Articles Tagged with: biking and hiking trails

SENIORS TRAVEL THROUGH FLORIDA


Seniors Visitors Stop In Fellsmere

city-of-fellsmere Fellsmere, a city in Indian River County, Florida has a population of just over 7,500. Many folks, including seniors come for the annual Frog Leg Festival held the third week of January. They say it is the largest such festival in the world.  Who is to debate that?

Frog Leg Festival is big in Fellsmere and is a great means of raising funds for the needs of the local children. With over 100 crafters, midway rides and plenty of games it’s fun for visitors of all ages. Frog Leg and Gator Tail Dinners are the main fare but there is also a huge variety of other festival foods available.

Ever eaten gator?  I have, in Texas.  Not bad really. And then there’s swamp cabbage, collard greens, fried green tomatoes, grits and Catfish. Naturally, there is a Frog Leg Eating Contest and that takes a whole lot of local frogs out of service.

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 Seniors Enjoy The Historic

Fellsmere picked up some national attention when it was the first city in Florida to adopt women’s suffrage. A local chapter of the National Organization for Women still meets every August to commemorate the historic moment.

Fellsmere is a city with a vision for its future and a respect for its past. Founded in 1911, Fellsmere is located only 4 miles west of I-95 on Hwy 512 and not all that far from the Atlantic Ocean. The city is a dramatic account of floods, land “booms” and land “busts” and overflows with historic sites.

Named for E. Nelson Fell, who already had an impressive worldwide resume before coming to Florida, he founded two communities, the English colony of Narcoossee and the farming town of Fellsmere. The Fellsmere Farms Land Development Company promoted the area’s rich soils and natural resources. By 1915, Fellsmere had a railroad, an electric company, two hotels and women could vote.

St. Sebastien River Intices Seniors

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Another major attraction to Fellsmere is the St. Sebastien River Preserve State Park that features open grassy forests of longleaf pine that were once commonplace throughout Florida. These habitats are home to many native plants and animals, including over 50 protected species.

Senior photographers, bird-watchers, and nature enthusiasts can explore miles of trails on foot, bicycle, or horseback. Canoeing, boating, and fishing on the St. Sebastian River are popular activities.

Sportsman’s Specialties hunting and fishing pro shop corrals lots of the locals who enjoy the sports in the area. So bring along a cooler to take some of these specialties home with you.  And enjoy your time in Fellsmere. jeb

Filed under : United States

SENIORS TRAVEL THROUGH NEBRASKA


Seniors Learn All About Big Red

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Seniors, if you have ever been to Lincoln, Nebraska, then you know all about Big Red.  It seemed to me that the whole city was dipped in Red… the color of the University of Nebraska Football team. Take in a game at Memorial Stadium and senior visitors will see throngs of rabid fans all dressed in red.

Lincoln is the capital and the second-most populous city of the State of Nebraska, after Omaha. Lincoln, founded in 1856, is also the county seat of Lancaster County. Lincoln’s population is estimated at 265,000+.

 Seniors Visit A State Capital

Omaha was the original state capital, but it was moved to Lancaster, shortly after the Civil War. The town was then renamed Lincoln in honor of the recently-assassinated president. Because this is home to the state capital, senior citizens will find many attractions in Lincoln having to do with the history of the city and state, its arts, and culture.

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Today tourism is an important industry, and Lincoln attractions include several important museums like the Nebraska State Historical Society’s Museum of Nebraska History and the University of Nebraska State Museum, which contains a planetarium.

Other attractions include the Governor’s Mansion which is open for tours, and the beautiful State Capitol Building itself, constructed between 1922 and 1932. Soak in the panoramic view of the city from the 14th floor observation tower of the 400-foot high capitol building, whose white stone Art Deco spire can be seen from miles around.

For some outdoor fun, head to one of the city’s parks, the largest of which is Wilderness Park, whose hiking, biking and equestrian trails will keep your blood circulating.

