Seniors Find Burlington/Skagit County Scenic

Burlington is a city in Skagit County, Washington with a population around 8,500. Dotted with hundreds of lakes and blessed with millions of acres of forest land, Skagit County has something for every senior sportsperson: fishing, hunting, hiking, camping, rock-hounding and even paragliding.

Originally, Burlington’s businesses were centered around Fairhaven Avenue. Today, Fairhaven Avenue is the center of Burlington’s old downtown, and provides a gathering place for the whole city during the annual summer Berry Dairy Days.

Fishing is a top attraction. “As one of the longest rivers on the West Coast, the Skagit River meanders from its headwaters high in Canada 150 miles to its delta just southwest of the world-famous tulip fields of the Skagit Valley.

Seniors Awed By The North Cascades

“In less than 35 minutes you can be in mountains, taking in the beautiful North Cascades. The North Cascades National Park Complex spans the Cascade Crest from the temperate rainforest of the wet west-side to the dry ponderosa pine ecosystem of the east.”

Burlington began as a logging camp, established by John P. Millett and William McKay, in 1882. It was officially incorporated on June 16, 1902. Today Burlington is locally famous for its proliferation of shopping malls and for having some of the best youth sports fields in Washington.

A short 35 minute drive from Burlington west on Highway 20 will bring you to scenic, historic and unforgettable Deception Pass State Park, a 4,134-acre marine and camping park with 77,000 feet of saltwater shoreline as well as 33,900 feet of freshwater shoreline on four lakes.

Senior Hiking/Biking Paradise

Seniors can enjoy a stop at the Trainwreck Bar and a visit to the Sakuma Brothers Farm. Then there’s Orca whale watching, white water rafting and kayaking through Deception Pass. Senior hikers and bikers can enjoy bicycling through the Valley or hiking one of the many trails in the national parks and forests. The views will take your breath away.

 Senior visitors will love the Skagit Valley. The Skagit River system is home to many year-round resident Bald Eagles but each winter their numbers increase dramatically with the return of spawning salmon. In all, five different species of salmon return to the Skagit River to spawn, then die along the shores of the river. With such an abundance of food during these circle-of-life phenomena, eagles have found the Skagit to be an excellent fishing spot.

Then there’s Skagit Speedway, the premier motorsports facility in the northwest United States. Each year hundreds of thousands of fans of fixed-wing dirt track racing flock to the Speedway to enjoy an evening of exciting fun.

Hiking trails abound in the region and vary widely as far as difficulty. Senior hikers, try the flat Cascade Trail that follows an abandoned railroad line.  So what are you waiting for senior travelers? Burlington sounds like a great destination area. -jeb

Seniors Head North To Ketchikan

Ketchikan, population 8,214, is an Alaskan city that senior travelers will find facing the Inside Passage, a popular cruise route along the state’s southeastern coast. It’s known for its many Native American totem poles, on display throughout the town.

Ketchikan is known as Alaska’s “first city” due to its location at the southern tip of the Inside Passage. This city, 689 miles northwest of Seattle, is the first city you reach as you cruise north, and for many visitors, their first introduction to the beauty and majesty of Alaska.

Nearby Misty Fiords National Monument is a glacier-carved wilderness that features snow capped mountains, waterfalls and salmon spawning streams. It’s also home to rich wildlife including black bears, wolves and bald eagles.

Seniors Like The Totem Poles

Its history goes back to 1885 when a fellow named Mike Martin purchased 160 acres of land from Chief Kyan, and this area later became the township of Ketchikan.

The Cape Fox Tlingits and Tongass used Ketchikan Creek as a fish camp. They called the area ‘kitschk-hin.’ The large resources of timber and fish attracted the non-natives to Ketchikan. In 1892, the Ketchikan Post Office was established. Seven canneries were in operation by 1936. Later on, several lumber mills opened in the city.

The living, artistic traditions of the Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian peoples gave rise to the original totem poles that are on display in The Totem Heritage Center. Senior visitors can enjoy the Ketchikan Public Library, the oldest continually-operating library in the State of Alaska, founded in 1901.

