Guest Impressions: Exploring Together Across Generations
Travel has a unique way of bringing generations together—creating space to reconnect and share experiences that might not happen at home. On expeditions, those moments unfold naturally—during explorations, over shared meals reflecting on the day's adventures and in the simple joy of discovering something new side by side.
With National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions, families travel differently—supported every step of the way so that time together becomes the focus. Whether it’s gathering for a milestone celebration or introducing younger generations to a beloved destination, these journeys make it possible for everyone to participate fully.
From the Greek Isles to Alaska and the Galápagos Islands, these guests share what it means to experience the world as a multi-generational family—and why those shared moments stay with them long after they return home.
The Winthrop Family, Greek Isles
Our recent voyage to the Greek Isles was a special one for the three of us—my mom, Nancy, my sister, Cindy, and me. We’ve always tried to travel as a family. Our mom traveled extensively with National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions with our dad, and after he passed, she continued on her own—finding both comfort and community along the way. Over time, those experiences grew into something we now share together across generations. We planned this trip to celebrate Cindy’s 60th birthday, and being able to take it with our mom—now 87 and a nine-year stage 4 breast cancer survivor—made it even more meaningful.
There were so many moments that stand out. Stormy weather led to unexpected changes, but the team found wonderful alternatives—like tucking into Hydra, an island with no cars and plenty of donkeys, exactly as we had imagined Greece would be. In Santorini, when navigating the village wasn’t feasible for our mom, the staff made sure she could still be part of the experience—escorting her to dinner where we enjoyed incredible food, music, dancing and one of the most beautiful sunsets we’ve ever seen.
Again and again, we found ourselves thinking how grateful we were to be doing this together. Traveling as a multi-generational family has strengthened our bond, and the support from National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions makes it possible to do it in a way where everyone’s needs are met, without the usual stress of coordinating a trip like this. Every time our mom stepped into a Zodiac—with the steady help of the expedition staff—she would light up. She loves adventure travel, and these expeditions allow her to keep exploring. — Elizabeth Winthrop Brown
The Entwistle Family, Alaska
Outside of holidays, it’s rare for a group our size—13 of us spanning three generations—to spend extended time with one another. So, it was truly the experience of a lifetime to celebrate our brother’s 40th birthday in such a magical, remote place with an intimate and infinite exposure to the landscape.
From happy hours recapping the day to standing on the bow taking in the scenery, every detail—big and small—felt special. On our first night, under a bursting orange sunset, we followed a small pod of whales—a perfect welcome to the adventure ahead.
While exploring by Zodiac in Glacier Bay, we gently bumped past icebergs as sea lions warmed themselves on the floating islands of ice. Then came the powerful boom of a glacier calving into the water—something we could feel from the boat. A first for everyone in our group, it was an unforgettable moment to share together. — Nell Entwistle
The Lambrix Family, Galápagos
On our first day in the Galápagos, we boarded Zodiacs just as the sun was setting. Word spread that a large pod of dolphins had been spotted, and we took off, skimming across the open water. Dozens of dolphins began leaping in pairs beside us—a "choreographed dance" they all seemed to know by heart. The sunset, the dolphins, the joy on our kids’ faces—it felt like the Galápagos was "welcoming us," offering a preview of the extraordinary adventure to come.
Beyond that unforgettable beginning, what made the voyage truly special were the people—the crew, naturalists and our fellow travelers, who widened our lens on the world. Our kids loved the National Geographic Explorers-in-Training program, where they weren’t just tagging along, but participating as young explorers in their own right. We came home with a deeper sense of connection—to one another and to the incredible people aboard who dedicate their lives to exploration, conservation and education. — Vanessa Lambrix
Noah and Kiran Thomas, Galápagos
I really enjoyed the National Geographic Explorers-in-Training program, which gave all the kids on board super cool things like hats, colored pencils and notebooks with checklists for nature. On our hikes, the naturalists helped us spot different animals and plants so we could write them down. I saw 78 different species of mammals, reptiles, fish, plants and invertebrates. At the end, a naturalist grades your field notebook and you get a prize. I recommend this vacation to everyone! — Noah, Age 10
My favorite experience in the Galápagos was snorkeling. I saw so many cool animals like sea turtles, penguins and sharks—but the best were the sea lions. They were so friendly and swam right next to me. On the ship, the naturalists were really nice and taught us a lot, and the service for food is great. They remember the drinks you like, and you get ice cream for dessert. I had a blast! — Kiran, Age 8
The Griffin and Dapp Families, Greek Isles
In July, 13 of us—three generations—traveled together to Greece aboard the National Geographic Orion. Tom and Sue (my in-laws) brought together their children and grandchildren for what turned out to be an amazing experience for all of us.
We loved our time both on the ship and on the fantastic land adventures. The seven grandchildren made memories on each of the islands we visited, but probably had the most fun on board with the crew. We could not have been treated better.
Some of my favorite moments were climbing a volcano, swimming in the Mediterranean and enjoying the amazing food at every meal.
For Nicki and me, this was our third National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions voyage—and for Tom and Sue, their 30th—which made the trip feel even more special to share together as a family. — Keith Griffin
