SENIORS TRAVEL TO TEXAS



Seniors Enjoy “Cowtown” Fort Worth

As you know, everything is BIG IN TEXAS. Fort Worth is only the 5th largest city in Texas but has much to offer senior visitors. It’s the cultural gateway to the American West, covers nearly 350 square miles, with nearly 750,000 inhabitants.  It’s the 18th largest city in the United States, and voted one of “America’s Most Livable Communities.”

Fort Worth gets its name from a Major General who set up a series of forts to mark the western Texas frontier. The fact is that there was never actually a fort built in Fort Worth. It became a stop along the famous Chisholm Trail and earned the name “Cowtown.” Great herds of Longhorns were driven from Texas to the railheads in Kansas via Fort Worth. Today, it’s where the “West Begins” and where you can take in the historic stockyards.

Downtown Fort Worth Welcomes Senior Visitors

Senior visitors will find a number of dazzling Art-Deco style buildings, lots of action and it’s where folks congregate to have fun and to take in the cuisine. Fort Worth is recognized as one of the cleanest, safest and most walkable urban areas in the nation.

Downtown is the very heart of Fort Worth, where throngs of people dine, shop, find entertainment, and mix with the thousands of people who work and live downtown. Fort Worth is one of the destinations for shopping in the Southwest.

Day and night, downtown Fort Worth is bustling with excitement and activity. An evening can be amazingly spent in the City Streets. Nightlife, shops, galleries and performing arts are housed in restored historic buildings along with 49 high-rises.

The Fort Worth Cultural District is a location to explore museums and be entertained with cultural events. There are many historical attractions in the city of Fort Worth, and some great museums to visit.

 Seniors Find Plenty To See and Do In Town

One could say that Fort Worth is full of gas, with its over 1000 natural gas wells in town. It’s home of the Horned Frogs, Texas Christian University. The Texas Motor Speedway is a NASCAR track that brings in senior visitors.

The area is best known as Dallas/Fort Worth due to the proximity of Dallas. The hottest industry in Fort Worth is the life sciences and combined with Dallas, the region boasts nearly 500 biomedical technology businesses. But tourism is also a thriving sector, thanks to the nearly 10 million visitors that pass through the city annually.

Fort Worth is among the premier vacation and business travel destinations in the U.S. The city boasts a unique blend of celebrated Western heritage with thriving commerce and culture, as well as a reputation as one of the safest and most livable cities in the country.

 I think that senior citizens will greatly appreciate and enjoy the “City of Cowboys and Culture” and the “Destination With Everything.”  jeb

SENIORS VISIT SWITZERLAND



Seniors Head for Verbier

Verbier, Switzerland, a village located in south-western portion of Switzerland is a holiday resort and ski area in the Swiss Alps, recognized as one of the premiere “off-piste” resorts in the world. Piste in French means slope or ski run so this means bold skiers ski in the back county on ungroomed and unmarked areas including skiing in unmarked or unpatrolled areas either inside or outside of a resort’s boundaries, sometimes  in the woods.

Amongst these are popular mogul fields that may challenge even the best.  So seniors, be bold and head off for Verbier. Some areas are covered with snow all year. Many top skiers have settled in the Verbier area in order to take advantage of the steep slopes, varied conditions and resort culture.

The city is an ultimate ski-paradise. During winter, Verbier offers unlimited entertainment and fun options for seniors like skiing, snowboarding, hiking, snowshoeing and paragliding.

True Alpine Village Draws Senior Visitors

Perched on a sunny plateau in the heart of the mountains, with its slate-rooted chalets, Verbier has carefully maintained its charm as an alpine village. This is the gateway to the 4 Vallées ski area – with nearly 100 lifts and more than 400 km of ski runs for all levels of expertise. The Mont-Fort, the highest point of the ski area (3’330 m), offers a panorama over the Matterhorn, the Combins and the Mont-Blanc ranges.

A big part of Verbier’s appeal is the skiing on sunny slopes and the fact that it’s a high-tech, state-of-the-art sports complex that links Quatre Vallées (four valleys) and multiple ski areas. Verbier has a huge aerial cableway, with a cabin that accommodates 150, plus 89 smaller transportation installations. There is plenty of vertical drop, to which the extreme ski and snowboard competitions can attest.

A few Verbier factoids: The British-run Pub Mont Fort sells more beer than any other bar in Switzerland. You can buy USA Today at the grocery store. The 4 Vallées ski area is strung with almost 100 lifts—and in super-deep years, you can ski from the summit of Mont-Fort 8,200 feet down to the village of Le Chable.

Plus Verbier has enough terrain to keep free riders busy for years: shoulder-scraping chutes, mile-long mogul fields, and massive, powder-choked valleys. Sure, you’re more likely to meet an English-speaking Swede or a French-speaking German than a true Swiss local—but with 255 miles of skiing, who cares?

Powder or Thrills, Seniors Choose

Verbier is one of the most widely reported resorts in the world. Whether you seek powder and thrills, lively bars and stylish restaurants or village charm from your ski holiday, Verbier has something for every senior visitor.

The nightlife is as legendary as the skiing and can be as lively or sophisticated as you wish. An abundance of top quality restaurants, bars and shops are all conveniently located within easy walking distance of many of the chalets.

Looks like a winter paradise to me folks.  Enjoy Verbier. jeb

SENIORS TRAVEL TO OHIO



Seniors Come En Masse To Check Out Mason

Welcome to Mason, Ohio, senior travelers. Named number 7 on Money magazine’s list of the Best Places to Live, Money considered 1,326 U.S. towns. Income, diversity, education, crime, job growth, housing, health care, arts and leisure, and ease of living all factored into the ratings.

Mason is an affluent town in southwestern Warren County approximately 22 miles (35 km) from downtown Cincinnati. On June 1, 1803, Revolutionary War veteran William Mason paid $1,700 at auction to purchase 640 acres of land in what is now downtown Mason. Over the years the city has grown from the original acreage to over 11,200 acres, incorporating as a city in 1971.

As of the 2010 census, Mason’s population was 30,712. The town has experienced fast growth, with its historic Main Street remaining the center of the community. Mason went from being a sleepy farm town of less than 5,000 residents in the 1960′s to a bustling community of Cincinnati commuters in the 1990′s.

Mason, the largest city in Warren County, is near the southwest corner of Ohio. Warren County is called “Ohio’s Largest Playground” and Mason is the anchor. Regional attractions include the Golf Center at Kings Island, Great Wolf Lodge and Conference Center, Kings Island Amusement Park, and the annual Western & Southern Open.

Additional attractions include the Mason Community Center and famed Mason Historical Society’s Alverta Green Museum. Residents and senior visitors look forward to the annual Mason Heritage Festival and Christmas in Mason. Wikitravel answers many FAQs on Mason including how to get there.

 Jobs, Recreation and Thriving Business Impress Seniors

Work and play can be hard to balance, but this Cincinnati suburb does it with ease. Home to uniform maker Cintas, Luxottica, the parent company of LensCrafters and Sunglass Hut along with Procter & Gamble’s health care research division, jobs in Mason are abundant. So are recreational activities.

Mason features two amusement parks: Paramount’s Kings Island that opened in 1972, known for its roller coasters, and The Beach Waterpark, which provides residents of landlocked Ohio a way to experience an oceanfront destination.

Let’s face it folks, King’s Island is in Mason and it is a major draw for visitors of all ages, including senior citizens. It is the largest theme and water park in the U.S. and offers more than 40 thrill rides including riding a tornado on “Delirium” and taking a white-knuckle ride on a runaway train. Are you up for that?

You will want to stop at Mim’s Off Main, a unique gift store, that ranks #3 for visitors and is favorite place to shop with a great selection of merchandise.

Mason is a destination for corporations seeking a thriving business environment and for families desiring attractive neighborhoods and nationally ranked schools. I have grown to like a site called AmericanTowns.com. Here is their take on Manson.

The Alverta Green Museum is Mason’s best kept secret located in the heart of the historic district. So seniors, come to Mason and stay around for the fun. jeb

SUNDAY COFFEE WITH JEB



Beckers Are All Over The Place

I first came up with this idea when I read about all the great apples this time of year at the Becker’s Orchards out on Stow Pit Rd in Monroe, Oregon.  Just kind of  liked that name since that’s this senior’s name, too.

I recall traveling through a part of Texas called “Hill Country” that my wife and I really love and we passed by the Becker Vineyards on route 90 near Fredericksburg, Texas.