Unusual Museums Interest Senior Visitors

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You won’t be wanting for Things to Do in Lincoln as I’ve found 101 of them for senior visitors to consider. After your visit to the state capital, consider the #2 attraction in town founded in 1992 by “Speedy” Bill and Joyce Smith. The Smith Collection Museum of American Speed is dedicated to preserving, interpreting and displaying physical items significant in racing and automotive history.

Sunken Gardens features an annual floral display of over 30,000 individual annual plants which are redesigned to a different theme each year. The theme for 2014 is “Thunder Birds.”

My wife and I would hit The Historic Haymarket District of Lincoln, a restored turn-of-the-century warehouse district that includes restaurants, antique shops, specialty shops, and art galleries. The highlight of nearby Iron Horse Park is the “Iron Horse” Legacy, a brick mural showing the first locomotive to cross the prairie.

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I’m about of room for this blog but I just had to toss in this attraction. The National Museum of Roller Skating in Lincoln features a collection of roller skates. The museum has a display showing the evolution of the roller skate wheel from 1860 to 1998.

On your way through Nebraska, stop by Lincoln and enjoy all the amenities this great city has to offer. jeb

SENIORS TRAVEL TO NEW HAMPSHIRE


Littleton, A Great Mainstreet Town

riverdistrict_logoLittleton, in Grafton County, New Hampshire (The Granite State), with a population of 6,000 happy folks, is situated at the edge of the White Mountains, and bounded on the northwest by the Connecticut River.

Travel & Leisure selected Littleton as one of America’s Greatest Mainstreets. Outside Magazine also chose the town as one of America’s Best Towns.

Incorporated in 1784, Littleton soon became a commercial and cultural center for New Hampshire’s North Country. It’s Main Street that puts Littleton on the map. The Littleton Opera House stands tall and proud as the staple of Main Street. A trip to the famous “Chutters” candy store, home of the longest self-serve candy counter is in order, senior travelers. So bring your sweet-tooth to Littleton.

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Littleton is the center for business, shopping, medical care, education and services in New Hampshire’s North Country. Recreation and activities abound and Main Street features dozens of unique shops.

Located in an old gristmill, Schilling Beer Co. has won fans since opening last fall for its custom small-batch brews and homey, rustic vibe, exposed beams and uneven wood floors.

“Whether you’ve packed your hiking boots or are looking for some good old New England culture, the Littleton Area has lots to offer! Having a little bit of everything in the area, it can be hard to decide what to do first!”

 Seniors Stroll The Riverwalk

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You are invited to stroll along the peaceful Riverwalk path that meanders along the Ammonoosuc River, across a covered bridge, and past many historic Littleton landmarks. Across Main Street dances a bronze statue of Pollyanna, that icon of gladness whose author, Eleanor Porter, called Littleton home.

Boston Globe highlights Littleton a “buzz around these parts that is teetering on the edge of hipness.” Some would argue that it had already achieved that status back in 1941 when Bette Davis came to town to premiere her movie “The Great Lie,” at the Jax Jr. Theater, which is still in operation.

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In any case, it’s clear that Littleton, located just north of Franconia Notch, is loaded with charm. Most of the action centers on Main Street, named one of America’s best main streets as well by the Huffington Post last month.

Always something going on in Littleton so come prepared for a good time and plan to spend a couple of days in town.  Swim, fish, hike, bike, ski or snowmobile at Franconia Notch State Park. Ride to the top of Mount Washington courtesy of the historic Cog Railway.

Littleton is a picturesque New England gem offering something for everyone including fine dining and art galleries, unique shops and historic buildings, and a range of outdoor activities for all seasons… all awaiting your visit. jeb

SUNDAY COFFEE WITH JEB


Seniors Pull Out Your Sleeping Bags

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Grab your coffee, senior friends and let’s think about sleeping under the stars in a tent…or no tent! I just came across a neat site from The Active Times that highlights 16 spectacular National Park campgrounds.