 Seniors Enjoy Alaska’s First City

There are a good number of lakes like Fawn Lake and Scout Lake, where your chances of landing one are good, so toss in your best rod and reel. I’d want to visit the Tongass Historical Museum where seniors will learn the history of Alaska’s feisty “First City.” The Museum tells the authentic tale of Ketchikan as a Native fish camp, gold and copper mining center, fishing port, timber town, cannery site, transportation hub, and lively community.

Then there’s Dolly’s House – the only “den of iniquity” that still stands today at Number 24 Creek Street. Its green dollhouse appearance looks much like it did during its heyday. Inside you’ll find photos of Dolly, the cabbage rose wallpaper she favored, and you might even spot the “secret closet” in Dolly’s bedroom, where she stashed contraband liquor during the Prohibition years.

The 40 acre Alaska Rainforest Sanctuary, 8 miles from Ketchikan, has tall stands of spruce, hemlock and cedar trees with a forest floor saturated with mosses, wild flowers and a variety of berries.

Ketchikan, the fifth most populous city in the state, is truly the beginning of the last frontier. Set at the southernmost entrance to Alaska’s famed Inside Passage—a network of waterways that snake through some of the most jaw-droppingly beautiful wilderness in the world—Ketchikan is best known for three things: feisty salmon, idyllic scenery, and an incredibly rich Alaska Native culture.

Seniors, enjoy Ketchikan. -jeb

Seniors Discover The Wonders Of Baja California

I had the pleasure of visiting the Baja with family to celebrate my father-in-law’s 75th birthday. We traveled all the way to the end to Cabo San Lucas. Senior friends, get your coffee and let’s head south to Baja California.

The peninsula is known colloquially as Baja by American and Canadian tourists, and is renowned for its natural beauty and pristine environment.

Britannica notes that Baja California, also called Baja California Norte, is bounded to the north by the United States (California and Arizona), to the east by the state of Sonora and the Gulf of California (Sea of Cortez), to the west by the Pacific Ocean, and to the south by the state of Baja California Sur.

Its capital city, Mexicali, lies on the U.S.-Mexico border, opposite Calexico, California. Visitors will discover a miraculous sea, teeming with life, ringed by desert islands alive with awesome wilderness. Giant cactus, a rich array of flora and fauna, and huge wind-scaled sand dunes dot the environment. Fodor’s will give seniors 5 good reasons to consider Baja California for your next vacation.

Seniors Watch Whales

Baja draws ecotourists who go whale watching for migrating California Gray Whales as well as senior tourists that arrive to the Baja California Gold Coast and resorts on the southern tip of the Peninsula.

Its location between the North Pacific and Gulf of California give it a reputation for good sports fishing, that we tried without much success. Hooked into a nice Black Marlin, but he managed to get free. Senior visitors can enjoy a cruise with National Geographic twin ships: Sea Bird and Sea Lion, to explore the Sea of Cortez.

The landscape off Baja California spans mountains and beaches on the Pacific Ocean and Gulf of California. Towns near the U.S. border include Tijuana, famous as a nightlife and shopping destination, and Tecate, known for the large Tecate beer brewery and a renowned spa, Rancho La Puerta.

 Senior Visitors Enjoy A Sparsely Populated Place

The province of The Californias was united until 1804, in the Spanish colonial Viceroyalty of New Spain, when it was divided into Alta (upper) and Baja (lower) California. So that’s how it got its name. LonelyPlanet notes that Baja is famed for its sun-washed beaches.

“Baja California was somewhere I’ve always wanted to visit,” filmmaker Joshua Cowan says. He hung out in hot springs, surfed on deserted, world-class beaches, went fishing in the bright blue waters off the coast, and trekked the peninsula’s jungles.

 According to TripAdvisor, senior visitors will also find plenty to see and do, 427 to be precise. The Baja California is wild and sparsely populated and the two coasts vary a great deal. They are separated by rugged mountain ranges and desert vistas.  Senior friends, let’s put our coffee down and go visit with our travel agents! -jeb

Seniors Like The Space Coast

Nearby…yes senior travelers, not the one in Australia, but right along the Florida Atlantic coastline known as the Space Coast about 70 miles southeast of Orlando and 90 miles south of Daytona Beach.

