Seniors Discover Tegucigalpa

Tegucigalpa (tuh-goo-si-gal-puh0), commonly referred to as Tegus, is the capital of Honduras and seat of government of the Republic, along with its twin sister Comayagüela. Senior travelers will find Tegucigalpa in the central region of the country.

Ringed by forested hills in a highland valley, sprawling Tegucigalpa, population 890,000, enjoys a relatively fresh, mild climate and a spectacular setting high up in the mountains.

The city is one of the few capitals in the world without a railroad, and depends largely on the international airport at Toncontín.

The Mercado San Isidro is where you can enjoy searching for great souvenirs and treasures. Excellent artesanía is included in the chaotic market in Comayagüela, its twin city that is separated by the Choluteca or Grande river.

 As senior visitors stroll the streets you will see many buildings that have survived since colonial times. Walk on and you will reach modern glass malls and cinemas flashing with neon signs. There are large pine forests nearby the city, so the air is refreshing.

Tegucigalpa was founded by Spanish settlers as “Real Villa de San Miguel de Tegucigalpa de Heredia” in 1578 on the site of an existing native settlement. The city’s principal buildings include the presidential and legislative palaces, the National University of Honduras (1847), and an 18th-century cathedral.

 Seniors Enjoy the Beautiful Churches

Senior visitors will discover that the best attractions in Tegucigalpa are the city’s many beautiful churches. The city has diverse light industry, including the production of textiles, sugar, and cigarettes.

Old Tegucigalpa, built on a steep hill, retains many quaint colonial aspects, with narrow streets and sidewalks, overhanging balconies, and stair-stepped streets. Tegucigalpa, as a colonial city, has several barrios in the oldest districts of the city.

A city with a very pleasant climate, Tegucigalpa is nestled in a valley at 1000m above sea level making it ideal all year round. It is a gateway to the Pacific Coast and to numerous attractions that are located in central and southern Honduras.

A chain of mountains covered with pine trees surrounds the city. The name Tegucigalpa means ‘silver hill’ in the local dialect, and it was bestowed when the Spanish founded the city as a mining center in 1578. Most sources indicate that the origin and meaning of the word Tegucigalpa is derived from the Nahuatl language.

TripAdvisor suggests 26 attractions for seniors to visit and the Parque Nacional La Tigra is a major draw. Tegucigalpa is definitely worth a visit on your way into or out of Honduras. Check out the city with your travel agent, get adventurous, and spend some quality time in exotic Tegucigalpa. jeb

Lindon, Another Best Town

I have gone through several towns that have made the America’s Best Small Towns listing and now it’s off to Utah to visit Lindon. Senior visitors are drawn to this suburb 15 minutes from Provo, near Utah Lake and the Wasatch Mountain Range, for its country feel.

Lindon is in Utah County and located at the northeast coast of Utah Lake and at the edge of Mount Timpanogos of the Wasatch Range. The town is situated along Interstate 15 and is located about 35 miles from Salt Lake City and only 10 miles from Provo.

History abounds in and around Lindon… the community was originally settled in 1861. It was basically grazing land at the time. The area was initially named String Town because of the manner in which the houses of the area were strung up and down the road.

An old linden tree (Tilia) growing in town in 1901 inspired the present (misspelled) name. Over the past century Lindon has seen organized development, but it has tried to remain true to its motto: “Lindon: a little bit of country”.

Today Lindon has a population of around 10,000 folks at an elevation of of 4,600 feet above sea level. The Lindon Travel Guide has some great shots on it plus great information for senior visitors.

Historical Sites Draw Senior Visitors

Among the notable sites in the area include the Trafalga Family Fun Center, The Christa McAuliffe Space Education Center, and Mount Timpanogos Wilderness. Pioneer Home is a restored home from the original settlers that came into the Lindon herding grounds in 1861.

There are numerous other historical sites such as Lindon Cider Mill, The Amusement Hall, Alfred Harper House and Joseph Wadley Farm. Somewhere Inn Time was Voted #1 in Utah County for “Best Reception Center,” and is a beautiful building.

In 1881 Joseph Wadley began quarrying and hauling Tufa rock from Pleasant Grove. He constructed the home on his 32 acres of land on Lindon Hill in 1882. In 1988 the land was purchased by his grandson and restored to its original state and is highly popular for weddings and receptions.

Timpanogos Academy opened its doors in the Autumn of 2002. The Timpanogos Academy charter school is a free public school with enrollment limited to 500 students in grades K-8. The academy’s motto “For the love of learning,” has added to the fame of Lindon.

Lindon Days in August is always full of excitement. Senior visitors will find family activities in the city park that include a pancake breakfast, parade, golf tournament and open horse show. Lindon offers great vacation house rental and home rental-by-owner deals for the knowledgeable senior traveler.

Stop in Lindon and you’ll soon see why it was selected as one of the top small towns in America. jeb

Senior Visit to Saint-Emilion Wine Region

Senior oenophiles will enjoy exploring this southwest wine region of France near Bordeaux. Of all the satellite appellations, Puisseguin-Saint-Emilion has the strictest laws regarding the production of wine. My wife and I had a family reunion at our home recently and the Chateau Guibeau wine (watch the video)  came across as a favorite for everyone.

Saint-Emilion is a key wine town in the Libournais district of Bordeaux, important in terms of both quality and quantity. It lies just a few miles north of the Dordogne, in the final stages of the river’s journey from the hills of the Massif Central to the Gironde estuary.

The town is renowned as much for its beautiful buildings and scenery as for its wine. Its steep, narrow, cobbled streets, overlooked by its Romanesque church and the iconic 13th-century Tour du Roy tower are a reminder of the town’s long history.

 Seniors Find Old and Famous Vines

The white wine from this region is among my favorite French wines. When senior travelers arrive at the beautiful Chateau Guibeau in the village of Puisseguin, population 1,000, you will be greeted to the warm smiles from Brigitte and Eric, who run the winery (the first link above).

So to complete some specifics for those among you who enjoy fine wine, you will find Chateau Guibeau to be rustic and full-bodied with tart black fruit, smoke and tar. A big piece of steak would be divine with it. Food pairings: grilled lamb chops and oven-roasted potatoes. In addition, it won the Grand Gold Medal winner at Concours Mondial Bruxelles 2011.

There have been vineyards around Saint-Emilion since Roman times, and today the Saint-Emilion wine appelation is one of the most prolific in the Bordeaux region, generating more than 250,000 hL of wine each vintage.  Appellation is the official title given to a product made in a specific place (or set of places), in a style particular to that place.

France is home to the world’s most famous appellation system, a model which has been adopted as a model for Europe-wide regulations. Chateau Guibeau has several labels but they all rate very high among the many great French red wines.

We hope that seniors who enjoy fine wine enjoyed this travel blog.  The Beckers

Seniors Discover Coos Bay

Oregon’s Bay Area is comprised of the communities of Coos Bay, North Bend, Empire and Charleston. Located in Coos County, they edge the Pacific Ocean and surround Coos Bay, