Seniors Visit the Best Small Town in Connecticut

Sherman has been named “Best Small Town in Connecticut” three times by Connecticut Magazine. The Appalachian Trail goes through the northern end of Sherman and part of Squantz Pond State Park is in the town.

Sherman is the northernmost and least populous town of Fairfield County. The population runs right at 3,600. The town was formed in 1802 and is named for Roger Sherman, the only person who signed all 4 founding documents of the United States of America.

He had a cobblers shop in the north end of town which has been reconstructed behind the Northrup House in the center of town.

 Seniors Enjoy a Winery and a Playhouse

Senior visitors can enjoy a visit to White Silo Farm and Winery, an award winning farm and winery located in the attractive foothills surrounding Sherman. White Silo Farm is a family operated boutique winery where you can also harvest a variety of berries, fruits and vegetables.

I’d want to follow up with an evening at the Sherman Playhouse with my wife. For over 89 years the Sherman Players has provided Sherman and the surrounding communities a full range of high quality theatre.

History is packed into every corner in Sherman however it was only after the flooding of Candlewood Lake that Sherman began to increase in size. Candlewood Lake attracts many visitors and would be a great spot for a picnic. This artificial lake is the largest in Connecticut.

 Seniors Walk The Historic District

The Sherman Historic District is a favorite for senior visitors who enjoy a walk around and through older structures. A old historic federal house was named for the Northrop family, prominent Sherman residents for several generations.

The Old Store and Museum, the first store at this site is listed in the Sherman land records as a mercantile belonging to David Northrop, Jr. in 1829.  It was acquired by the Society in 1999, preserved with the intent of “reviving” the Old Store.

Featuring displays from its past, the Old Store has a wide range of gifts for the family and for friends. The Old Mercantile sold for every need, so does the Museum Shop of today.  A store museum c. 1867 gives visitors a chance to reminisce and a second floor gallery shows rotating historical and art exhibitions.

Tobacco was a large cash crop grown during the early 1900′s. Considered to be of superior quality, it was dried in barns and shipped out as the wrapper leaf for cigars.

Facebook has a take on Sherman including the evaluation and opinions of folks who have been there. Seniors, swing by Sherman for a memorable visit. -jeb

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Seniors Discover Mining Communities

Globe-Miami, Arizona is an area long lived for mining, ranching and Old West stories that have captivated senior visitors over the years. While silver was discovered in 1870, it did not take long for miners to add copper ore to their inventory.

While Globe was founded as a mining camp, mining, tourism, government and retirees are most important in the present-day Globe economy. In February, two of the best “wildflower drives” in Arizona pass through Globe-Miami.

Thanks to Globe’s relative isolation from the rest of Arizona (88 miles east of Phoenix) and its proximity to the San Carlos Apache reservation, Globe remained a frontier town. Globe’s history abounds in events such as murders, stagecoach robberies, outlaws, lynchings, and various Apache raids.

 Seniors Enjoy ‘Best Small City in Arizona’

Globe annually celebrates festivals like the Apache Jii Day and the Gila County Fair. Senior visitors interested in history of the area will enjoy the Besh-ba-Gowah Archaeological Park.

Occupied by Salado populations between AD 1225 and AD 1400, Besh-Ba-Gowah was one of the largest single site archaeological collections in the southwest.

Some call Globe “The Best Small City in Arizona.” TripAdvisor suggests that senior travelers not miss the Salt River Canyon Scenic Drive. I would not want to miss the famed Historic District that lies in Globe.

 Seniors Like Classic Western town

Let’s head 6.3 miles on Hwy 60 over to neighboring Miami, a classic Western copper boom-town, near the San Carlos Apache Indian Reservation. Miami, Globe, and the unincorporated areas nearby, including Inspiration, Claypool and Central Heights-Midland City, are commonly called Globe-Miami.

Miami is located on the northeastern slope of the Pinal Mountains, and is surrounded, except to the east, by the Tonto National Forest. Seniors can visit Miami’s old downtown which has been partly renovated. The Bullion Plaza Museum, featuring the cultural, mining and ranching history of the Miami area, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

One of Arizona’s largest copper operations, Miami is the site of one of only three copper smelters in the entire country. On your route to Globe-Miami, pay a visit to The Boyce Thompson Arboretum State Park, the largest and oldest botanical garden in Arizona, with 323-acres that includes a wide range of habitats and a 1.5-mile walking trail.

