As travel trends over the last decade suggest, there has been a significant rise in multigenerational travel. And sometimes the in-between generation, mom and dad, get left home while grandma and grandpa take their little grandchildren on the journey of a lifetime.

Grand Travel (800/247-7651), a division of Academic-Travel, has been catering to grandparents and grandchildren with luxury vacation tours and packages for over 22 years. The main focus of these trips is that two very different generations, despite such a large age-gap, can actually learn a lot from each other while also building a strong bond and visiting a new place.

The 2008 season will feature seven different tours and locations to a wide variety of places. It could be something as simple as "Trains of the Wild West," or even the very exotic, like New Zealand or the Galapagos Islands. (To learn more about these deals, read a more in-depth article on Grandtravel itineraries).

The most special and new thing on this year's list, however, is an 11-day exploration tour of Alaska, one of the nation's must scenic states. With two different trip-dates on July 10-20 and July 31-August 10, this tour will cover panning for gold, whale watching (mainly for Orcas and Humpbacks) on a cruise in the Icy Strait, flying in a helicopter to the top of a glacier, fishing for Kenai Salmon and even riding behind a team of huskies as you scream out "Mush!"

The majority of the activities on the trip include hands-on experience and interaction so that grandparents and grandchildren will have the opportunity to learn how to do something new at the same time and place.

In Fairbanks, families will discover life in Frontier Alaska, then travel to Denali in a dome train and go rafting down the Nenana River. While in Anchorage, you will met a Iditarod Dog Sled Winner, Jeff King, and tour his facilities after meeting some of his newborn puppies; also visit the Alaska Native Heritage Center to learn about native music, culture, dance, storytelling and other traditions.

Then after a short flight to Alaska's capital Juneau, you will enjoy authentic salmon meals and even get your own opportunity to fish and check out of the beautiful Tracy Arm Fjord.

All transportation, accommodations, meals, attraction-admission and entertainment over the 11-night program are included in the price. Children ages 7-11 will pay $6,895 each based on a double occupancy rate, while adults and children 12 and up pay $7,295. Triple occupancy rates are an option if you wish to lower the per person rates.

For more information about traveling with your grandchildren check out Family Travel Forum's article, "Grandparent Travel: Multigenerational Travel and Touring Grows."