In further searching I discovered another Becker Winery  in Roseburg, Oregon. And yet another Becker Vineyard in Umpqua Valley called Oregon’s Oldest Fine Wine Region.

My Senior Wife Created Dr. Becker’s Bites

Dr. Becker’s Bites, a dog and cat treat, is very close to me. My senior wife created this treat in our kitchen, started a business and is now selling dog treats all over the country. The doctor of Dr. Becker’s Bites is our daughter, Karen, who asked her mother if she would make a healthy, grain-free treat for her clients. Check us out!

 

A College and a Bakery called Becker

Out in Worcester, MA is Becker College. I asked them to send me a couple of pennants a few years back. There’s a Becker’s Bakery and Deli in Manhattan Beach, CA and another Becker Bakery in Nashville.

Being a Master Gardener I had to look up a nursery with my name.  There it was: Becker Tree Farm and Nursery in Hobe Sound, FL. Becker’s Farm in Rensselaer, NY is pretty special too with lots of annuals, perennials, nursery stock, and beautiful roses.

Mind you now, I’m not putting in a ‘plug’ for any of these places, just enjoying that name BECKER. Becker Farms in Gasport, NY has a vineyard and even does some of their own brewing.

A City Called Becker

There’s a City of Becker in Minnesota. In retrospect I probably should have purchased a cabin on a lake in Becker County but I didn’t.  It was Otter Tail County… a great choice on Stalker Lake. That’s a whole ‘nother story folks.

Have you ever put your name into Google? Try it and see what comes up.

I discovered that there were a whole slug of builders and construction companies named Becker. And the TV series called ‘Becker,”  with Dr. John Becker (Ted Danson).  John happens to be my son’s name.

And Becker Furniture World up in the Twin Cities and a Medical Library in St. Louis. And Becker surfboards out in Irvine, CA. along with Becker School Supplies in Pennsauken. There’s Becker Auto Sound in Saddle Brook, NJ. and super pumps at Becker Pumps in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. I discovered a state senator in Indiana named Becker.

I’ll depart, even though I am really getting into this, with Becker Avionics in Miramar, Fl. That’s where Tom Crews flew TOP GUN planes. Well, I invite you to look yourself up on Google, Yahoo and Bing.  Have fun. I did. jeb

Filed under : Editors Choice

SENIORS TRAVEL TO NEW JERSEY



 Berkeley Heights is the Place To Be, Seniors

Money CNN set out to discover the neatest places to live in the USA. The Best Towns had to fit the rubric of towns that were doing well economically, low unemployment rates, job growth, housing appreciation, low crime rates, affordability and the qualities that families, including seniors look for.

Berkeley Heights rated #6 of 50 choices. A township in Union County, New Jersey, as of the 2010 United States Census, the township’s population was 13,183. The community was named after Lord John Berkeley. 14% of Berkeley Heights residents report German ancestry, and 18% report Irish.

BH was originally incorporated as New Providence Township but renamed later around 1857. New Jersey Monthly did not agree and ranked the city at  the 19th best place to live in New Jersey, but let’s go with Money CNN to investigate that city and see what the big draw is.

 Nestled in the Watchungs and Close to NYC

Nestled in the Watchung Mountains, Berkeley Heights is a community of comfortable homes and quiet tree lined streets, which provides the ideal setting for raising a family and enjoying life.

A major incentive of living in Berkeley Heights is its proximity to New York City. Many residents in Berkeley Heights commute to New York City for work on one of the multiple nearby train stations.

Berkeley Heights News can provide senior visitors with a good idea of what is going on in town. I had to dig pretty deep to find good factual information on Berkeley Heights since so many websites focused on real estate and homes for sale. Folks in Berkeley Heights would like to invite senior travelers visit their town and meet the happy local folks who live in one of America’s Best Small Towns.

 Seniors Enjoy Berkeley Heights Attractions

The #1 visitor draw is the Feltville Historic District on Cataract Hollow Road. This historical area includes eight houses, a church, a carriage house and a general house. Berkeley Heights has several municipal parks. Columbia Park, the largest one, boasts tennis courts, two baseball fields, basketball courts, and a large children’s play area.