Melbourne, “The Harbor City”, has a population of 77,000. The city, formerly called “Crane Creek”, was named Melbourne in honor of its first postmaster, Cornthwaite John Hector, an Englishman who had spent much of his life in Melbourne, Australia.

After the Civil War, pioneer families arrived, and Melbourne was founded in 1867 by former slaves. The first settlers arrived after 1877. Melbourne existed as a small village until its incorporation in 1888.  Some say that the city derived its name based on a drawing of straws, where each straw represented a possible name and the name “Melbourne” was chosen by this means.

Seniors Find High Tech Companies

The development of the Melbourne community paralleled the development of a similar community located a little to the north (Eau Gallie). In 1969, the two cities were consolidated into what is now present-day Melbourne, although the “Eau Gallie” district of Melbourne retains its own character and distinction.

As one of the largest population centers on the Space Coast, the Melbourne area is home to many high-tech companies such as General Electric, Northrop Grumman, Intersil, Rockwell Collins, Harris Corporation, and Liberty Aerospace.

The Melbourne area offers senior visitors 33 miles of unspoiled beaches, fishing, golf, snorkeling and a host of other outdoor activities. Fishing is abundant, both the freshwater variety offered by area lakes and the saltwater species found in the waters of the Atlantic.

Senior golfers, toss in the clubs and take advantage of the city’s 12 courses and tennis enthusiasts have their choice of 8 tennis courts.

Performing Arts, Museums And Galleries

Lovers of the performing arts can enjoy the Brevard Symphony Orchestra as well as Broadway shows and celebrity performances at the Henegar Center of the Performing Arts and the Maxwell King Center.

The area has a variety of galleries showcasing the works of local artists as well as museums such as the Museum of Art and Science. Forever Florida, a nature preserve and cattle ranch offers tours and close-proximity animal viewing. Annual events in Melbourne include February’s Grant Seafood Festival and April’s Melbourne Art Festival.

There are three sites on the National Register of Historic Places: Florida Power and Light Company Ice Plant (1927), William H. Gleason House and the James Wadsworth Rossetter House (c.1860s).

Spend a little time with TripAdvisor and you will note 67 attractions seniors will not want to miss. In Melbourne you can bask in the Florida sunshine…and for you gourmands, enjoy wonderful  seafood from the Atlantic. -jeb

 

 

Seniors Pay A Visit To Pass Christian

Pass Christian, nicknamed The Pass, is part of the Gulfport–Biloxi Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population runs right at 6,500. Senior travelers will find The Pass 9 miles west of Gulfport, Mississippi.

Pass Christian, with more than 300 years of history, is an enchanting Village-City resting on the Gulf Coast of Mississippi, facing the Sound with a seven mile long beach-head. The Pass was left in ruins by hurricane Katrina.

Pass Christian was named after a nearby deep-water pass, which was named for Nicholas Christian L’Adnier. Pass Christian was founded in 1849. The town was a hot spot for the beach as well as summer homes of the affluent from New Orleans. The town was a famous resort prior to the American Civil War. The wealthy built a row of historic mansions along the shoreline where Scenic Drive was one of the country’s notable historic districts.

 Seniors Enjoy Fishing And Fine Dining

Having an entrenched heritage since the arrival of the French-Canadian explorers in 1699, the city processed through changes of the guard and national banners from French, to English, to Spanish, to an Independent Republic, and then to the American flag.  It had emerged as a small fishing and commercial harbor and became a main trading center on the Mississippi Sound.

Because of its proximity to New Orleans, the first Lighthouses in Mississippi were built as sister towers at Cat Island and Pass Christian in 1831, when it became the first mainland lighthouse in Mississippi. The harbor houses dozens of beautiful watercraft including colorful sailboats.

The Seafood Festival hosted by Pass Christian residents is a popular tourist attraction. Pass Christian has lots of southern charm and lying along the Gulf Coast, plenty to do with fishing and fine dining with a wide variety of seafood.

Senior Golfers Find Highly Rated Club

Between 1923 and 1929 New Orleans residents Rudolf and Lynne Hecht developed Middlegate Japanese Gardens which are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. James M. Sherman, at age 67, began construction of Sherman Castle.