 Seniors, when you are traveling through Arizona, don’t miss these fascinating, historic old towns. You will find scenery and old buildings round every turn. Check out both communities on Google for various festivals that seem to be ongoing all year long. Your visit will be memorable. -jeb

Seniors End Up In Easthampton

The Town of Easthampton New York, senior travelers will find at the eastern end of the South Shore of Long Island and is the easternmost town in the state of New York.

I picked up on this town as Jackie Kennedy’s childhood summer home just listed for $53.99 million. The main house was built in 1917 by John Vernou Bouvier Jr., Jackie’s grandfather.

Easthampton has a population right at 22,000. The town includes the village of East Hampton, as well as the hamlets of Montauk, Amagansett, Wainscott, and Springs.

It also includes part of the incorporated village of Sag Harbor. East Hampton was first called Maidstone, after Maidstone, Kent, England. The name was later changed to “Easthampton”, reflecting the geographic names of its neighbors, Southampton and Westhampton.

 Seniors Enjoy America’s Most Beautiful Village

TripAdvisor suggests that seniors not miss Main Beach, a must see, followed by Longhouse Reserve.

Being near the water, scuba and snorkeling, kayaking and canoeing and sightseeing tours on the water are highly popular with both the locals and visitors. Senior visitors will enjoy a  stroll along the Village  Green in Easthampton.

The Village of East Hampton, founded in 1648, was one of America’s earliest English settlements. Today, the Village of East Hampton still provides a rich record of the architecture and agricultural way of life in early America.

The Village’s wide Main Street, the Village Green, Town Pond, South End Burial Ground, and the area around Hook Mill are all remnants of the Village’s original seventeenth century design.

Remaining historic houses and farmhouses, barns, outbuildings, fences, pastures, windmills, and schools accent what has been called “America’s most beautiful village.”

Seniors Find A Cradle Of American History

In 1998 the Town of Easthampton, New York celebrated its 350th anniversary. This alone makes it special; few places in America were settled earlier. Even among those that were, none have the unique character peculiar to East Hampton.

It is called “A Cradle Of American History” as East Hampton was founded in 1648 by a group of farmers and fishermen who came from Connecticut across Long Island Sound. They came not for freedom but to make their living.

Early East Hampton was as much a theocracy as the Massachusetts of the Puritans; including witches and witchcraft trials – but fortunately no hangings or burning at the stake.

Farming and fishing was the livelihood for most until the beginning of the 20th century when the town began to attract wealthy families, artists and writers as a refuge from the city.

 The local Chamber of Commerce invites seniors to request a Brochure on Easthampton. This historic town offers seniors an exciting and interesting visit. -jeb

 

 

 

Seniors Stop In Historic Clinton

Clinton is a village that senior travelers will find in Oneida County, New York, with a population of 4,300 at the 2010 census. The village was named for George Clinton, the first Governor of New York.

The Historical Village of Clinton, site of Hamilton College, is within the Town of Kirkland. The village was known as the “village of schools” due to the large number of private schools operating in the village during the 19th century.

Clinton began in March 1787 when Revolutionary War veterans from Plymouth, Connecticut settled in Clinton. Pioneer Moses Foote brought 7 other families with him to the area.

The new inhabitants found good soil, plentiful forests, and friendly Brothertown Indians in southern Kirkland along with Oneida Indians who passed through on trails.

Clinton became part of the newly formed Town of Kirkland in 1827, and became an incorporated village in April 1843.

 Seniors Enjoy Root Glen

 There is plenty for seniors to see and do in scenic Clinton. The Clinton Art & Music Festival offers one of the most impressive and varied musical line-ups of any Upstate music festival, featuring over 20 musical acts — from solo acoustic to 10-piece swing, Gypsy to Gospel, Irish to Oompah, jazz to Americana.

There are several attractions in Clinton that seniors will not want to bypass. One of the more popular sites is called Root Glen on the campus of Hamilton College. Today’s Root Glen is the result of the work of three generations of the Root family, whose members are widely known for their various achievements in scholarship, diplomacy and art collecting.