Close by are several colleges and universities… Drew University, Fairleigh Dickinson, Seton Hall and Rutgers in New Brunswick. The Suburban Chamber of Commerce combines Berkeley Heights with New Providence and Summit, NJ.

Apple picking, hiking trails, live music, Farmer’s Markets, art galleries and more are all in Berkeley Heights. Enjoy your visit to a TOP TOWN. jeb

FRIDAY MORNING COFFEE WITH JEB



Single Seniors Tour and Cruise

Many seniors are solo travelers, looking for ‘single-friendly’ trips, tours and cruises. Fortunately, there are tour operatiors who recognize this group of senior travelers and cater to their needs. I’ve liked what I call “one stop” sites and this one is full of helpful information.

My Travel Heroes Rick Steves and Peter Greenberg

Steve’s Savvy Seniors site notes: “More people than ever are hocking their rockers and buying plane tickets. Many senior adventurers are proclaiming, ‘Age matters only if you’re a cheese.’ Travel is their fountain of youth.” Steve continues, “I’m not a senior — yet — so I put an appeal on the Graffiti Wall skiing seniors to share their advice. Thanks to the many who responded, here’s a summary of top tips from seniors who believe it’s never too late to have a happy childhood.”

Peter Greenberg has a website called “Never Stop Traveling! 10 Tips for Hitting the Road at Any Age.” I felt that was one of the best I have read on the topic.

 Tours, Cruises and Independent Senior Travelers

Independent Travelers website is terrific with deals and tips as well as health issues and suggested itineraries. Discount travel deals for seniors is also a major. People who have never traveled alone often describe their first solo trip as an almost religious experience. To take in new surroundings unfiltered by the prejudices, tastes or preferences of a traveling companion can be heady stuff. Traveling alone gives you the chance to indulge yourself fully.

Health issues can be a major concern for seniors, especially when traveling alone, so plan carefully!  Make sure pre-existing medical conditions are well managed. Organize travel insurance with pre-existing illness cover if needed and take enough of your regular medication to last the entire trip.

Coronary heart disease, obesity and sitting still for extended periods of time are known risk factors for the development of blood clots in the veins of the legs or deep vein thrombosis. Be aware of the factors involved on a long flight and how you can aid in keeping those veins flowing and without leg cramps on the plane like my wife encounters. It is always wise to check with your MD for a complete medical check-up if health issues could be a problem.

 Pack Right, Think Right

Make sure your carry-on bag contains everything you will need for the duration of the flight. Include a medical kit in your carry-on bag. Items to consider include regular medications, painkillers, antacids and band-aids. I have been a tour group leader on over two dozen trips abroad and seniors with issues usually know precisely how to deal with any that might arise from diabetes, high blood pressure and other “senior health issues.”

 Enjoy your travel wherever you choose to go.  Just do it with courage and good reasoning.  jeb

Filed under : Editors Choice

SENIORS TRAVEL TO THE BERKSHIRES



Seniors Travel to Massachusetts

The Berkshires were recently listed as a top vacation destination and there are many reasons why.  On the “Official Tourism & Travel Planning Website” senior travelers will discover the wide variety of scenery as well as sites to visit. You might even win the Free Trip to the Berkshires offered on this URL.

A Royal Governor gave the name “Berkshire,” to honor his home county in England. Oh yes, there is a Berkshire in England where Princess Kate Middleton was born.

The Berkshires, is a highland geologic region located in the western part of Massachusetts. Also referred to as the Berkshire Hills, Berkshire Mountains, and Berkshire Plateau, the region enjoys a vibrant tourism industry based on music, arts, and recreation.

I know that I have read plenty of articles over the years about the Berkshires, a popular tourist attraction and vacation getaway. Senior hikers enjoy the area with numerous trails, including part of the Appalachian Trail. It’s also home to dozens of summer camps, some of which date back to the turn of the 20th century.

Fine history and art museums, superb music and dance festivals, quality live theater, exceptional educational centers…all of these factors and more have combined to complement the wondrous natural environment inviting seniors to enjoy in all seasons.

Summer and Winter Getaway for Senior Citizens

The area serves as a summer home to many wealthy families from New York and Rhode Island, as well as other areas of Massachusetts.