TripAdvisor suggests senior golfers not miss the Oaks Club, rated 4 1/2 stars in Golf Digest’s Best Places You Can Play. Beauvoir, Jefferson Davis Home, is the house that was bought by Davis in 1879.

For yours truly, “the beauty of the cigar is in the ashes”…and Cigars in the Pass is said to be the “Friendliest and Most Knowledgeable Cigar Community Since 1900.” Being a fancier, this senior would test that out.

“The Pass” is known throughout the region as a place of legends and lore and the  historic downtown area is the city’s heart and soul. My wife and I would enjoy taking a self-guided walking tour of this historical area. Seniors, set your GPS for The Pass and enjoy the host of amenities this historical town offers.  -jeb

Seniors Spend Time In Columbia County

We don’t generally focus on one county, but we discovered a county that senior travelers might find interesting, Columbia County, Georgia. I did discover that there are a couple of other Columbia Counties in the country: one in Wisconsin and another in Oregon.

Columbia County, as of 2013, had a population around 135,416. The legal county seat is Appling, but the location of Columbia County’s government and courts is Evans.

Columbia County is currently one of the fastest-growing counties in the United States. Established in 1790, Columbia County lies along the Savannah River, its lands once home to busy cotton plantations.

Seniors Enjoy Area Settled by Quakers

Quakers settled the area, choosing to name their county for an explorer, Christopher Columbus, rather than for a military man as was often the custom. John Appling, the original pioneer of the area, gave his name to the county seat.

Columbia County, the 12th county formed in Georgia, was created by an act of the Legislature of Georgia on December 10, 1790 from Richmond County. Historically this area along the Savannah River had been inhabited for thousands of years by various cultures of indigenous peoples.

The area had been home to the historic Muscogee-speaking Creek; Yuchi, people speaking a language isolate; and Iroquoian-speaking Cherokee for years prior to European colonization.

One of the oldest archaeological sites in the nation to contain pottery can be found on Stallings Island.

Seniors Enjoy Scenic Beauty Of The County

Senior visitors find Columbia County Georgia full of scenic beauty. You’ll find so much to do in Columbia County, from adventure sports to historical explorations. Clarks Hill Lake, the Savannah River, Mistletoe State Park, Wildwood Park, the Augusta Canal head-gates and Savannah Rapids Park beckon fishermen, disc golf players, mountain bikers, paddlers and anyone else who enjoys outdoor fun.

The Laurel & Hardy Museum, Appling Courthouse, Grovetown Museum and other historic places will introduce seniors to Columbia County’s history.

Start your explorations at the Savannah Rapids Regional Visitor Information Centre. View a re-creation of what the Lockkeeper’s bedroom would have been like when he lived and worked here.

Senior visitors will see a pictorial history of Columbia County and learn the significance of the Augusta Canal to the City of Augusta and the surrounding areas. Paddle or explore the canal by guided boat tour, or hike/bike the towpath.

Clarks Hill Lake/Lake Thurmond is a premier spot for fishing tournaments or just casting a line, so bring along your best fishing rod and your bike and then brave the mountain bike trails at Wildwood Park and Mistletoe State Park.

It’s all in Columbia County, Georgia just awaiting your arrival.  Seniors, enjoy your stay. -jeb

Seniors Find The “Other Vienna”

About the Town of Vienna: It is a 36-square-mile geographic and governmental unit located in northern Dane County, Wisconsin. Senior travelers will find Vienna conveniently located just north of Madison, home of the State Capitol.

The Town population is estimated to be 1,523 as of August 1, 2016. The unincorporated community of Norway Grove is located in the town.

The area around Vienna  is unique. Dane County is a special place, home to more than 500,000 residents, Wisconsin’s State Capitol, world-class colleges and universities including the University of Wisconsin and Madison College, good schools, more than 60 cities, villages and towns, and some of the most productive farms in the state and the nation.

In Dane County, senior visitors can enjoy beautiful natural spaces with fish-filled lakes, rivers and streams, and parks abundant with opportunities for rest and relaxation. Dane County is also home to one of the few free zoos in the country.

