My family took our 90-year-old grandma on an RV camping trip. It reminded us to never underestimate older relatives.
She didn't hesitate to join us, and we rented a golf cart to help her make the most of the trip.
I made memories that I'll keep forever, and I learned not to underestimate my older relatives.
When I tell friends that my grandmother is 90, they're usually stunned. Thanks to the skincare regimen that keeps her skin smooth and the crossword-puzzle habit that keeps her mind sharp, she definitely doesn't seem like your typical nonagenarian.
Nonetheless, she is still 90. Her balance isn't perfect, she walks with a cane, and requires assistance with going up or down stairs.
Save for some quick weekends away for her grandnieces' weddings, she hasn't traveled in a few years because of her physical limitations. One of the last times we took her on a real vacation, she left with a broken patella.
Still, my grandma is a go-getter. Whatever she can physically muster, she will attempt.
So, when my parents and I decided to take a semi-last-minute camping trip in our RV, we invited her along with us — and she jumped at the opportunity.
Our campground had tons of activities, including several that my grandma could enjoy
We drove our RV from our home in New York to the campsite in Pennsylvania. Our camper sleeps up to six people, but with only four of us traveling, our grandma had plenty of extra room to get comfortable at night.
Because our trip came together fairly late in the game, we weren't left with many campsite options. We decided on Jellystone Park, a Yogi Bear-themed campground franchise geared toward families with young children.
The campsite featured a main store, an activity area complete with water slides, and basketball courts. With my grandma's physical needs in mind, we rented a golf cart to bring her around the grounds.
We may not have been the campground's target demographic — most of the on-site activities seemed designed for kids, and I saw younger families everywhere I looked — but it's safe to say that we had more fun than anyone else there.
My grandma stayed away from the water slides, but she happily played mini-golf. (It brought out a competitive side of her that we'd never seen before!)
Although the campsite's mini hiking trail was a bit too much for her, she happily joined us to take our dogs on walks around the property.
Even just driving the golf cart around the campground became a fun activity — my grandma and I took turns pointing out the various license plates we saw from different states.
The experience reminded me not to underestimate older relatives
It was amazing to watch my grandma's confidence grow every day as her body adapted to certain challenges.
On day one, she needed her cane and someone to hold her arm as she mounted the four steps into the RV. By day three, she was able to hoist herself up and down the stairs into the RV by herself.
I also loved how the trip gave us time to unplug and be present, letting nature bring us all closer together.
As we sat outside listening to the subtle chirping of birds, my grandma shared stories about her early summers spent on a farm in upstate New York. Her eyes twinkled as she recalled memories from bygone days as if they'd happened just yesterday.
While I listened to her stories, a thought crossed my mind: When I'm 90 years old, I hope I'll also be telling stories just like this one about the incredible camping trip I took with my grandma.
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