City dwellers travel to the Berkshires in the summer for outdoor activities like hiking and swimming, and likewise in the winter, for skiing. Those families find the cultural richness of a major metropolitan area coupled with spectacular scenic beauty and the relaxed pace of the country, and you will as well.

TripAdvisor lists 133 must see and do sites in the Berkshires.  #1 is Tanglewood, the summer home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra featuring performances by world-renowned conductors, soloists and musicians. Jacob’s Pillow and the Norman Rockwell Museum follow right behind.

For senior outdoor lovers, Pleasant Valley’s thriving beaver population is one of the many fascinating features of this sanctuary. When you walk along Yokun Brook, take note of the “lodges” of tree branches and mud, where these nocturnal creatures spend their days.

The Berkshires features special events and festivals all year-round. It’s just a fun place with four seasons of culture, history and outdoor adventure.

Whether your idea of paradise is sipping fresh cider on a romantic New England Bed and Breakfast hearth or traveling scenic country roads through the Berkshire mountains, Berkshire County is the perfect year ’round destination for a senior vacation. One thing is for certain seniors, you are in for a “culture-packed” vacation in the Berkshires. Enjoy every moment.  jeb

 

 

SENIORS VISIT COLORADO



Seniors Flock to Avon

Travel & Leisure magazine recently highlighted Avon as a place to spend some vacation time. I’ve been through Vail and that region of Colorado but Avon was not on my list. It is now. So welcome to Avon, called “The Heart of the Valley” some eight miles from Vail. In Avon senior visitors will discover a variety of events, recreational activities and guest shopping as well as a great spot for you gourmets.

Senior visitors can enjoy the many small boutiques and shops, cafes and bakeries that are all close and convenient. Beaver Creek Stables operates horseback riding stables in the Vail Valley to provide you with one of the most exhilarating outdoor activities on your Colorado vacation.

 What Senior Citizens Can Do In Avon

Visitors will discover a strong sense of community and family-friendly atmosphere in Avon. Whether skiing, hiking, paddling the Eagle River or enjoying a leisurely day in town, seniors find that launching your mountain adventures from Avon is easy and convenient.

With 6,500 year-round residents, plus another 3,500 part-time residents, Avon offers a small mountain town atmosphere with a multitude of recreational opportunities, special events and parks with open space and trails, and a mix of local and national shops and restaurants. Lodging ranges from the economically friendly to the downright opulent.

Take at look at all the attractions in and around Avon.  Overall, Avon is a good pick for visitors who need a little more activity in their life, or just a new twist on fun that seniors will enjoy… concerts, festivals and the site of the 2015 World Alpine Ski Championships.

Take advantage of secluded hiking trails, steep single track, exhilarating whitewater rapids, a scenic horseback ride, a hot air balloon ride, a rugged Jeep tour, fish the Gold Medal waters of Gore Creek, hit the greens, play tennis, take a dip in the world’s largest natural hot springs, the list goes on and on.

 The Heart of Avon

At the heart of Avon is Nottingham Park which serves as a beautiful setting for walking, jogging or bicycling and ice-skating and hockey in the winter. The park is named after the Nottingham family, who settled Avon at the turn of the 19th century. Although Avon has been incorporated as a town since 1978, the Nottingham legacy lives on as the namesake for the lake that is the town’s centerpiece.

Dubbed the ‘commercial core’ of the Eagle Valley, Avon is where you’ll find great shopping in no short supply. Hiking, biking along the paved trails that snake through the entire valley, mountain biking in extreme proportions at nearby Vail, and more things to do in the snow than you thought possible. It’s all waiting for you in Avon. So stop in on your next Colorado vacation. jeb

SENIORS VISIT STAMFORD CONNECTICUT



Seniors Visit Coastal Community

I read an article recently that took place in Stamford and I wanted to investigate the city to see what is happening there that draws senior folks. First of all it is a coastal community that sits right along Connecticut’s beautiful shoreline that attracts many tourists. Then I discovered that big reason is business.

Stamford is home to four Fortune 500 Companies, nine Fortune 1000 Companies, and 13 Courant 100 Companies, as well as numerous divisions of large corporations. They say that it has the largest financial district in New York Metro outside New York City itself and one of the largest concentrations of corporations in the nation.

