, the tour operator attracts a particularly curious and educated group of travelers, including many retired educators.
Road Scholar’s 4,000 offerings include small group tours, grandparent-grandchild trips, cruises, private jet adventures, and tours focused on passions including birding, food and drink, and history.
TourScoop Takeaways: Road Scholar
- Continents Covered: 7
- Tour Size Average: Road Scholar’s small group programs max out at 24 travelers, but the company also runs larger programs with hundreds of participants who are then broken into small groups for activities.
- Tour Types: Coach, ship, plane, train
How to Book
Road Scholar tours can be booked directly through Road Scholar ; here are all the ways you can contact the organization for information about trips.
Credibility Check
Road Scholar is a BBB accredited charity that meets the standards for charity accountability, and has a low complaint number and a high response-to-issues ratio. It has a rating of 4.2 out of 5 on Facebook . Tour-focused online travel agency TourStride past guests gives Road Scholar a 4.4 out of 5.
Tour Destinations
Road Scholar operates tours on seven continents and to nearly 100 countries. In the U.S., it offers itineraries to most states, and internationally, its most popular destinations include Canada, Costa Rica, Cuba, and Italy.
Road Scholar offers hundreds of programs on a variety of topics, with thousands of departures annually. Since it’s a nonprofit organization with an educational mission, everything it does is about learning, and it weaves in educational visits, lectures, and events into every trip.
On the website, you can filter trips by hobbies or what you want to learn about, from Military History to Native American Studies, Birding, Pickleball, or another topic. You can also filter the course catalog by activity level, from “Easy Going” to “Outdoor: Challenging.”
Road Scholar also offers Adventures Afloat (cruises), skip-gen programs geared to grandparents and grandchildren traveling together, and virtual tours that range from one-hour lectures to multi-day online adventures.
Tour Guides
As an education-focused tour organization, Road Scholar refers to its group leaders and instructors as faculty . Faculty members–many of whom have been working with Road Scholar for a decade or more–are local experts with years of experience in travel and academics. Group leaders receive initial training and receive yearly professional development to ensure they’re at the top of their game.
In addition to faculty, tour participants meet a broad range of experts on tour, experts that range from shrimp boat captains to award-winning authors.
Inclusions/Extras
Road Scholar programs are all-inclusive and have no optional extras or hidden expenses. The price of a tour includes:
- Accommodations,
- Experienced Group Leader
- Expert-led lectures and field trips
- Most meals (some meals during free time not included)
- Gratuities throughout the program, including group leader gratuities
- Road Scholar Assurance Plan (24-hour assistance in the event of an emergency during a program and insurance for emergency medical evacuation)
Flights to and from the tour are not included in base program prices, but Road Scholar will book flights for participants traveling internationally. Flights booked through Road Scholar also include complimentary airport transfers.
Typical Travelers
If you don’t count kids in the mix on the Grandparent and Family programs, the average age of a Road Scholar participant is 72. But trips generally include a wide range of older travelers from people in their 50s through 90s. About 30% of participants are solo travelers, and of that 30% about 85% are women traveling on their own. Road Scholar trips are generally reported to be very welcoming to solo travelers.
Communication
Once you’ve booked a tour with Road Scholar, the company sends regular emails leading up to trip departures. You can also access your trip information online: once you’re enrolled in a program, all trip information is accessible via your online account.
Road Scholar’s U.S.-based contact center (800-454-5768) is open 9:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. (ET), Monday through Friday. Monday is the contact center’s busiest day, so to avoid long wait times, call midweek or at the end of the week if you can). Road Scholar has callback feature, which allows you to save your place in the queue without having to wait on the phone–a representative calls you back as soon as it’s your turn in line.
Loyalty Program
Because Road Scholar is a nonprofit organization, discounts are not offered, including for repeat travelers. But the company is dedicated to making travel affordable for more travelers, and offers financial aid and caregiver grants .
Private Options
Groups made up of between 18 and 24 people can reserve private departures of existing itineraries with Road Scholar. If you organize a group of 20 or more, you can take advantage of group discounts or free travel for one person.
Sustainability Efforts
Road Scholar offsets some of the carbon emissions created through travel on its programs. It invests in projects including rainforest preservation in Brazil, methane gas recapture in Florida, and reforestation in Kenya. The company also tries to use sustainability certified hotels, locally owned services, and restaurants that serve locally sourced meals whenever possible.
Health and Safety Practices
Road Scholar has partners on the ground worldwide who monitor all areas visited by the company. If concerns arise, Road Scholar will find replacement content or cancel the program, depending on the severity and location of the issue.
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The Best Vacations to Take with Grandkids
One of the hottest travel trends is grandparents vacationing with their grandkids and leaving the middle generation—the parents—at home. About one-third of grandparents have taken such trips, according to recent AARP research . Ditching the middleman offers a unique bonding opportunity, especially for family members who live far apart from one another. Plus, it gives parents some welcome time off. Far from staid notions of Grandma sitting around waiting for kids to schlep over the river and through the woods to reach her, this new type of travel lets both generations hit the road, creating memories of a lifetime along the way. Here are some grand ideas for a “skip-generation” trip with your grandchildren.
The nonprofit Road Scholar , the world’s largest educational travel organization for adults, was a pioneer in grandparent-specific tours. Today it offers nearly 200 trips in the “ grandparent ” category, with something for nearly every interest and age group—from rafting in the Grand Canyon to safaris in Africa, as well as indoor adventures such as cooking in Santa Fe and seeing Broadway shows in New York City . These immersive learning experiences include activities, ground transportation, meals, accommodations, and expert instruction. Plus, the other participants are grandparents with grandchildren so there’s plenty of peer interaction for both groups.
Since a cruise is all-inclusive and self-contained, the logistics—from where to go for dinner to how to fill each day—are effortless, which comes in handy for grandparents who might be out of practice when it comes to kid-wrangling. As the gold standard in family sea voyages, Disney Cruise Line is ideal because it’s designed to appeal to all ages. With multiple pools, counselor-led activity areas, Broadway-quality shows, kid-friendly dining, and crowd-pleasing Disney characters all on board, everybody should be able to find something to enjoy. And let’s not forget the wildly popular AquaDuck , Disney’s signature water coaster at sea, which my own 9-year-old granddaughter proclaimed her favorite activity on our cruise.
If you and your grandchild prefer an outdoor vacation, America’s national parks are both rewarding and affordable. You can go camping—“gramping” as the case may be—or stay in reasonably priced lodges. Plus, fourth graders are admitted free of charge. Parks such as Yosemite , Yellowstone , Grand Canyon (pictured), and the Great Smoky Mountains are popular choices. Grand Canyon National Park, to take one example, could be America’s largest classroom, with its historic sights, walking trails, museums, exhibits, and the canyon itself. The free Junior Ranger program offers lessons in nature, history, the environment, and geology. You and your youngster can ride mules along the rim or into the canyon for a signature adventure, raft down the Colorado River, hike or bike along trails with stunning vistas, and ride the historic Grand Canyon Railway into the park for an entertaining Wild West experience. Animal lovers, meanwhile, can feast their eyes on elk, deer, coyotes, bobcats, foxes, badgers, mountain lions, bears, and the magnificent California condor.
Like a cruise or an organized tour, an all-inclusive resort supplies a low-stress getaway with lots of activities within a self-contained area and no need to ever reach for your wallet. The oceanfront Grand Velas Riviera Maya in Playa del Carmen , Mexico, has the best family program, according to Virtuoso luxury travel advisers . The resort has family-friendly suites; supervised kids’ and teen clubs; snorkel, kayak, and cycling tours; Mexican toy and piñata workshops; cooking classes; three pools; and a teens’ summer camp with bungee jumping, zip lining, and wall climbing. In addition, a pair of skip-generation experiences will have you flying to Chichen Itza for a private tour of the famous Mayan ruins or to Mérida for some colonial history and a carriage ride through the city.
Corral the kids and head to a dude ranch for lots of outdoor fun and laid-back hospitality—not to mention old-fashioned campfire sing-alongs. You can be home on the range in a variety of guest ranches across North America, whether you’ve got a hankering for rustic, no-frills working ranches, upscale resort-like spots, or something in between. The Dude Ranchers' Association lists scores of vetted options. A good one is Marble Mountain Ranch (pictured) in Northern California , where both generations can disconnect from electronic media and reconnect with each other. Limited Wi-Fi leaves plenty of time for horseback riding, whitewater rafting, kayaking, fly fishing, and maybe even learning what "get along little dogies" means. Lodgings are in woodsy cottages with kitchens or kitchenettes, and meals feature produce from the ranch’s own gardens and orchards. Just think of how cute everybody will look in cowboy hats.
Grade schoolers as well as teens love theme parks, but keep in mind that you may have to contend with long lines and high expenses. If that doesn’t scare you, you might as well hit Orlando , the undisputed theme park capital of the world. You have about a dozen major parks to choose from, including Walt Disney World , Universal Orlando Resort , SeaWorld Orlando , and Legoland Florida , among others. With more than 450 hotels and 20,000 vacation home rentals, Orlando has accommodations to fit every style and budget. Stay right on park grounds for easy access, or go off site for better savings. Whatever you do, don't forget to pace yourself. Although Orlando has endless rewards for those in pursuit of fun, visitors to Disney World alone walk an average of 10–15 miles per day.
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Posted on May 2, 2014 by Christine Crosby in families , GRAND Magazine , grandchildren , grandparents , intergenerational travel , Road Scholar
Bring Your Family Closer With Intergenerational Travel
With thousands of enrollments in the last year alone, intergenerational adventures have been among Road Scholar’s most popular programs. These fun and educational journeys offer grandparents and grandchildren the chance to spend quality time together and deepen their relationship in a unique, educational and exciting way. For families that are separated by great distances across the country or beyond, intergenerational programs create special opportunities to share experiences and make lifelong memories for grandchildren who are eager to see the world and grandparents who are passionate about education and family bonding.
From rodeos and baseball games to weaving classes and safaris in Kenya , there are hundreds of domestic and international adventures waiting to be had with your grandchildren. Let’s hear some firsthand accounts from Road Scholar participants who have enjoyed these learning programs:
Linda Berger recently went on an intergenerational adventure with her grandson and had this to say about her experience:
“What an outstanding adventure it was—for both of us! My choice for his first trip to the West was for him to experience Yellowstone Nat’l Park, and that was such a perfect choice. I had been there on an adult Road Scholar program several years ago, so I knew its treasures. What I didn’t know was how many wonderful grandchildren and grandparents we would meet to share it all with us on this adventure. My other “almost old enough” grandchildren are now waiting patiently for their turn to travel with Grammy. Thank you for making this possible. My grandson, I know, will never forget this trip.”
Another Road Scholar participant, Sandy Stevens, went on two very different but equally enjoyable intergenerational programs, one with her grandson Ben in San Diego, and the other with her granddaughter Allison in the Big Apple:
“If I didn’t know it before, I know it now: 9-year-old boys and 11-year-old girls are from different planets.
A Central Park scavenger hunt, boys vs. girls, highlighted the day. Each group was given a camera to capture the kids in creative poses at each of 12 spots. The three-hour hunt took us from one end of the park to the other, but Allison observed, “This was a great idea! Otherwise, we wouldn’t have known all this was here.”
On our own, Allison and I visited the United Nations, discovered our way around Macy’s, the world’s largest department store, and saw three Broadway shows. In San Diego, Ben and I joined fourteen other grandparents and twelve 9-to-11 year-olds arriving from coast-to-coast. Some, like Minnesotan Ben and I, live states apart, so the program provided an even more special opportunity to bond. We returned home with new, continuing friendships and minds full of new knowledge, and Ben continues to inform his parents of facts he learned from all the educational experiences we shared.
Best of all, though, we made memories.”
As Linda and Sandy shared, intergenerational programs allow grandparents and grandchildren alike the chance to really get to know one another, share passions and form meaningful bonds. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to connect with your grandchildren and open up new worlds for them as you embark on what is sure to be an unforgettable adventure for all generations. Check out Road Scholar’s Grandparents Travel page to learn more about upcoming programs.
Christine Crosby
About the author
Christine is the co-founder and editorial director for GRAND Magazine. She is the grandmother of five and great-grandmom (aka Grandmere) to one. She makes her home in St. Petersburg, Florida.
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Skip-Gen Travel Trends: The 8 Best Grandparent-Grandchild Getaways
Betty and John Knupp of Davidsonville, Maryland shared a love of travel long before their children or grandchildren were born. So when their first granddaughter, Maya, then 10, expressed an interest in wildlife, they invited her to join them on a trip to Yellowstone National Park. The trip was offered through Road Scholar , a nonprofit organization that sponsors more than 150 specialized grandparent travel programs.
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According to a 2019 AARP Travel Trend Survey, 32% of grandparents have taken their grandkids on "skip-generation" (skip-gen) trips — defined as grandparent-grandchild trips that leave the parents at home. More than 77% of boomer grandparents do most of the trip planning, and the majority (76%) pay, too.
Tour operators like Maple Leaf Adventures , a boutique expedition cruise company based in Victoria, British Columbia, has noticed a spike in skip-gen bookings.
"Grandparents have the time and money to take longer, educational trips and want to share the experience with their grandchildren," said Maureen Gordon, co-owner of the company.
The choice of trip, of course, should take into account the ages and interests of the children involved, as well as the grandparents' energy, mobility and budget. Most experts agree that when grandchildren are actively involved in choosing the type of trip and helping plan it, they will be more engaged during the trip .
"At a time when over half of grandparents have a grandchild who lives 200 miles or more away, skip-generation travel is an opportunity to close the distance and create new memories," said Patty David, AARP's director of consumer insights.
The possibilities for grandparent-grandchildren getaways are infinite, but here are some of our favorites.
Visit a National Park
Best For: Children ages 8 to 18.
National parks across the US and Canada offer endless opportunities to experience and learn about nature.
The 18 National Park Adventures sponsored by Road Scholar (like the one at Yellowstone taken by Maya and her grandparents) are among the most popular of their grandparent programs. Think: surfing waves, learning about Pearl Harbor and exploring lava caves in Hawaii Volcanoes National Parks, or learning about raptors and birds of prey at Teton Raptor Center.
Families can plan trips to national parks on their own, but those organized by tour operators tend to be designed and led by naturalists and other experts. They also offer the advantage of enabling young people to make new friends with peers traveling in their group.
Learn to Sail
Best For: Children 10 and up.
The Maine Windjammer Association operates eight tall ships that explore the coast of Maine and the hundreds of surrounding islands. All of the vessels, including themed cruises, welcome skip-gen travelers. But two of the windjammers, Angelique and Schooner Heritage, operate special grandparent-grandchildren sailings (often in collaboration with Road Scholar).
Both novice and experienced sailors can learn the basics of sailing, including how to hoist the sails, steer, tie knots, coil lines and drop anchor. After days on the water, the vessels dock at picturesque harbors where participants can beachcomb, kayak, visit historic villages or learn how to paddleboard. These activities can be family adventures, or allow grandparents time to relax aboard the ship.
Visit a Theme Park
Best For: Travelers of all ages.
Theme parks are popular with everyone from tots to teens, as well as older relatives. If very young grandchildren haven't spent much time away from their parents, a day trip to a local theme park might be a good choice. However, for those who can travel farther, the Orlando area is a mecca for skip-gen travel with at least nine major theme parks (including Walt Disney World , Universal Studios , LEGOLAND and Discovery Cove) and a host of smaller ones, too.
Related: The Best Credit Cards for Entertainment Expenses
Orlando has more than 120,000 hotel rooms and 20,000 vacation home rentals, so there is an accommodation to fit every need. Many grandparents choose a resort located on the theme park's grounds. Some even offer kid-themed fantasy suites: For example, Loews Portofino Bay Hotel at Orlando Resort offers two-room Despicable Me suites that allow grandparents to have a private bedroom while the kids can play in their own themed bedroom. Other families opt for apartment or villa stays because kitchen facilities can be more convenient and economical than always eating out.
Tour a European City
Visiting an iconic European capital — especially one that appears on television and in movies — with a grandparent can be an unforgettable experience for young travelers. One distinct advantage of using a tour operator is that all the planning, logistics and hassles of airport transfers; getting from one destination to the next; arranging activities; and finding restaurants and accommodations are handled by someone else.
For example, the eight-day Tauck itinerary, Italia Bella: Rome to Venice , showcases three of Italy's most popular cities: Rome , Florence and Venice . Participants visit the Colosseum, the Leaning Tower of Pisa and St. Peter's Basilica, where they enjoy special access (read: skip the lines or visit after-hours). Tauck also arranges private experiences geared to the interests of younger visitors. By arriving a day or two early, skip-gen travelers buy more time to adjust to changes in sleep schedules.
Best For: Children ages 7 and up.
Cycling trips organized by companies like Duvine , Backroads and VBT Bicycling & Walking Vacations are wooing active, skip-gen families by offering a range of interesting trips geared to different levels of cycling. (For safety reasons, most companies do not allow children younger than 7 to ride their own bicycle.) The trips typically couple stunning scenery with stays at small towns and villages.
For example, the 10-day VBT Ireland: Galway & Connemara Coast bicycle tour appeals to families who want to retrace their Irish heritage and roots. Perfect for teenagers or adult grandchildren, the cycling is rated easy-to-moderate. Less energetic cyclists can decrease their daily mileage or hop on the accompanying support van. Some of the tour highlights include visiting Galway Bay and viewing the oldest Benedictine abbey in Ireland.
Take a Safari
Best For: Children mature enough to understand the risks of the wild.
Safaris are a bucket list item for most grandparents and a dream trip for grandchildren; they offer unparalleled opportunities to see wildlife while learning about different cultures and conservation from local guides.
One itinerary — among many in Africa and India offered by tour operator Micato Safaris — is the 15-day Micato Grand Safari in Kenya and Tanzania. Guests get to visit a conservancy to learn about rhino conservation; meet local Maasai; and visit Ngorongoro Crater (one of the world's largest watering holes). There's also horseback riding, camel treks, hot air balloon rides and game drives. In addition to luxury tented camps, the itinerary includes a stay at the Four Seasons Serengeti Safari Lodge that has a world-class kids' club.
Many grandparents are eager to promote the values of voluntourism and cross-cultural understanding. Through AmericaShare, Micato puts one child through school for every safari sold. Its one-day "Lend a Helping Hand on Safari" add-on enables both generations to interact with local children living in Nairobi.
Relax at an All-Inclusive
All-inclusive resorts make vacationing easy, and grandparents don't have to constantly put their hands in their pockets to pay for extra snacks and sodas.
Many all-inclusives are family-focused with supervised kids' camps and teen clubs so grandparents have some time off, too. For example, Grand Velas Riviera Maya is set on 206 acres of jungle and sandy beach. The resort's spacious Family Suites (more than 2,000-square-feet) accommodate up to two adults and three kids. With private plunge pools, three swimming pools, water sports, eight different restaurants, two fitness centers and an expansive 90,000 square foot spa, there's no chance for boredom to set in.
In addition to the supervised Kids' Club, a "baby concierge' is available to arrange cribs, toys, baby floats, gentle bath products and organic foods. Teens' Clubs for travelers ages 13 to 18 feature video games, disco, karaoke, and teen-friendly drinks and snacks. Together, grandparents and grandchildren can bond over shared activities like cooking classes, lessons in food photography, eco-cycling tours and off-site adventures.
Sail Away on a Cruise
Best For: Children ages 3 and up.
Although most cruise ships allow infants six months and older to board, the sweet spot for a child to be old enough is probably older. On most vacations, but cruises especially, there are few opportunities to turn back.
The Best Credit Cards for Booking Cruises
Cruises are great in general because you only have to unpack and pack once, and even if the kids go off to activities, mealtimes allow everyone to reconvene to discuss the day and share experiences.
Princess Cruises is just one example of a great line for skip-gen travel. There are family suites that allow grandparents and grandchildren to have separate bedrooms with two bathrooms connected by a spacious living room. There are also onboard children and teen centers with age-appropriate programs and activities geared to children ages of 3 to 17. Princess' relatively new OceanMedallion (worn by everyone on the ship) allows grandparents and grandkids to keep track of each other's whereabouts at the touch of a button.
Interest in river cruises has increased exponentially in recent years, and they may be a better option for grandparents with teenage or millennial grandchildren. After all, they are a convenient way to experience different cultures, cuisine, and sometimes even different languages. Even adult-centric Viking River Cruises reports an increase in guests traveling with adult children, especially on Christmas Market cruises during the holiday season.
Irene S. Levine covers over-50 travel for The Points Guy, is a regular contributor to Forbes.com , and publishes MoreTimeToTravel.com and GettingOnTravel.com — two blogs for over-50 luxury travelers.
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I am looking at doing a Road Scholar Grandparent tour with my 10 year old grandson. Has anyone done this kind of trip? How was the experience? Here is the link for the tour I am considering. Thanks.
https://www.roadscholar.org/find-an-adventure/8731/colorful-canyons-zion-bryce-and-grand-canyon-with-your-grandchild
I've done a number of Road Scholar tours but none of the Intergenerational tours. I've talked to a number of people on my regular tours who had a great time with their grandkids on various inter-gen programs but no personal experience. And of course I keep signing up for Road Scholar programs because I learn so much from the guides and enjoy the other participants.
There is a Road Scholar forum section but it is pretty pathetic and gets very little traffic. I did a quick search and although there are specific forums for Grandparent/grandchild and a different one labeled Intergenerational there haven't been posts for 10 months to over a year.
https://discussion.roadscholar.org/interests/
The particular program you've picked looks like fun. I've visited those 3 parks a number of times and they are giving you nice amounts of time in Zion and Bryce. Grand Canyon is a little short but I suspect they are saving some $$ by having that last night in Kanab plus making it a shorter drive back to LV on the last day. The raptor program the one night looks awesome!
IF you decided to do this on your own it would be pretty easy to put together with the help of the folks on the various forums - there are separate ones for Zion, Bryce and Grand Canyon.
If I were in better physical shape I would definitely do it with my grandson.
D0bby, thank you for your reply. I have not done any road scholar trips. I know their emphasis is on learning and education. I hope they have tailored that part with kids ages, at tention span (not too many lectures, or long time indoors learninng about something). I could plan the trip on my own but i thought the company of other kids will be good instead of being with us all the time. Thank you for sharing your thoughts
MaryGo3, thank you for sharing your experience
I have taken 3 grandchildren on Road Scholar inter generational trips and all have been excellent. The leaders focus on the kids but topics are interesting for adults as well. We’ve done the NYC Broadway trip, Durango, and Chicago. The company of other adults and children provides welcome diversion for everyone. I highly recommend the programs.
Thank you for sharing your personal experience
SAP, since this was bumped back to the top I'll add a bit more since we've had the pandemic between your original post and now.
I did not like the way Road Scholar first reacted to refunds with the pandemic as they were refusing to refund money on programs they cancelled but after a couple of weeks they righted themselves and started refunds for programs they cancel. I suspect someone reminded them of the Massachusetts laws regarding tour companies, cancellations and refunds.
They are pushing people to book a year (or more) in advance and I would not do this. I know this because I asked a question this summer about a program I was interested in as an online query and actually got a phone call from an RS staff member to answer the question. They then tried to persuade me to book for December 2021 which was about 16 months in advance. I could not believe it. I actually played along to see how much pressure they would exert. I'm not sure if the people in the caller's job get some kind of quota on signing people or what.
Now, having said this, I will still book a program with them again. I'm looking at one in France for next Fall but I won't book this until late spring/early summer when we see how the pandemic is playing out.
The world has certainly changed since you first posted last January!
Good advice!Thanks.I usually dont fall for pressure tactic, and definitely going to wait to see how covid situation will go.Thank you for sharing your experience
I've done three of these with different grandchildren: Costa Rica, Peru and Australia. Terrific experiences. Well planned and guided. Fun for both kids and grandparents. Waiting for them to start again so I can do the Covid postponed Barcelona and Madrid trip.
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Moscow Tours & Travel Packages 2024/2025
Our 60 most popular moscow trips. compare tour itineraries from 45 tour companies. 308 reviews. 4.7/5 avg rating., popular moscow tours.
St Petersburg & Moscow in Style - Winter
- Explore the majestic St Petersburg & Moscow on private city tours
- Admire the rich Russian history, art and architecture
- Travel to Moscow on a highspeed train
- Enjoy the local cuisine in stylish restaurants
Lower Volga Voyage
- Visit magnificent Red Square and Kremlin and examine the collection at theKremlin’s State Armory.
- Experience Russia’s diverse musical traditions at lively folk music performances
- Explore Volgograd, the site of the decisive battle of World War II’s eastern front
Volga Dream Russian River Cruise
St Petersburg & Moscow in Style - Summer
White Russian - 7 days
- Discover Moscow's UNESCO-listed Red Square, home to spectacular St Basil’s Cathedral, Lenin's Mausoleum and the historic GUM Department store
- Explore the grounds of Moscow's mighty Kremlin, with its numerous governmentbuildings, gold-domed cathedrals and the giant tsar bell
- Celebrate New Year's Eve in Moscow!
- Take in the highlights of St Petersburg including a guided tour of the exquisite Church on Spilled Blood, Peter & Paul Fortress and Cathedral
- Take a guided tour of the remarkable Hermitage Museum at the Winter Palace
Vodka Shot - 6 days
- Explore the beautiful city of St Petersburg, including the exquisite Church on Spilled Blood, Peter & Paul Fortress and Nevsky Prospekt
- Marvel at the dazzling array of art and exhibits in the world-famous Hermitage Museum, at the Winter Palace in St Petersburg
- Discover a lavish residence of the tsars on a day trip to Catherine Palace at Tsarkoe Selo (winter: mid-October to April) or Peterhof Palace and gardens (summer: May to mid-October)
- Take in the highlights of the capital on a walking tour, visiting Moscow's famous Red Square, home to the historic GUM Department Store, Lenin’s Mausoleum and spectacular St Basil’s Cathedral
- Take a guided tour of the Moscow Kremlin, Russia’s political power house. Stroll around the grounds of this fortified complex, visit the Kremlin's cathedrals and see the mighty Tsar Bell
Route of the Romanovs - 10 days
- Learn about the last days of the Romanovs in Yekaterinburg, visiting the sites where Tsar Nicolas II and his family were assassinated and buried
- Straddle two continents at the famous obelisk Europe/Asia border marker in Yekaterinburg
- Experience the Trans-Siberian railway on an overnight train journey from Moscow to Yekaterinburg
New Year's in Moscow - 9 days
- Visit Catherine Palace at Tsarkoe Selo on Christmas Day and marvel at the incredible Amber Room
- Spend a night in Novgorod, an ancient city by the Volkhov River - explore the kremlin, cathedral and other sights and enjoy a traditional Russian banya (sauna)
All Moscow , expedition cruises, self guided adventures and vacation packages. Find the best guided and expert planned vacation and holiday packages. Read more about Moscow
Small Group Moscow Tours
Back in the USSR - 7 days
Russian Revolution - 9 days
- Visit historic Novgorod, an ancient city which straddles the Volkhov River. Explore the attractive riverside kremlin and experience a traditional Russian banya (sauna)
The Snowball - 6 days
- Visit Catherine Palace at Tsarkoe Selo and marvel at the incredible Amber Room
Mood for Moscow - 4 days
- Head underground to visit a Stalinist-era Soviet Bunker on an optional excursion
- Stroll to the vibrant Izmailovo Market, which lies behind the walls of an ancient Kremlin, and shop for an array of souvenirs
Best Moscow Tours by Duration
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Moscow reviews & ratings, capitals of the north.
some hotels could have been better
It was jam packed with every place I wanted to go and see. I especially love my photo of us setting out on the night time river cruise in St Petersburg and the Peter...
I really did not buy much and what I did buy was small gifts for others .
Johanna-Marie
Good hotels, some better than others. Interesting itinerary
Too rushed. Optional tour rather too short
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15 Fantastic and Easy Day Trips From Moscow
Is the hustle and bustle of Moscow starting to wear you down? No worries. There are multiple great day trips from Moscow that will let you see a different side of Russia that you won’t find in the metropolitan area. Each day trip I’ve listed below can easily be done by train from Moscow, and there are trains every day of the week.
The area surrounding Moscow is rich in cultural attractions and natural beauty. By traveling only a short distance, one feels far away from the crowds, and lines of the sprawling Russian capital. Since Russia is undoubtedly an expansive country it may take from half an hour to two hours to reach some of the landmarks on this list (by train or car) from the Moscow city center.
You can escape to the picturesque Russian countryside, visit war memorials, battlefields, admire onion-domed churches, and get insight into the local way of life. Easy day trips from Moscow include the incomparable white-stone Trinity Cathedral in Sergiyev Posad, the spectacular Cathedral of the Assumption in Dmitrov, and the Russian military aircraft in Monino. For those who love rural tranquility, Suzdal and Vladimir are a must-see. History buffs will appreciate the Patriotic War of 1812 reenactment that took place in Borodino on the first weekend of September.
Without further ado, here are 15 best day trips from Moscow that are well worth your attention.
The Best Day Trips from Moscow
There’s a reason Moscow is one of Europe’s most enigmatic destinations. It’s got culture, class, food, history, and more, but even better, is that it is the country’s main transport hub with so many attractions within a day trip from Moscow. While you can definitely spend days or even weeks in Moscow, it can, of course, be done in just one week. What can you do in Moscow in seven days ? Well, you can do a lot if you know how to plan a trip to a place you know so little about.
If you’re ready to get out of the city a bit and soak up the culture, fresh air, and enchanting architecture, I’ve rounded up my favorite day trips outside of Moscow. I often get asked: What are the best cities to visit in Russia? And these are places that I’ve been and loved.
My Favorite Easy Day Trips from Moscow:
Dmitrov Kolomna Zvenigorod Sergiyev Posad Yaroslavl Arkhangelskoye Estate Vladimir Suzdal Korolev Borodino Patriot Park in Kubinka Melikhovo Gorki Leninskie Kaluga Monino
1. Day Trip to Dmitrov from Moscow
Dmitrov may not be as popular as other cities in Russia, but the fact that the city was founded only 7 years earlier than Moscow makes for a great day trip. This small city some 90 kilometers from Moscow is particularly beautiful in the summer. As you walk the streets you can see sparkling fountains, charming centuries-old buildings, yachts and boats transiting through the canal and, of course, the Museum-Reserve Dmitrov Kremlin.
The Kremlin (castle) is the city’s main draw. The 10m high and about 1km long earthen rampart remained behind the wooden wall and gives an idea of how the castle looked like 400 years ago. The oldest surviving building on the Kremlin grounds is the 16th-century Assumption Cathedral with a unique five-tier iconostasis.
Not far from the Kremlin there is a compact 15th-century Borisoglebsky convent. Its main building – the 16th-century Cathedral of Sts. Boris and Gleb is open to the visitors only for services of worship. In the 1930s in the convent housed a labor camp, which contained the builders of the Canal named after Moscow.
Getting There: Dmitrov sits an easy hour and sixteen minutes by train from Savyelovskiy Rail Terminal. This cheap day trip from Moscow is a great chance to soak up the historic charm to be found in Moscow Oblast.
2. Day Trip to Kolomna from Moscow
Situated to the south-east of Moscow, Kolomna is a beautiful port city on the Oka River. This is one of the oldest Russian cities in the region. So you can discover the old history in museums and monasteries. Interestingly, the city was a site for important weapon factories under the Soviet Union. Although it was opened up in 1994 Kolomna is not as popular as other day-trip destinations in the region.
Nevertheless, it is a great place to visit with friends and family where you can explore the 15th-century Kremlin made of red brick, try incredibly sweet traditional pastila (marshmallow), and visit some of the cute little churches and 19th-century mansions.
Getting There: Take the express train (commuter line train) from the Kazansky rail terminal to Golutvin station. The trip lasts one hour and forty minutes.
3. Day Trip to Zvenigorod from Moscow
This one is usually a given due to its proximity to and ease of transport from Moscow. It’s one of the easiest day trips from Moscow by train. You can easily hop on the train from the city and land right in the town of Zvenigorod where you can visit the 14th-century Savvino-Storozhevsky Monastery and sample the sparkly and refreshing kvass, a Russian specialty beverage that’s enjoyed in the summer months.
Zvenigorod is an adorable little town just under an hour away from the Moscow city and is an amazing place to visit as it will give a relaxing break from the hectic life of Moscow. Check this day trip if you don’t feel like planning.
If you have a sweet tooth, spend some time in the quirky Museum of Russian Desserts, where you can indulge in uniquely delicious treats and explore the intersection of food and culture.
Then you may want to pay the Zvenigorod Museum of History, Architecture, and Art a visit. The museum’s exposition is located on the territory of the Savvino-Storozhevsky monastery, or rather, in the 17th-century Tsaritsyny chambers, built for the wife of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich. Stroll through the museum halls to view the permanent exhibitions, which offer insights into various aspects of Russian history. The intricate museum’s building is adorned with a decorative porch, complex patterned elements, and looks very impressive in general.
4. Day Trip to Sergiyev Posad from Moscow
If you’re looking for cheap day trips from Moscow, Sergiyev Posad is a good choice at just a few dollar train ride away. Known as a major center of pilgrimage and home to one of the largest Russian Orthodox Monastery which has been here for hundreds of years, Sergiyev Posad is a fun day trip from Moscow and can be combined with Abramtsevo Museum Estate. As the only town in Moscow Region which is included in the Golden Ring of Russian cities, Sergiyev Posad is an incredible destination for a day trip from Moscow that packs UNESCO-protected Trinity Sergius Lavra, great museums, and gorgeous architecture into one day.
Make sure you see the six-pillared Assumption Cathedral that was commissioned by Ivan the Terrible in mid-16th-century and go inside to marvel at the impressive iconostasis that features Simon Ushakov’s masterpiece, the icon of Last Supper. Enjoy a delicious lamb steak with wheat kasha, Ukha fish soup, or hand-made dumplings as you learn a lot about religious and cultural history.
Getting There: Known for its small-town charm and welcoming feel, you can get to Sergiyev Posad by train, by bus, or by car. Trains depart from Yaroslavsky Rail Terminal every thirty minutes, and the trip lasts about an hour and a half. Alternatively, you can hop on a bus at the ‘VDNKh’ metro station. A bus trip to Sergiyev Posad takes two hours on average but can be reached in 90 minutes depending on traffic. If you go by car expect to spend about an hour and a half attempting to traverse the congested Yaroslavskoye highway.
5. Day Trip to Yaroslavl from Moscow
Going from Moscow to Yaroslavl may seem like a really long day trip, but honestly, if you take the comfortable train, it only takes about four hours to reach the city, so making a Yaroslavl day trip is totally doable. Although I do recommend much more than one day in Yaroslavl, especially if it’s your first time.
Cultural tourists visiting Yaroslavl should start their exploration by strolling the historic city center, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A spacious 100-hectare area enclosed by Sobinova and Republican streets is home to most popular attractions – the 17th-century Church of Elijah the Prophet that survived almost exactly in its original form, and in contrast to it, the white stone Assumption Cathedral, restored in the 2000s.
If you walk a bit further passing the Holy Trinity sculpture and city’s foundation stone, you will find yourself at Strelka, a park on the cape, which offers panoramic views of the spot at the confluence of Volga and Kotorosl rivers. On the way back, there is a pleasant walk along the picturesque Volga embankment to the Governor’s Garden with shadowy alleys and an open-air Sculpture museum.
Getting There: Yaroslavl is about 280 km (173 miles) northeast of Moscow, so the best way to get there is to take a morning train from Yaroslavskiy Rail Terminal. A tour is also a great way to see the Yaroslavl without having to worry about driving or searching for trains. You can book a tour here.
6. Day Trip to Arkhangelskoye Estate from Moscow
Situated on the outskirts of Moscow and dates back to the late 18th-century, Arkhangelskoye Estate was the domain of the nobility for over a century until the Russian Revolution swept people who owned the estate out of the country. The estate was turned into a museum, which it remains today.
The Arkhangelskoye Estate Museum holds the largest rare-book collection. The exhibition also includes old manuscripts, historical documents, photos from the past, a vast collection of sculpture, paintings, engravings, and exceptional examples of decorative art. These art objects once belonged to Prince Nikolai Yusupov, the former owner of the estate.
Arkhangelskoye Estate is often referred to as the Russian version of Versailles because of the intricately manicured garden and beautiful 18th-century park. Famous Russian writers and poets such as Pushkin, Herzen, Mayakovsky loved to spend their free time here making long excursions in the surrounding area. Arkhangelskoye is a perfect place to appreciate the terraces decorated by delightful statues, exquisite vases, and busts.
Visitors can take tours, which introduce them to vibrant examples of Russian art and culture.
Getting There: To reach the estate it’s best to take a bus or a privately-owned minibus that departs from Tushinskaya metro station.
7. Day Trip to Vladimir from Moscow
Situated only two hours east of Moscow, Vladimir is absolutely one of the best places to visit near Moscow for a day trip. This splendid city dates back to the 12th century and has a very rich history. If magnificent Orthodox cathedrals and traditional white-stone architecture entice you, then this place is perfect for a day trip with your significant other.
First things first, you need to see the Golden Gate, which indicates the entrance into the old town. This 12th-century medieval masterpiece of military architecture is associated not only with Vladimir but with the Golden Ring tourist route itself. At the top of the gate, where once was the Church of the Deposition of the Robe, there is the Museum of Weapons. Great looking arrowheads and spear points date back to the Grand Principality of Vladimir, while the exhibition in an impressively majestic setting features a number of Batu-Khan related artifacts.
There’s a variety of attractions to put on your must-see list: the Old Believers Trinity Church right behind it, the Cathedral of St Demetrius, and Dormition (Uspensky) Cathedral. If you plan on shopping for souvenirs like birch-bark masterpieces of Kunov’s masters, drawings, carving, embossing, figures of people and animals, stop by the Lacquer Miniature, the Museum of Crystal, and the Gingerbread Museum. Many of the local attractions were added to UNESCO’s list of World Heritage sites.
Getting There: The best way to visit this area is to catch an early train from Moscow and book a full-day tour of Vladimir in advance. This one includes the town of Suzdal as well.
8. Day Trip to Suzdal from Moscow
This gem of a little medieval town perched on a hill just a 30-minute ride from Vladimir is one of those places I’ve visited and could move there permanently and be happy! It’s a charming little piece of history that also has a Kremlin and visiting it feels like stepping back in time. if you’re a culture enthusiast you’ll be glad to know there are numerous churches, five monasteries, including Spaso-Yevfimiev Monastery in Suzdal. Check them out if you want to get a real taste of the country!
pend some time shopping at the Torgovaya ploshchad (Market Square), where you can buy baskets made of birch bark, ceramic handmade plates, honey or souvenirs and, of course, grab some afternoon tea!
Getting There: Trains leave regularly from Moscow’s Kurskiy Rail Terminal to Vladimir where you can hop on a bus to Suzdal. You can also take a bus from Moscow. In this case, it might take longer and you’ll probably encounter infamous traffic jams. If you go by express train the trip takes about 1 hour and 40 minutes. There are slower trains of course, but I’d recommend going with the fast one and save a lot of time!
9. Day Trip to Korolev from Moscow
Located some 30 kilometers northeast of Moscow, Korolev has become arguably the most important space research center with skilled workers from across the Soviet Union who came here to expand the space program.
It became a leading institute dedicated to aerospace research in the country. Today, that tendency can still be clearly seen on the streets and in the buildings. When the Soviet Union collapsed, the city retained its status as the headquarters of Russia’s space surveillance network and now it hosts the Russian Mission Control Center, an analogue of the American Mission Control Center at NASA’s Space Center in Houston.
If you want to learn more about Mission Control Center and the former Russian Mir space station, book a tour with a knowledgeable guide who can clearly tell the history of this place.
If you’re not into space exploration there is also a Memorial Apartment Museum of Marina Tsvetaeva in Bolshevo. With a picturesque park next to the museum, it’s a great place for walking in the fresh air. The highlight of the park is memorial stones with quotes from Tsvetaeva’s poems.
Getting There: I’d recommend going by train. Catch one at Yaroslavskiy Rail Terminal that departs every 30 minutes to reach Bolshevo station.
10. Day Trip to Borodino from Moscow
The historic Battle of Borodino on September 7, 1812, took place just outside the small village of Borodino, about 140 km west of Moscow, and about 15 km from the nearest town of Mozhaysk. Although the French won the Battle of Borodino and went to capture Moscow, it was one of the bloodiest battles of the pre-twentieth-century that is also predetermined Napoleon’s defeat.
While it was a battlefield back then, not much remains today. It’s mostly a green and grassy field now with a few monuments of military honor, architectural objects dated back to 19th and 20th century, and fortification facilities scattered throughout the area. The largest of these is the 27-meter high obelisk located right at the heart of the former battlefield.
Every year the military and patriotic festival and theatrical performance take place in Borodino. Early September is considered to be the best for visiting. But if you just want to feel the spirit of the battle, it’s better to go at any other time of the year.
Getting there: Hop on a train from the Belorussky rail terminal, disembark in Mozhaysk, and then take a bus to the museum. The whole travel time is about 2 hours.
11. Day Trip to Patriot Park in Kubinka from Moscow
Once a Red Army tank training ground, now it’s a military Disneyland with history, structure, guns, and armored vehicles! The tank museum originally housed one of the world’s largest and rarest collections of tanks. In 2016 they combined the training grounds with the newly-created Patriot Park. Since then, some of the notable and rare items have been moved to the Patriot Park site, so you may want to combine both sites into one tour (only about 20 minutes apart).
The exhibition grounds include some very rare specimens that are must-see for any military enthusiasts out there. The staff is friendly, helpful and kind, while the museum has a small shop. As this site is part of an operating military base, they may ask you to show your passport, or provide them with a photocopy of the front pages. There are vending machines for snacks and drinks, and there are bathroom facilities. There’s plenty to see, so I recommend setting aside an entire day!
Getting there: Situated halfway between Borodino and Moscow, the best way to reach Patriot Park in Kubinka is by car. Alternatively, if you don’t want to rent one, consider car-sharing apps like Gett or UBER. The price of ride-sharing services is cheap enough to make them a viable proposition for choosing them.
12. Day Trip to Melikhovo from Moscow
Located some 80 km from Moscow, Melikhovo is one of the most important museums dedicated to Anton Pavlovich Chekhov. This renowned Russian writer and playwright acquired Melikhovo in 1892. He lived there with his parents and close relatives for 7 years before moving to the Crimea in 1899. Melikhovo is where he wrote his plays “The Man in the Case” and “The Seagull”.
The estate faded into oblivion right after the Revolution but in 1939 Anton Chekhov’s sister Maria and his nephew established a museum based on Chekhov’s place of living. The museum opened its doors to the public in 1941.
Today museum’s exhibition reveals the legacy of a celebrated writer and shows his path not only as a writer but as a doctor and public figure as well. The collection also features some of the best-known paintings by famous artists like Isaac Levitan and Vasily Polenov, who were Chekhov’s friends. When it comes to fun and educational day trips from Moscow, Melikhovo is a nice place for learning more about Chekov’s life and work.
Getting There: You can reach Melikhovo by train from Kurskiy rail Terminal. Disembark in the town of Chekhov and hop on a minibus that will get to the estate. Alternatively, hop on a bus that departs from the Yuzhnaya metro station.
13. Day Trip to Gorki Leninskie from Moscow
Once the realm of Russian nobles, Gorki Leninskie was turned into Lenin’s museum some 25 years after his death. The estate sits some 30-minute bus ride from the Domodedovskaya metro station and houses Soviet-era memorabilia and Lenin’s memorial flat recently transferred from the Kremlin, as well as his vintage Rolls-Royce.
Most people only associate this place with the name of the first communist leader. In fact, the name of the estate was first mentioned in documents dating back to the 16th-century. Throughout its history, the estate was owned by a number of prominent figures. It’s in fact one of the best museums that holds the country’s finest collection 19th-century furnishings and a unique collection of domestic items owned by nobles. Plus, ancient Vyatichi native tribe or East Slavs who inhabited a part of the Oka basin’s burial mounds and a few notable sculptures are hidden behind the avenues of lime trees in the park.
Getting There: You could, of course, hop on a bus from Domodedovskaya metro station. But it would be much easier just to use UBER or Gett. The estate isn’t that far from the Moscow Circle Road but going there by bus may involve some navigating.
14. Day Trip to Kaluga from Moscow
If you’re looking for an educational day trip from Moscow, look no farther than Kaluga! This beautiful city could really entertain you for more than just a day, but to get a taste of science, be sure to visit the Tsiolkovsky State Museum of the History of Cosmonautics. Or in other words, the Space Museum.
Visitors to the museum will learn more about the history of space exploration. In fact, this is one of the largest Space Museums in Russia, which opened its doors in Kaluga in 1967. Here you can see a prototype of the iconic MIR space station and a duplicate of the Voskhod rocket. The very same rocket that took the first man to space. There’s also a planetarium, which from the outside resembles a spaceship.
Kaluga is a totally walkable city. Make sure to spend some time strolling Teatralnaya street with the authentic 19th-century pavement that now marks the Kilometer Zero. Then walk across the 18th-century Kamenniy Most (the Stone Bridge) that somewhat resembles a Roman aqueduct. If you’re an architecture buff marvel at the Church of St. Cosmas and Damian.
It is assumed that the church was erected by one of the followers of Francesco Bartolomeo Rastrelli in 1794. The church resembles the Smolny Convent in St. Petersburg. With five church towers directed upward and six tiers of oblong windows give the exterior a sense of lightness and airiness.
Getting There: Trains from Kiyevsky Rail Terminal to Kaluga leave every 90 minutes. The trip takes about 2 hours and 35 minutes.
15. Day Trip to Monino from Moscow
Are you looking for great family & kid-friendly day trips from Moscow? If so, consider visiting the Central Museum of the Air Forces at Monino. This unique military open-air museum is home to over 180 Russian aircraft and 100 aircraft engines and the perfect place to go when your crowd is looking for a break from hectic city life. Check this tour if you don’t feel like planning.
This site was formerly an operational airbase from 1932 till 1956 and many of the Russian aviation Design bureaus have made a contribution to the operation and maintenance of the museum. Along with aircraft from the Second World War, there are the TU-95 Bear four-engine turboprop-powered strategic bomber and the TU-144 Charger a Soviet supersonic passenger airliner (which resembled the Concorde). The museum also has exhibits related to military aviation history such as the uniform of captured U2 pilot Gary Powers.
Getting There: This museum is located at Monino Town, about 30 km from Moscow. It is open on all days from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, except Mondays and Tuesdays. To get there take a train departing from Yaroslavskiy Rail Terminal and disembark at Monino station. Alternatively, hop on a bus from Schelkovskaya or Partizanskaya metro station.
Final Thoughts on the Best Day Trips from Moscow
I hope this post has helped you discover some amazing day trips from Moscow. From imposing cathedrals, mighty fortresses and monasteries, there are a lot of incredible places to visit the Russian capital, and the best part is that getting there is always ways to get around on the cheap.
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Great article for visitors in Moscow , thanks for sharing
Marie Hernandez
I hadn’t considered traveling to Moscow until NOW! Fantastic post and ideas for visitors! Thanks!
Graham Marsden
Nice to see so many options outside of Moscow, but I have to say I wish this list had a recommendation for a hike or a beautiful natural areas or national parks. Maybe the next list!
I have to admit that I knew nothing about the area surrounding Moscow. This is definitely an inspiring list of places to go.
When I read this article about Moscow. I wanted to pack my bags and get there sooner. thank you for the great write up.
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Texas Kids Adventures
Texas Road Trip Through Europe Towns A= Paris, TX; B= Athens, TX; C= Moscow, TX; D= Berlin, TX; E= Vienna, TX; F= London, TX; G= Florence, TX; H= Holland, TX; I= Dublin, TX, J= Italy, TX
Texas has some uniquely-named towns, such as Cut-and-Shoot, Loco, Trout, Oatmeal, Ding Dong, Bacon, Noodle, Tarzan, Salty, Telephone, Energy, Coffee City, Quicksand, Gun Barrell City, and has its own Utopia as well as Uncertain.
As settlers emigrated to Texas, they brought some European names to pay homage to their mother countries, including Paris, Athens, Moscow, Berlin, Vienna, London, Florence, Holland, Dublin and Italy. Fortunately for Texans, this makes a fun road trip to explore Texas towns with European names. Even better, you won’t need a passport. If you haven’t heard of these town before, it’s probably because most are very small and lost population and industries as larger cities grew.
The Eiffel Tower of Texas. Photo credit.
Let’s begin our tour in Paris, Texas , complete with its own 65 foot Eiffel Tower with a red cowboy hat perched on top. It’s the second largest Eiffel Tower in the world, and is around one-tenth the height of the original at 1,063 feet. Stop by the Paris Bakery for French pastries as you explore downtown Paris and the Lamar County courthouse. The Lamar County Historical Museum has artifacts from the local area, including a blacksmith shop, pioneer kitchen and pioneer cabin. Kids can stretch their legs at the Paris Downtown Community Park splash park and outdoor musical instruments. Check out the Paris events including Tour de Paris Bicycle Rally and the Paris Balloon & Music Festival .
Zipliner above the trees at New York, Texas Zipline Adventures.
Enjoy the rolling hills and piney woods on your road trip journey to Athens, Texas. It was named by the stepdaughter of a founding father who had a vision that Athens would become the cultural center in Henderson county like the one in Greece. Athens holds the title of the official “Original Home of the Hamburger”, created in the late 1880s at a downtown Athens café and introduced at the 1904 World’s State Fair in St Louis. Athens is also known as the Black-eyed Pea Capital of the World.
The Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center is a production hatchery for stocking fish into Texas waterways and an educational center to learn about native species and ecosystems. Visit over 300,000 gallons of indoor and outdoor aquariums to see many native fish, waterfowl, amphibians and alligators. Learn about ecosystems and fishing at the museum and wetlands trail.
The East Texas Arboretum & Botanical Society is 100 acres of trees, flowers and wildlife. The two mile rugged nature trail along spring-fed streams reveal untouched animal habitats and ecosystems. The handicap-accessible trail is 1/3 of a mile. Wear comfortable walking shoes and bring binoculars.
Just 15 minutes away, New York, Texas Zipline Adventures offers zipline tours for ages 5 and up. Zip through the treetops at over 100 feet above the ground.
Lake Livingston State Park kayaking Photo credit
Moscow, Texas There’s not much in this small town of less than 200 residents. Stop by Johnson’s Rock Shop to find gemstones, minerals, petrified wood, and jewelry. Polk County Memorial Museum is a small museum with history of Polk County with old maps. Lake Livingston State Park located just 15 minutes away, on Hwy 59 on the way to Berlin.
Berlin, Texas A German settlement from the late 1840s with a cotton gin and gristmill, this town only 3 miles from Brenham and is included in their population numbers. Berlin was founded in 1860 by German settlers. There is also a Texas town called New Berlin in Guadalupe county.
Vienna, Texas With a population under 50, this is a tiny town once had a gin and sawmill as immigrants settled along the Navidad River. When the Navidad flooded in 1940, structures were washed away.
Florence, Texas main street. Photo credit.
London, Texas London is also known as London Town in the 1880s, and is home to the historic London Dance Hall with live music and dances. Enjoy the beauty of rolling hills, oak trees and wildflowers as you enjoy the best of the Texas Hill Country in Boerne, Comfort, Fredericksburg and Kerrville area. Nearby attractions include the Ft. McKavett State Historical Site and South Llano River State Park.
Florence, Texas This small town established in the early 1850s had a railroad with wheat, cotton and cattle industries which led to a corn mill, blacksmith leather goods production, and eventually a hotel, saloon, flour mill. Area attractions include lakes and rivers for water recreation and fishing.
Hill country, Fredericksburg, Texas. Photo credit.
Holland, Texas
Holland is home to the one and only Corn Fest , an annual festival of music, 5K run, parade, and themed contests such as corn eating, corn shucking, corn bobbing, corn seed spitting, corn cob relay, corn hole and the world championship corn cob throw. While it was cancelled in 2020, this sounds like a shucking good time you won’t want to miss for 2021. You could leave there as a world champion!
Dublin, Texas The Official Irish Capital of Texas, Dublin bottled Dr. Pepper for over 100 years. This small town has plenty to explore including museums, shopping, market days, and homemade cheese and wines. The Dublin St. Patrick’s Day Celebration includes pageants, parades, craft and food vendors, dog contests and shopping. Dublin has a monthly Farmers Markets for fresh produce.
Italy Known as the “Biggest Little Town in Texas,” this town was named by the postmaster who thought the climate was similar to Italy. This settlement from the 1860s had a railroad, five cotton gins, and a cottonseed oil mill. This old cotton town now has some vintage and antique shopping and dining.
Downtown Italy, Texas
On your Texas Road Trip Through Europe Towns, you can brag to your friends about seeing towns that they probably never knew were in Texas. You can imagine the hustle and bustle of these towns during the cotton and farming boom, and see the grand buildings that remain. You will see backroads, woodlands, lakes and rivers, rolling hills, and beautiful scenery along the way. When given the choice between the interstate and the backroads, always choose the backroads.
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Here Are 7 Unique Day Trips In Idaho That Are An Absolute Must-Do
Super-rad musician, scholar, photographer, and traveler. The Mountain West and larger PNW = home, but can be found wherever there's adventure.
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While extended road trips over weekends are always an adventure, sometimes a long excursion simply isn’t possible. Instead, a quick day trip or outing with the family is your destiny. So instead of obsessively planning, forget about those other complicated vacations and hit the road to enjoy these quick, easy, and inexpensive day trips from nearly every major city. Or, mini-vacays, if you will. If you’ve ever Googled “road trips near me in Idaho”, today’s your lucky day!
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Do you want to make your day trip last even longer? Take this historic road trip or check out this unique backcountry drive . Have any ideas for more ultimate road trips in Idaho? Tell us about them in the comments!
OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
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Road trips in idaho near me.
What are some of the best road trips in Idaho I can take?
You know, Idaho gets a lot of flak. People refer to it as a “flyover” state, which implies that it’s boring -- and that notion couldn’t be further from the truth. There’s plenty to do – especially if you’re a lover of the open road like we are. Basically, if you can dream it, you can probably drive it. You can spend time traveling the Magruder Corridor, which is a beautiful, scenic drive you’ll never forget. You can drive the famous “road to nowhere” or make a whole thing out of visiting the most haunted places in the state. We also suggest making a whole trip out of Idaho’s spectacular waterfalls. If you’d like more inspiration for the best road trips in Idaho, take a peek at this list .
Where are the must-visit places in Idaho?
There are several places that come to mind as definitive, iconic “must-do” activities. For instance, it’s imperative that you visit the incredible Shoshone Falls as soon as you can (if you haven’t already). Explore a dormant volcano at Craters of the Moon National Monument, where you’ll have an out-of-this-world fun experience. You won’t believe the surreal beauty on display at Sawtooth National Recreation Area, and Twin Falls is a wonderful place to come to on a hot summer day. Lake Coeur d'Alene, in northern Idaho, is also a must-see – and don’t forget to bring a camera! These locations are all ridiculously photogenic, and we’re sure you’ll fall in love with them as quickly as we did.
Where can I find unique attractions in Idaho?
Believe it or not, Idaho is a state with plenty of unique and otherwise oddball attractions to check out in your spare time. You can explore any number of the interesting (and a bit eerie) ghost towns all over the state, like Custer ghost town, near Stanley, and Burke ghost town, near Wallace. It wouldn’t be Idaho without a museum dedicated entirely to the potato, and Blackfoot, Idaho, has that taken care of. You can also sleep in a giant potato in Boise. In Arco, Idaho, you’ll find the world’s first-ever nuclear power plant. And did you know the center of the universe is a manhole in Wallace? Well, at least they think so...
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Compare the best 188 Moscow Tours, vacations packages, & adventures from 33 local experts and top companies. Covid-19 updates. 208 Moscow trip... Search Search Tours. ... Learn about the last days of the Romanovs in Yekaterinburg, visiting the sites where Tsar Nicolas II and his family were assassinated and buried.
A bus trip to Sergiyev Posad takes two hours on average but can be reached in 90 minutes depending on traffic. If you go by car expect to spend about an hour and a half attempting to traverse the congested Yaroslavskoye highway. 5. Day Trip to Yaroslavl from Moscow.
Downtown Italy, Texas. On your Texas Road Trip Through Europe Towns, you can brag to your friends about seeing towns that they probably never knew were in Texas. You can imagine the hustle and bustle of these towns during the cotton and farming boom, and see the grand buildings that remain. You will see backroads, woodlands, lakes and rivers ...
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