In 1850, Oren Root bought the building standing adjacent to the glen which he named The Homestead. Oren and his wife, Nancy, set about planting trees, shrubs and flowers in the cleared sheep pasture around their house.

 Seniors Visit Hamilton College

The Hamilton College Arboretum is a place where trees, shrubs and herbaceous plants are grown for scientific and educational purposes. Facebook suggests that seniors explore the Orsino Museum, the Welling Museum of Art at Hamilton College and the Clinton Historical Society.

With Fall in the air, stop by North Star Orchards and pick out some delicious apples and other apple goodies like apple cider donuts. Drop by Artisans’ Corner, an artists’ cooperative filled with a variety of unique items, handmade by local and regional artists. Others popular visits include the Clinton Cider Mill and the Kirkland Library.

As a side note, I discovered that Tom Vilsack ’72 was a graduate of Hamilton College in Clinton. I am from Iowa and he served as our Governor and then on to become U.S. Secretary of Agriculture and a Democratic Candidate for President in 2008.

 Seniors, set your GPS for Clinton and enjoy this historic town. -jeb

Seniors Settle Into Carthage

I am enjoying honoring some of the Best Small Towns in the USA. In Missouri I discovered seventeen of them. I liked many photos accompanying historic Carthage and wish to share this neat small town of 15,000 located on Old Route 66 with senior travelers.

The city was named after ancient Carthage. Remember Marlin Perkins (1905–1986), zoologist, naturalist and host of Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom? This was his hometown. Used to be one of my favorite shows on TV. And Carl Hubbell (1903–1988), Baseball Hall of Fame pitcher for the New York Giants was from Carthage as well.

This seat of Jasper County is known as “America’s Maple Leaf City”. The town was established in 1842, burned to the ground during the civil war, and was later reconstructed.

Seniors Find Historic Civil War Town

Senior visitors can enjoy The Precious Moments Chapel & Gardens, a Civil War Ranch, The White Rose Winery, great restaurants, Bed and Breakfasts, an Art Gallery, a Civil War Museum and Whistler’s Drive up. Many folks enjoy simply driving around Carthage taking a historic homes tour.

Carthage was the site of the Battle of Carthage, the first official engagement of the American Civil War, on July 5, 1861. Local groups stage reenactments of that battle near the grounds of the State Historic Site which commemorates the event. The Civil War Museum recalls the history of the city during those difficult times.

In the late 1880s rich deposits of limestone, lead and zinc were discovered beneath the town and in the surrounding area. Through these gifts from the earth, Carthage soon became one of the most prosperous towns in the state and was called Queen City of the Southwest by the 1890s.

 Seniors Enjoy A Route 66 Town

Senior visitors can celebrate Independence Day, Marian Days, Maple Leaf Festival, Christmas and Route 66 in Carthage. I’d swing by the Phelps Family Mansion on Grand Avenue that recalls a day of opulence, representing a unique chapter in the history of Carthage.

Then a visit to the Powers Museum and possibly a show at Stone’s Throw Dinner Theater. Located inside the Emporium on the Historic Carthage Square, The Woodshed hosts live entertainment every Friday night.

Seniors will find Carthage to be a legacy of architectural marvels comprising of over 600 buildings listed on the National Registry, including one of the largest residential districts in Missouri.

Each building at one time housed people or businesses with impressive tales that continue to intrigue today. Civil War guerrillas, wild west outlaws, and powerful business men and women have left their marks on Carthage history.

And oh yes, toss in your clubs and play a round at the Carthage Municipal Golf. A course that some players say is  “The Best in Missouri.” Enjoy your stay. -jeb

Seniors Enjoy Chipping Norton, England

So where would this senior come up with a name like Chipping Norton? Let’s try Condé Nast Travel Magazine, one of about a dozen that I subscribe to.

The May 2016 edition focused on some of  the finest hotels and resorts in the world. Up came Chipping Norton and upscale Soho Farmhouse in their May 2016 edition. It is totally cool.