Well, I don’t know about tourism, but undoubtedly many come to Stamford just for business reasons. It surely also helps that Stamford is within 90 minutes drive of six airports. It is the metropolis of Southern CT with a giant shopping mall which you can get lost in, and Stamford will soon be the home of NBC Sports. For you golfers, among the favorite golf courses of Stamford vacation goers is the 18-hole course at the Rockrimmon Country Club, designed by master golf course designer Robert Trent Jones. Great place for a vacation seniors.

Stamford, with a population of around 125,000 is the third largest city in Connecticut and is only around 30 miles from Manhattan, so we could say that it is really part of the NY Metropolitan area. Early on the city was known as Rippowam by the Native Americans in the region and the first European settlers to the area also referred to it as such. The name was later changed to Stamford after a town in Lincolnshire, England.

Seniors Enjoy a Stamford Vacation

Stamford hosts a wide variety of entertainment and things for senior visitors to see and do that includes the Palace Theater and the Cove Island Park. The scenery in and around Stamford is amazing, especially in the fall. River cruises, boat tours, and outdoor activities at Cove Island Park are just a few options to choose from on your Stamford vacation. Moi, I’d want to check out The Thirsty Turtle and Gopher Ice Cream just for those catchy names.

Senior guests will find a plethora of fine restaurants as well as a variety of fine shopping facilities. Take a look at these pictures: stamford connecticut. I further researched and discovered that Stamford is one of the ten richest cities in the US. San Jose and DC ranked right behind Stamford. Much of Connecticut’s upper-crust reputation comes from the cities and villages that sit in Fairfield County, where many of New York City’s power brokers commute home at the end of the workday.

But the city of Stamford is no mere suburb. It asserts itself with landmarks enough to satisfy culture mavens and nature buffs alike. Seniors, pack your bags, your golf clubs, grab a map and visit Stamford.  jeb

SUNDAY COFFEE WITH JEB



Attention Senior Explorers

Senior citizen do you enjoy exploring new places? Senior learner, are you naturally curious about places and things? Senior explorer, have you explored places where others have never been?

Then just maybe you might like to join the Explorer’s Club. Founded in New York City in 1904, The Explorers Club promotes the scientific exploration of land, sea, air, and space by supporting research and education in the physical, natural and biological sciences.

The Club’s members have been responsible for an illustrious series of famous firsts: first to the North Pole, first to the South Pole, first to the summit of Mount Everest, first to the deepest point in the ocean, first to the surface of the moon. The Explorers Club awards an annual medal to honor extraordinary contributions to the fields of exploration and scientific research or to the welfare of humanity.

The Member’s Lounge

Taxidermied animal heads, majestic elephant tusks and even a preserved whale penis adorn the walls and rooms of the Explorers Club. This exclusive society, based on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, is open only to members who’ve sailed to new shores, climbed to new heights or trekked on new paths.

The members lounge of the Explorers Club is a place for members to meet, discuss expeditions, or just read the newspaper. The wood paneling emulates the style popular in Tudor England in the 15th and 16th centuries. Sounds to me like a place I’d just like to walk through…if they would let me. Maybe, just maybe, this where Phileas Fogg took on the challenge of going “Around the World in 80 Days.”

Senior Citizen and the Instinct to Explore

The Explorers Club is an international multidisciplinary professional society dedicated to the advancement of field research and the ideal that it is vital to preserve the instinct to explore. Since its inception, the Club has served as a meeting point and unifying force for explorers and scientists worldwide.

“We’re in a golden age of exploration today,” Explorers Club president Alan Nichols told FoxNews.com. “The most outstanding of the world’s outstanding explorers are alive today, going on expeditions, and adding to the field of human knowledge.” The annual Explorer’s Club dinner brings out New York’s most adventurous.

Any member in good standing may apply for the privilege of carrying the Explorers Club flag on an expedition intended to further the cause of exploration and field science. The flag has been carried on hundreds of expeditions since 1918: to both poles, to the highest peaks of the greatest mountain ranges, to the depths of the ocean, and to outer space.

Learn more about these Expeditions. The Explorers Club, which has thirty chapters in the United States and around the world, is characterized by the great diversity of its members’ backgrounds and interests and maybe yours fits in with the philosophy of the Club. Sounds like a super adventure to me.  jeb

Filed under : Editors Choice

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