Our national parks offer access to some of the nation’s most scenic and stunning landscapes, which makes each the perfect backdrop for a picturesque camping trip.

Not that other campsites across the country aren’t worthy of visits from overnight adventurers, but when it comes to a truly memorable camping experience, what could compare to a night spent watching the sunset amidst tremendous rock formations in the California desert? Or waking up to a beachside sunrise shaded by palm trees?

These Seniors Have Great Camping Memories

13-joshuatree-flickr_Howie Muzika

Senior campers, are you in? I hope so. My wife and I along with our 3 children spent countless hours camping all over the US and Canada.  Each of our kids still enjoy camping and I am sure that the initial experiences we shared over all those years contributed to their interest today as campers.

Our national parks are so diverse that each has something to offer for every type of camping personality. Sleep directly under the stars or seek the shelter of a rustic log cabin. Pitch your tent among magnificent mountain ranges or set up sleeping bags on the beach.

We pitched our tent along the Flathead River near Glacier National Park in Montana. I have to admit that we got soaked a few times even in our tent and later our small camper was threatened with terrible windstorms. We lived through it all and cherish every memory.

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National Parks Draw Senior Visitors

A road trip with National Parks in mind sounds like a neat idea. Great sunsets, rare wildlife encounters, alluring rock formations, 5,000 year old pines, cave formations, park amphitheaters, shady trees, serene surroundings, great camp stores, fishing, kayaking, swimming.

Take your bikes along and your hiking shoes and check out the hiking trails across the country.  A great way to get better acquainted with this great country we live in…get acquainted with our National Parks.

Jim and Jeannine Becker

SENIORS TRAVEL TO GEORGIA


Seniors Enjoy Small Town Suwanee

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Suwanee is a town in Gwinnett County, Georgia. The population runs just over 15,000. Seems like many seniors and a wide host of others are always on the alert searching for what are called the “best places to live.” CNN Money picked Suwanee #10 among the top best 100 towns in the entire country.

That’s pretty high folks considering the many alluring small towns. Let’s go exploring. CNN selects only smaller towns and interviews many locals, looking for that great combination of economic opportunity, good schools, safe streets, things to do and a real sense of community.

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That’s Suwanee! Located a short distance northeast of Atlanta. Historically, Suwanee was put on the map when the railroad was constructed through that section of Gwinnett County in 1871.

There are various accounts regarding the naming of the town. One suggests that Suwanee is an Indian word meaning “echo” while another maintains that it is the Creek word for Shawnee. Another account credits the name to the early white settlers’ way of pronouncing the word “Shawnee.” Either way, the name Suwanee appears to be closely tied to the town’s Native American heritage.

Lake, Mountains and Trails Draw Senior Visitors

Suwanee, like so many other Georgia cities and towns, grew up with both agriculture and the railroads. Although it incorporated in 1949, Suwanee remained a predominantly small community into the 1970s. When highways made it easier for people to move in and out of cities, however, Suwanee blossomed.

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The city official website can fill you in on all the amenities of Suwanee.  One of the first things I noted on this site was the 100 reasons link. Check it out and then go exploring on the dozens of other links.  You will soon see why Suwanee rates high for senior visitors and why CNN selected this town as one of the Best. And Kiplinger’s chose Suwanee one of ten Best Places to Raise a Family.

Suwanee’s “downtown” encompasses two distinct, vibrant areas: historic Old Town with a quaint commercial area along Main Street and the emerging award-winning Town Center. Suwanee is one of those great small towns that keep getting better and better.

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It has excellent schools, some of the best parks in the state, great dining and shopping, and affordable housing. As a middle class suburb of Atlanta, it is close to many jobs and offers great opportunities for those that own their own business.

Only a few minutes from Suwanee is Lake Lanier and not far past the lake is the North Georgia Mountains   where you can hike, camp, and enjoy a plethora of wildlife.  And cycling trails. You will find them all over the place.

