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Cynthia is a freelance writer who lives in western Michigan, the "third coast" of the US, where she is a volunteer lighthouse keeper. She is the author of the newly-published book, Miracle on the Mayflower: John Howland's Remarkable Rescue and Lasting Impact on America, available on Amazon, as well as several other books. She is also the founder of the blog www.skipgentravelguru.com, where she writes about the joys of traveling with grandkids.

Latest Posts By Cynthia Hogg

1 year ago

The Hidden Value of Your Ordinary Life

We have just passed through all the big holidays, ending with New Year’s Eve/New Year’s Day. At the end of the year, many of us like to have some time for reflection, not just of the past year but often over our lives in general. When we do, it’s easy to feel discouraged…

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1 year ago

The Joy of Skip-Gen Travel, Pitfalls and All

I had planned the trip for three years. I had the train tickets. The rental car. Hotel reservations. Non-refundable tickets for a musical, a lobster dinner cruise, and a whale-watching tour. All four granddaughters were super excited: we were going to Prince Edward Island…

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2 years ago

Bidding Up: Something New on Amtrak

I recently went by train to visit my best friend. It’s hard when your best friend lives so far away (10 hours by car) but fortunately, Amtrak goes directly from my home in Michigan to where my friend lives near Omaha, Nebraska. Also fortunate in that I love traveling…

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2 years ago

Skip-Gen Voluntourism: Closer to Home

Not everyone has the time, money, or inclination for international travel. If you are leaving home with grandkids in tow and including any kind of volunteering along the way, your trip qualifies as voluntourism. You don’t have to go far from home…

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2 years ago

Voluntourism Abroad – Ideas for You and Your Grandchild

I previously wrote about voluntourism here, touching on some of the necessary considerations. If voluntourism is something you’ve decided you’re passionate about, doing it with your grandchildren can be a way to not only enjoy skip-gen travel…

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2 years ago

Voluntourism – Is It Right for You?

Over the past decade, there has been a sharp increase in the number of travelers who wish to contribute in some meaningful way as part of their travels. To meet this demand, there have sprung up innumerable “volunteering” organizations…

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2 years ago

5 Unorthodox Ways to Relieve Stress That You May Not Have Tried

Wars, inflation, climate change… all on top of our own personal problems and challenges. No wonder we so often feel stressed! Most of us have tried the standard remedies: meditation, yoga, deep breathing, listening to music… the list goes on…

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2 years ago

Lobsters, Laughter – And Life Lessons

I had a dream trip planned for August of 2020, but we all know what happened that year. COVID put an end to everyone’s travel plans. That summer, I had planned to take my oldest granddaughter to Prince Edward Island to celebrate her 12th birthday…

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3 years ago

All Aboard! The 5 Things I Absolutely Love About Train Travel

I love train travel. I think it’s in my blood. My grandfather was a depot agent in the small town of Douglass, Kansas, so my father grew up around trains. While I did not, the sound of a train whistle in the distance still stirs a sense of excitement in me…

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3 years ago

What Is Skip-Gen Travel and Why Is It Trending?

The definition of skip-gen travel is simple: grandparents traveling with grandkids without the parents along (i.e., skipping the “middle” generation). Why is it becoming so popular? That’s simple, too: it’s the perfect win-win-win situation!

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