July 2003: Grandtravel, an expert in multi-generational travel for almost 20 years, has unveiled a "Birthday Travel List" -- a year-by-year guide of age-appropriate vacation suggestions similar to the traditional anniversary gift list referred to so often by forgetful spouses. The guide offers grandparents an easy method of determining which trip might be suitable to experience with a specific-age grandchild. Some suggestions are for grandparents to travel with grandchildren and others include all three generations. Grandtravel is even making it easy to remember where you put the list by printing it on a refrigerator magnet, free for the asking.

For children ages 1 to 8, Grandtravel -- which is also a full-service travel agency -- suggests grandparents arrange customized vacation packages -- a beach house rental to share with parents and one-year-olds; a Caribbean resort stay with baby club services for two-year-olds; overnight sleeper train trips for kindergartners; child-oriented theme parks for seven-year-olds; fascinating factory tours that include manufacturers of chocolate, ice cream, automobiles and toys, to name a few; and a dinosaur dig for eight-year-olds.

As grandchildren mature into adolescents and teenagers, Grandtravel recommends suitable pre- packaged trips for grandparents and grandchildren, no parents. These programs depart during school vacations to international and domestic destinations that are inspirational, engaging and educational.

Recommendations for the 9- to-18-year set run the gamut -- from 12 days exploring the Gal  pagos (Grandtravel's "The Aquarium of the Pacific" is ideal), where 12-year-olds and their grandparents have close-up encounters with the unique wildlife that inspired Charles Darwin to develop his theory of evolution, to 10 days on a "Grand Cities" tour of London and Paris at age 14 that includes all the classic sights and attractions in and around the two cities -- from a ride on the London Eye, the world's highest observation Ferris wheel, to strolling the Champs-Elysees, the cosmopolitan avenue originally laid out in 1660 as a garden.

The nine-day "Manhattan Magic" is perfect for nine-year-olds, who will visit the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, take a helicopter ride and see a baseball game. Eleven-year-olds can go horseback riding, search for buffalo on a Jeep safari and raft the Snake River on the 10-day "Western Parks, Western Space" itinerary to Montana, Wyoming and South Dakota. Close encounters with exotic wildlife will thrill 13-year-olds on a 14-day "Wildlife Safari" to Africa''s national parks -- lifetime memories come from day and night game drives in search of lions, elephants and hippos.

For 15-year-olds, Grandtravel suggests a 15-day tour of Italy to a smorgasbord of cities, including Venice, Capri and Pompeii (15-day "Classic Splendor"), while a 14-day "Untouched Wilderness" itinerary to Alaska, featuring dog sledding, kayaking, rafting and salmon fishing, is a memorable birthday gift for 16-year-olds. "Grandchildren''s Choice" is the suggestion for 18-year-olds -- in which they take some of the responsibility for deciding and planning what part of the world they want to explore with their grandparents and show how much they have learned from their past travel experiences.

Grandtravel programs have been developed by a team of teachers, psychologists, leisure counselors and educators, placing special attention on current interests, historical sites and natural attractions. Pre-departure counseling is available from the operator to help grandparents and grandchildren understand each other's needs.

The ''Birthday ''Travel List" (on refrigerator magnet or paper), further information, brochures and reservations can be obtained from Grandtravel, 6900 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 706, Chevy Chase, MD 20815; telephone, (800) 247-7651, (301) 986-0790; web site www.grandtrvl.com.