Senior visitors, enjoy this town for yourself. You will find it highly inviting and full of folks who will join in on any conversation you wish to start. jeb

SENIORS ENJOY IOWA CITY


These Iowans Know Iowa City

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Both the senior Beckers were born and raised in Iowa. One in Monmouth (moi) and one in New Hartford (elle), both small towns. We stand proud of the fact that we spent our childhood years in Iowa… a great state to raise a family.

Jim (moi) spent a summer at the Univ. of Iowa taking graduate courses in French and Jeannine (elle) was a Speech Therapist. We cherish our time living in Iowa City with our two small children.

Iowa City, in Johnson County, with a population of 70,000, is the fifth-largest city in the state. Offering big-city amenities with small-town hospitality, Iowa City seems to have  it all. Nestled in the heart of the Midwest in east central Iowa, it has long served as a locus for culture, education, variety and fun.

Seniors Find Iowa City’s Story Downtown

Image 25Iowa City’s Downtown District provides a memorable experience for senior visitors. Downtown is a story in of itself, a place steeped in local flavor and history, alive with participatory art and music, a living room to the University of Iowa, a home to literary giants, and an extraordinary community experience.

It is home to unique shops and restaurants with art galleries and performance venues dotting the landscape.

The University of Iowa campus, intertwined with Downtown, showcases the Old Capitol Museum, the Pentacrest Museums, the Museum of Natural History and other fine cultural attractions. Seniors can enjoy a variety of art and cultural options throughout the year.

The University’s Writer’s Workshop is internationally acclaimed, having fostered the creative talents of Ray Bradbury, Flannery O’Connor, Jane Smiley, and Kurt Vonnegut. Iowa City is recognized as one of only five UNESCO Cities of Literature in the world. The University also includes one of the largest university-owned teaching hospitals in the nation.

Parks And Trails

Image 22 There are 41 public parks in the city and for you dedicated hikers, the six-mile Iowa River Corridor (IRC) Trail is Iowa City’s longest and most heavily used trail. The IRC Trail provides access to several parks, the University of Iowa campus, downtown Iowa City and the Iowa River.

It connects to many intersecting streets and sidewalks, and on its north end provides access to its next-door neighbor Coralville.

The Coralville Reservoir, just 3½ miles north of Iowa City, offers a multitude of recreational opportunities. The area is laced with attractive hiking, biking, and cross-country skiing trails. The Amana Colonies are just a 20-minute drive west of the city. The seven colonies offer the best in German home-style food and traditional crafts.

The small town of Kalona lies southwest of Iowa City, offering senior visitors a glimpse into the culture of the Amish population that calls the area home. West Branch is located just east of Iowa City and is the birthplace of Herbert Hoover, America’s 31st president and home to his Presidential Library.

Iowa City can fill an itinerary with lots of memorable things to see and do. jeb

SENIORS ENJOY BEAUTY OF UTAH


Senior Ride Over To Dead Horse Point State Park

Dead Horse Point was recently selected at a Travel Photo of the Day. This senior citizen loves those sites and most all of them are worthy of a blog. First of all Dead Horse Point is a State Park in Utah and not far from Moab, which is the center of the universe for one of my daughters.

There is a legend associated with a name like Dead Horse. Before the turn of the 19th century, mustang herds ran wild on the mesas near Dead Horse Point. The unique promontory provided a natural corral into which the horses were driven by cowboys.

According to one legend, a band of broomtails was left corralled on the Point. The gate was supposedly left open so the horses could return to the open range. For some unknown reason, the mustangs remained on the Point. There they died of thirst within sight of the Colorado River, 2,000 feet below.

Labeled Utah’s Grand Canyon, Dead Horse Point State Park is perhaps Utah’s most spectacular state park and offers a magnificent view of the Colorado River and the eons old canyons carved from the sandstone rock.

Seniors Find Awesome Views

Senior travelers will find the Park nine miles northwest of Moab on US 191 and then 23 miles southwest on Utah 313 to the end of the highway. Here is where the ending of the movie “Thelma and Louise” took place as they plummeted off the edge of the cliff in their convertible.