The town has been voted one of the UK’s top ten Country Towns by the 200,000 readers of Period Living and Traditional Homes. Chipping Norton is one of the least explored and most scenic corners of the Cotswolds. The town has its share of historic buildings and invites seniors to stroll through.

The town’s name means ‘market north town’, with “Chipping” (from Old English cēping) meaning ‘market’. Chipping Norton began as a small settlement at the foot of a hill on which stands the motte-and-bailey Chipping Norton Castle.

Very little of the original structures remain apart from earthworks.  Just 74 miles from London, Chipping Norton is known as the gateway to the Cotswolds.

Seniors Find A Wool And Tweed Town

The 2011 Census recorded the parish’s population as 6,500. In mediaeval times, when the Cotswolds were one of the wealthiest parts of England due to the production of wool, Chipping Norton grew in importance and many of the mediaeval buildings  remain in the town center where  buildings date from the 18th century.

Until not too long ago ‘Chippy’’ (love that sobriquet), apart from being a small market town, had a real industrial base in wool and tweed production. Just outside the town stands Bliss Tweed Mill that looks like a cross between a mansion and a folly, rather than a late 19th century factory.

It has an unusual domed based chimney which is a landmark for Chipping Norton from miles about. Tweed of high quality was made here for many years. The owner William Bliss was instrumental in bringing the railway to supply coal for his mill’s steam engines. The Mill finally closed in 1980 and has now been converted to luxury apartments. The town’s railway and it’s station closed in the 1960s.

Seniors Visit The Rollright Stones

TripAdvisor suggests senior travelers not miss the The Rollright Stones, a major tourist attraction that is a complex of three Neolithic and Bronze Age megalithic monuments, The Kings Men stone circle, the King Stone, and another called the Whispering Knights.

Chippy (as it is affectionally known by its residents) has seen its fair share of history, and is an essential place for seniors to visit while in the Cotswolds, as well as an idyllic and peaceful place to stay.

It is said that Chippy is a fantastic place for a visit, boasting an enviable number of independent shops and boutiques, an award-winning theater with an extraordinarily diverse program including its famous annual pantomime; The Lido, one of the UK’s few remaining outdoor heated swimming pools,  a museum of local history and a leisure center.

Enjoy Chippy. -jeb

Seniors Visit Lenox

 Set in Western Massachusetts, Lenox is a charming hamlet in Berkshire County and is part of the Pittsfield Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population runs just over 6,000 inhabitants. Senior travelers will find this small, but vibrant New England town nestled in a scenic corner of the lush southern Berkshires.

Lenox is 3 hours from New York City, 2.5 hours from Boston and is said to be an arts-lover’s dream. Lenox Athenaeum provides seminars on classical music, theater, dance, literature, and other subjects. In addition music recitals, private and charitable functions, and lectures promote an appreciation of the history, literature, and the natural beauty of the Berkshires.

Lenox is alive with everything from culture to wellness, high fashion to antiques, fine art to hand crafted goods. Lenox is the site of Tanglewood, summer home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra.

Seniors Discover Summer Tourist Destination

Lenox includes the villages of New Lenox and Lenoxdale, and is a tourist destination during the summer. Full of New England history, in 1767 the town was intended to be called Lennox, probably after Charles Lennox, 3rd Duke of Richmond but the name was misspelled by a clerk at incorporation. Yes, that happens.

Andrew Carnegie called Lenox home along with a host of other notables like Yo Yo Ma, Nathaniel Hawthorne and the Vanderbilt family.

Sites that might interest senior visitors abound in and around Lenox, notably the Berkshire Scenic Railway Museum,  the Church on the Hill, the Frelinghuysen Morris House and Studio, the Kripalu Center and the Lenox Railroad Station.

Lenox is home to the Pleasant Valley Wildlife Sanctuary, Shakespeare & Company, Tanglewood, Ventfort Hall and Bellefontaine. Fodor’s Travel notes that the famed Tanglewood music festival has been a fixture in upscale Lenox for decades, and it’s a part of the reason the town remains highly popular the summer months.

 Seniors Enjoy The Mount

TripAdvisor suggests a visit to The Mount, a country house in Lenox and the home of noted American author Edith Wharton, who designed the house and its grounds and considered it her “first real home.” The estate, located in The Berkshires, is open to the public.

This senior would head off to the Pleasant Valley Wildlife Sanctuary that is set amidst more than 1,000 lush acres in the Berkshires. Pleasant Valley’s varied trails wind through forests, meadows, wetlands, and along the slopes of Lenox Mountain, making this site an excellent location for easy-to-strenuous hiking, so bring along your boots.

Despite the strong tourist attractions and the array of accommodations, Lenox remains primarily a residential community that is continually on the move for folks of all ages. Seniors, plant your feet in Lenox, Massachusetts and enjoy the amenities the town has to offer. -jeb

Seniors Discover a Best Small Town

I asked Google for the names of the best small towns in Virginia and up pops Abingdon, with a population of just over 8,000. Seniors, let’s check Abingdon out and see what makes it so special. It is said that there is “Always Something To Do In Abingdon”.

Abingdon, the seat of Washington County, is 133 miles southwest of Roanoke and is a designated Virginia Historic Landmark. The town encompasses several historically significant sites and features a fine arts and crafts scene centered on the galleries and museums along Main Street. Barter Theatre, designated as the “State Theatre of Virginia” in 1946, is one of the longest-running professional regional theaters in the nation.

The settlement was originally known as Black’s Fort. In 1778, Black’s Fort was incorporated as the town of Abingdon, said to be named for the ancestral home of Martha Washington in Oxfordshire, England.

Could be, but other possible namesakes for the town include Daniel Boone’s home in Abington, Pennsylvania, or Lord Abingdon, friend of settler William Campbell. Me, I liked that one.

Seniors Enjoy Virginia Historic Landmark

It’s scenic in all directions. When you look at the mountains surrounding the town, you think of Daniel Boone walking through the woods or early American pioneers traveling the Great Road across the Blue Ridge Mountains to settle the new frontier.

When you stroll down Main Street, it will make you think about the Civil War soldiers involved in nearby battles who were treated by nurses on the grounds of what is now the elegant Martha Washington Hotel. Senior visitors, stroll the charming brick sidewalks of downtown Abingdon, named a Virginia Historic Landmark.

Pick up a brochure at the Visitor’s Center and take a self-guided walking tour.

Seniors Hike The Virginia Creeper Trail

TripAdvisor invites seniors to check out the two dozen major attractions not to be missed in Abingdon. After taking in a presentation at the Barter Theater, bring along some good hiking shoes and take the World Class Virginia Creeper Trail, a 34.3-mile rail-to-recreation trail starting in Abingdon.

Being an amateur oenophile, this senior would want to visit the Abingdon Vineyard and Winery, a Virginia Farm Winery nestled along the South Holston River. They feature fine wines and scenic views in a quiet Virginia surrounding.

The area is known for boating, hiking, camping, biking, horseback riding and skiing, as well as Blue Grass music, storytelling and mountain crafts. Sounds like fun.

The Arts Depot would be another worthwhile stop as would be White’s Mill, where you can watch corn being ground and tour this historic structure.

So plan on dropping by Abingdon, VA, it will be a memorable visit. -jeb

Seniors Enjoy Bath

Bath, the county seat in Sagadahoc County, Maine has a population just over 8,400. The city is popular with tourists, senior visitors drawn by its 19th-century architecture. It is commonly known as “The City of Ships”.

Abenaki Indians called the area Sagadahoc, meaning “mouth of big river.” It was a reference to the Kennebec River, which Samuel de Champlain explored in 1605. Most of Bath, Maine, was settled by travelers from Bath, England, and thus the name.

Bath is known as home of the world-class shipbuilder, Bath Iron Works. The HENRY B. HYDE, a three-masted full-rigged wooden ship, and the six-masted schooner WYOMING, the largest of their kind ever built in America, were constructed in Bath.

Seniors Discover A Shipbuilding Town

Several industries developed in the city, including lumber, iron and brass, with trade in ice and coal. But Bath is renowned for shipbuilding, which began in 1743 when Jonathan Philbrook and his sons built 2 huge ships. Since then, roughly 5,000 vessels have been launched in the area, which at one time had more than 200 shipbuilding firms.