Seniors Find Horses, A Cow And An Elephant

The Vienna Equestrian Center is a popular site for folks who enjoy horses. They offer both rough/pasture board or stall board.

In town, seniors will find trails for hiking, biking, and even bird watching. There are also ponds and streams for fishing, canoeing and kayaking nearby, an Outdoor Sports Center and A Sissy the Cow and Pinkie the Elephant.

Wisconsin welcomes senior visitors. Locals share hidden gems and festivals happen at the drop of a hat. Generations of families make memories and would like to share the real Wisconsin with you.

 Seniors Enjoy The Dairy State

So stop by the Vienna Tourism Office in the Comfort Inn, located in the Town of Vienna. You can find connection to the Village of DeForest, Village of Windsor, Village of Waunakee and Village of Dane.

In addition, visitors will find an easy access both on and off of Interstate I90/94/39 where you will find lodging, food, gas and anything else you might need during your travels in Wisconsin, the Diary State. -jeb

Seniors Drop By Rockledge

Rockledge, the oldest city in Brevard County, Florida, has a population right at 26,000. Senior travelers will find that Rockledge  is part of the Palm Bay−Melbourne−Titusville Metropolitan Statistical Area. Rockledge was officially founded on August 7, 1887, making it the oldest incorporated municipality in Brevard County.

Do you wonder where a city called Rockledge got its name? I do. The name Rockledge, attributed to Gardner S. Hardee, an early settler, comes from the many ledges of coquina rock that line the Indian River.

Other sources refer to a man named Cephas Bailey Magruder, who built his home after settling in the area in 1876 near the Indian River. Magruder called his home “the rockledge home” and the name was eventually attributed to the whole town.

 Seniors Fish and Golf In Rockledge

TripAdvisor, I have discovered from my experience as a travel writer, likes to promote various food establishments. Such is the case of their 8 things to do in Rockledge. Fishing and golf are big in and around Rockledge, so seniors, toss in your clubs and a fishing pole.

Previously, the economy of this area was based on the citrus trade and accommodation for tourists traveling to South Florida. Presently, it also focuses greatly on technology and aerospace.

Rockledge has a number of well built parks with softball, soccer and football complexes. The city also includes a senior center where senior citizens can enjoy night dances, dance lessons, art class, a choral group, craft group, duplicate and party bridge, quilting group, Pinochle, Canasta and aerobics/ exercise.

In addition, you can enjoy ghost tours in Rockledge. Think you might like to live in a an Ai Dome home? Check them out.

Seniors Find Things To Do In Rockledge

Things for seniors to see and do in Rockledge include Cocoa Beach sportfishing, the H. S. Williams House, Cocoa Beach Kayaking, the McLarty Park. All very popular with folks of all ages.

You will discover a host of nearby cities that make it easy for a commute to see other nearby sites. Space Coast Iceplex offers public skating, Ice Hockey and figure skating…When was the last time you went ice skating? Time to get back in form here.

And for you golfaholics, Rockledge is the place to be. So spend some time in Rockledge and enjoy the many attractions and fun things to do. -jeb

Seniors Visit The Flagship City

 Erie, which seniors locate in northwestern Pennsylvania, is named for the lake and the Native American tribe that resided along its southern shore. Erie is the state’s fourth-largest city, after Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Allentown, with a population of 102,000. It certainly has a bunch of nicknames, like The Flagship City, The Gem City, The Bay City, The Lake City.

FYI: Erie is known as the Flagship City because of its status as the home port of Oliver Hazard Perry’s flagship Niagara. The city is called the Gem City because of the “sparkling” lake. I discovered that Erie was named for the Eriez tribe, who spoke an Iroquois language and in their language “Erie” means “raccoon.” 

Fishing is BIG in Erie. Many charter boat companies take senior visitors to the best fishing spots on Lake Erie, or of course, you can fish from the shore.

Victorian Princess Cruise Lines provide more luxurious ways to get out and enjoy a boat ride on the Lake. Lake Erie was chosen as one of the top-20 family-fishing spots in the nation by Field & Stream.

Senior Visitors Spend Time at Presque Isle State Park

Erie’s Metropolitan Area consists of approximately 280,000 residents. This Visit Erie website has it all lined up for your visit, including access to a helpful online Adventure Guide.