Check out these awesome views from the Point. They say the the view from Dead Horse Point is one of the most photographed scenic vistas in the world. Plus there are miles of pet-friendly developed hiking trails in the park, including a paved trail which provides easy access to some of the most scenic views.

Senior mountain bikers will love the new Intrepid Trail System at Dead Horse Point. Dead Horse Point is situated atop a high plateau at an elevation of about 6,000 feet. From the point, a “layer cake” of geologic time may be viewed, revealing 300 million years of the earth’s geologic history.

While standing on the canyon rim, 8,000 feet of geologic strata is visible looking from the peaks of the 12.000 foot high La Sal Mountains to the river below. Because of its far reaching views over the Colorado valley, Dead Horse Point was declared a state park in 1959, several years before the creation of Canyonlands National Park which contains a much larger area of similar scenery to the south.

Take this 3D view of Dead Horse Point and enjoy the scenery. My wife and I have put this on our bucket list.  jeb

SENIORS TRAVEL TO GEORGIA’S COAST


Seniors Drawn To St. Simons Island

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St. Simons Island was recently named one of the “Most Romantic” places to visit in the country.  St. Simons Island, the seat of Glynn County, is the largest of the four barrier islands in Georgia’s Golden Isles. The Island offers senior visitors a variety of outdoor activities and historic sites.

St.Simons, with a population of 13,000+, is home to a variety of fun with beaches, golf, charter fishing boats, spas and salons as well as some great dining spots, year round events and entertainment for visitors of all ages. Since 1980 St. Simons’s population has doubled and today many of the residents are retired seniors.

The unspoiled beauty of St. Simons and its distinctively charming beach lifestyle that is unhurried and under-developed are part of what make it so special. Many call it Little St. Simons Island. St. Simons Island is the largest of the Golden Isles along Georgia’s southern Atlantic coast with about 18 square miles to keep romantics occupied. Today the landscape looks much the same as back in 1733 when Georgia was settled.

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Senior visitors will discover moss-draped oaks, shady lanes and creek-fed pockets of marsh, a thriving habitat for birds and a diverse range of other wildlife, from turtles to armadillo and deer.

A beautifully restored lighthouse constructed in 1872 is well known and is one of only five surviving light towers in the state with Fresnel lens that cast a beam 18 miles out to sea.

Seniors Love the Light House, Giant Oaks and Historical Sites

St. Simons offers some of the best shopping and dining options on the Southern Coast as well as a natural beauty that encourages quiet reflection for a romantic visit. Beneath the draping moss and arms of the giant live oaks that line the roads and pathways, the island of residents, part-timers and senior visitors are happy to be spending their time in this quiet place.

The Island lies across the immortalized Marshes of Glynn, made famous by poet Sidney Lanier. Exceptional historic sites take senior travelers back to colonial days, the plantation era, the Civil War and beyond.

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Neptune Park is a favorite place to hangout with inviting benches for relaxing by the sea, picnic tables under the oaks, and the bandstand where events are held throughout the year.

Many take a tour of the island with the St. Simons Trolley. Take a leisurely kayak trip through the marshes, explore miles of walking and bike paths or head out for a day at the beach.

Historic remnants of bygone eras, include the St. Simons Island Lighthouse (a working lighthouse in operation since 1872) the Bloody Marsh, Fort Frederica National Monument, historic Christ Church, and the sites of antebellum plantations that occupy the Island. Looks like fun to me. jeb

SENIORS TRAVEL TO UTAH


CNN And Seniors Like Farmington

Farmington, Utah was selected as a “BEST PLACE” by CNN Money last year. It ranked 14th out of the 50 chosen.  Must be something good going on there, senior travelers.

Originally known as North Cottonwood, Farmington was permanently settled in 1847 by Mormon pioneers. Prior to that, Native Americans inhabited the area. There is a lot of history associated with Farmington going back to the Utah Territory.