Bath became the nation’s fifth largest seaport by the mid-19th century, producing clipper ships that sailed to ports around the world. “Shipyards once lined the river’s edge where bald eagles fly over the ice flows moving upstream, where striper bass run in the spring, fireworks light the summer sky, and the rich colors of autumn reflect in the water. Bath’s vessels have sailed the seas of the world, hugged the American coasts, and even carried timber-framed homes to the colonial West Indies and other Bath-built ships to Gold-Rush California.”

Bath won the 2012 Great American Main Street Award, a program originated by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. TripAdvisor has been to Bath and has 16 attractions not to be missed, including the Maine Maritime Museum.

Senior Birders Enjoy Bath

Bath is flanked by two of Maine’s most beautiful sandy beaches: Reid State Park and Popham Beach State Park. Senior bird watchers can visit the Josephine Newman Wildlife Sanctuary, the Bates-Morse Mountain Conservation Area, Hamilton or Butler’s Head Sanctuaries, or Montsweag Preserve. Eagles and osprey are frequent visitors to the Kennebec River area. In autumn senior visitors can see awesome colorful foliage as well.

My wife and I are big B&B fans. The Benjamin F. Packard House, beautifully restored as a B&B, was built in 1790, and is located in the heart of Bath’s Historic District. Maybe check it out for a couple of nights in Bath.

Beautiful Downtown Bath has a unique mix of services, shops, and restaurants. Stroll down Front and Centre Streets, along the 19th century brick buildings and narrow streets, and feel a comfortable pace and friendly pedestrian atmosphere. It is a great walking city.

Seniors, set your GPS for Bath, Maine and enjoy a few days in this charming town. -jeb

Seniors Visit Historic Haverford

Haverford township is a home rule township in Delaware County, ten miles west of Philadelphia, in southeastern Pennsylvania and is officially known as The Township of Haverford. Haverford is named after the town of Haverfordwest in Wales. Senior travelers, welcome to Haverford Township.

The population runs close to 50,000 and contains portions of the communities of Haverford, Bryn Mawr, Ardmore, Drexel Hill, and Wynnewood. The unincorporated “town” of Havertown lies wholly within Haverford Township.

Haverford College founded in 1833, is a private, well-respected  coeducational liberal arts college. All 1,187 students are undergraduates and nearly all reside on campus.

I love their mascot, a Black Squirrel. You don’t see many of them in the wild anymore. This former Master Gardener would want to visit the 216 acre Haverford College Arboretum.

The College is renown for its academic rigor, honor code, and beautiful arboretum campus. Haverford students are admitted to medical school, law school, and other professional schools at rates that are significantly higher than the national average. Haverford College’s ranking in the 2016 edition of Best Colleges is National Liberal Arts Colleges, #12.

 Seniors Check Out The Quadrangle

Home for many senior citizens is called the Quadrangle, that first began as an elegant English-country mansion called The Linden House, once home to a prominent local family.

The grounds feature walking trails, a six-hole golf course, a putting green, a greenhouse, tennis courts, and a community garden. Sounds to me like a great place to spend senior years.

TripAdvisor feels that visitors might want to check out Saxby’s Haverford restaurant and pep up with some of their famed cappuccino. They are also quite high on the White Dog Cafe. The Haverford School for Boys is a nonsectarian college prep day school for boys, grades K-12.

I would want to visit several historical sites in Haverford including the Lawrence Cabin. I’d stop to take a few photos of the 1797 Federal School made of local stone and still standing strong. Then I’d load another memory chip into my camera and shoot a few shots of the many beautiful mansions in town.

 Haverford A Host City For Golf Tournaments

Haverford has been the host city for a total of 6 men’s Major Championships and 11 men’s and women’s US Amateur Championships. Seniors, toss in your clubs and see how you fare on the fairways. Try your luck at the Marion Golf Club or the private Llanerch Country Club that has hosted numerous championships.

CityTownInfo notes that back in 1681 the township was established by Welsh Quakers on land bought by William Penn. In the early years, farming was important for the community.

The Nitre Hall Powder Mills provided gunpowder for the War of 1812. The access of Philadelphia by steam and electric railroads substantially increased the township’s population.

Seniors, plan to stop in Haverford and get to know some of the locals and look around. -jeb