Once teeming with heavy industry, Erie’s manufacturing sector remains prominent in the local economy. Millions visit Erie for recreation as well as a plethora of attractions like the casino and horse racetrack named for the state park.

Nestled between the shores of Lake Erie and Presque Isle Bay is Erie’s top attraction – Presque Isle State Park. With sandy beaches and endless outdoor recreation, Presque Isle (French for “almost an island”) is a National Natural Landmark and one of Pennsylvania’s top vacation destinations.

Welcoming over 4 million visitors annually especially during the summer months, the Park has 7 miles of beaches, world-class sunsets and plentiful outdoor recreation.

 Seniors Find Cultural And Historical Attractions In Erie

Erie offers senior visitors cultural and historical attractions: AA baseball, OHL hockey, NBA D-League Basketball, cross-country and downhill skiing, golf, theater, shopping, wineries, amusement parks, a casino and more.

Lake Erie is the world’s 13th-largest natural lake and home port of the U.S. Brig Niagara, the flagship of Commodore Perry. The Niagara was vital to the Commodore’s victory at the Battle of Lake Erie in the War of 1812 and is now a floating maritime museum.

Erie is home to the oldest land lighthouse on the Great Lakes. If the weather’s rough, you can still enjoy the water at the indoor Splash Lagoon Waterpark. Senior travelers, set your sites on Erie along Lake Erie, the warmest of the Great Lakes, and plan to spend some quality time enjoying the many amenities the city has to offer. -jeb

Seniors Come To Enjoy Dickinson

I most often choose a city for good reason like it made national news, someone did something there, an event took place or something like that. In investigating Dickinson, I have discovered there are many reasons why seniors might enjoy paying a visit to the town.

Dickinson is a city and county seat of Stark County with a population of 21,000. It is at the western edge of North Dakota, and the Montana border on Interstate 94 is only “a stone’s throw” away.

Dickinson is the gateway to the Theodore Roosevelt National Park and home to Dickinson State University. The city is about an hour’s drive from Lake Sakakawea, the largest of the mainstream reservoirs on the Missouri river, which is famous for its fishing and recreational resources.

Seniors Visit ‘Queen City Of The Prairies’

Dickinson was known for decades by the nickname “Queen City of the Prairies.” This nickname was used as early as 1906, and legend has it that it was selected through a contest sponsored by the Dickinson Press.

Seniors can visit the Dakota Dinosaur Museum that features eleven full-scale dinosaurs, a complete earth science exhibit, a spectacular rock and mineral collection, and numerous fossils. A rare complete Triceratops skull is on display.

The Dickinson Museum Center is where senior visitors can learn about early ND settlers, how they struggled on the open prairie, endured hardships, and experienced the joys of self reliance, all with the lack of social media in their lives. The Pioneer Machinery exhibit includes a threshing machine,  old-time tractors, a miniature farm display, an impressive Indian arrowhead collection and an array of other early pioneer belongings.

Seniors Enjoy Ukrainian Festival

A tribute to early Ukrainian homesteaders in North Dakota and a celebration of Ukrainian art and culture are part of the Ukrainian Festival that takes place annually in Dickinson. Learn about the fine art of the “Psyanky” Easter Eggs at the Ukrainian Cultural Institute, organized by Ukrainians in 1980. It is celebrated annually with a symposium, food, music and Ukrainian dancing in full colorful costumes. So VYTAIEMO – Welcome!

Senior oenophiles, Dickinson has its own winery called Fluffy Fields Vineyard and tasting takes place at 21st St. East. Toss your clubs in the car and play a round or two at the 18-hole Heart River Golf Course. Historians will find the Theodore Roosevelt Center in Dickinson State University’s Stoxen Library.

The center houses a comprehensive digital presidential library of personal letters, diary entries, notes, cartoons, scrapbooks, newspaper columns, photographs, and magazine articles by and about Theodore Roosevelt. This American statesman, author, explorer, soldier, naturalist, and reformer served as the 26th President of the United States, from 1901 to 1909.

Hiking, fishing, camping, hunting and biking are all popular pastimes and part of daily life in Dickinson that senior visitors can enjoy. -jeb