Today senior visitors will find a one-stoplight town squeezed between the Wasatch Mountains and the Great Salt Lake just off Interstate Highway 15. Farmington has a quaint, quiet downtown with a few shops and homes that come in all shapes and sizes, from bungalows to ramblers to tri-levels and modern farmhouses.

Many residents commute south regularly to Salt Lake City, while others travel north to Hill Air Force Base, Utah’s sixth largest employer. Around 12,000 folks call Farmington home and many enjoy the 115 miles of bike and hiking trails that surround the town.

Seniors Delight In the Great Setting

Farmington is in Davis County. One of Davis County’s biggest visitor attractions is Antelope Island State Park, home to big horn sheep, mule deer, pronghorn antelope, coyote, and a free roaming herd of more than 600 bison, as well as over 250 species of birds.

The largest island in the Great Salt Lake is popular for wildlife and birding, hiking and biking, and water sports. Farmington is only few miles away from the eastern coast of the Great Salt Lake.

Farmington is considered part of the Salt Lake City-Ogden metropolitan area. Farmington’s many colorful parks include Mountain View Park, Moon Park, Heritage Park, Woodland Park and Shepard Park.

Senior visitors seek out the Pioneer Village, the Museum of Church History and Art, the Children’s Museum of Utah, the Ogden Union Station Museums and the Utah Museum of Fine Arts. I’ve always wondered where Weber State was located…now I know, it’s in Farmington.

Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, an 18,000 acre wildlife refuge, conserves critical duck and waterbird habitat. Birding is highly popular in and around Farmington.

 A world class water show is a major attraction in Farmington. Station Park is the region’s major shopping district and features a park, an outdoor skating rink and is where you will find the neat bubbling fountain.

The Lagoon Amusement Park (dating back to 1986) is located just 20 minutes north of Salt Lake and is the state’s oldest and largest amusement park featuring over 40 different rides.

Take your pick on the many amenities in Farmington as well as the great state of Utah.  You will enjoy every one of them. jeb

SENIORS VISIT IOWA


In Iowa It’s Waukee, Seniors

Waukee, Iowa was selected as the Best Place To Live in Iowa by Money Magazine. This town of 14,000 rings a special note to this senior couple… my wife’s father started his first career working in a grain elevator in Waukee.

Even as a small town, Waukee (The Key to Good Living) is filled with history. Originally named Shirley, the area was served by the Des Moines Valley Railroad and was one of its seven stops.

The first church of the city was established in 1870 and incorporated in 1878. The city, which derived its name from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, is just west of Des Moines and  north of Interstate 80.

Small Yes, But Plenty For Seniors

During your visit to Waukee, seniors can enjoy hiking and biking at the Raccoon River Valley Recreation Trail. The Blank Park Zoo is also worth taking a look around.

The local parks include the Centennial Park, Southfork Park, Ridge Pointe Park, Windfield Park, and Songbird Park.

It’s one of the fastest growing communities in the state. The city hosts many events and activities throughout the year and invites senior visitors to be a part of the action.

The Triangle, Waukee’s downtown business district, plays host to the Farmer’s Market, the annual 4th of July Parade, and Waukee Fest, in addition to other festivities.

Take advantage of Waukee’s many amenities available in its 8 recreational parks or play a round of golf at the Sugar Creek Gold Course. Deseret News selected Waukee as the #22 Best Small Town in America.

A Great Place To Retire

You’ll also find Waukee is business friendly and business ready with a highly educated workforce, advanced infrastructure with ample capacity for growth, and prime development sites.

The community is especially attractive to working families because of its friendly, hometown atmosphere; excellent public schools; affordable housing; leading edge healthcare facilities; and an abundance of “after hours” things to do.

So on your next trip transversing Iowa on Interstate 80, drive north to one of America’s best small towns.  Spend some time there and get to know some of the locals.

Seniors will find that Iowans are among the most sincere and finest in the nation. I know this from my own experience having lived there the first 65 years of my life. jeb

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