<p>Not all kids abandon their families when they head off to college. I just received a call from my D asking if we could do a family vacation this summer! Seems that in her Spanish class (of all places?) they had a discussion of things they did as kids that they remembered. She remembered the vacations we took hiking in the Canadian Rockies, and wants a repeat.</p>
<p>What a pleasand surprise, but I must say, we did have some great times on those trips.</p>
<p>We've always gone on a family vacation for one, two or (once) three weeks. I thought it would end when our oldest started college and in fact planned the last two years of when she was a rising hs junior and senior thinking they would probably be the last time we would vacation together. <em>sniff</em></p>
<p>We found instead, that if we let her bring a friend or find an interesting enough destination that she actually wants to join us. We do plan them around her camp (she's a counselor) schedule. This summer for a change, I'm going out with just my boys to Arizona to meet up with my husbands family including 5 cousins. We might just do an end of the summer vacation to Canada if we can squeeze it in everyone's schedule. The other ace in the hole is her little brother, she's now torn between missing him and quizzing him on his educational experience - she's an education major. It's like he's her guinea pig.</p>
<p>We've always done a week-long "family reunion" vacation with my wife's side of the family for 17+ years. I think "Beach Week" will be something my S always remembers, as it's the one time he's always been able to see his cousins. It hasn't always been terribly convenient for us -- having one week of vacation permanently committed tends to limit your options, but it's been worth it.</p>
<p>We have always enjoyed going away together and that has continued with the kids in college. It's as we see our older one head toward college graduation and a demanding full-time career that we realize that family vacations just aren't going to be easy anymore. I guess we'll shoot for the occasional long weekend and hope that when they grow up and have their own kids we will do the family vacation again now and then. Having realized all this, we have planned a long vacation together this summer. A time we will really treasure...</p>
<p>Ditto, Iderochi, with my H's side. Cape May every summer with aunts, uncles, cousins. D made it twice while in college. She will be there this year. S hopes to if he can figure out summer work which allows it.</p>
<p>We lost my father-in-law and sister-in-law since the last one, and everyone feels that much more the need to stay connected.</p>
<p>We would love to do a family vacation in the summer BUT DS (the college student) needs to work, and DD (the high school student) will be away for at least three weeks. Plus...this summer <em>I</em> don't get done with school until June 29. So...maybe a long weekend somewhere. We are planning a graduation trip when DS graduates from college to somewhere nice (either a cruise or Hawaii). We'll be able to pay for the trip because we won't be paying his tuition!!</p>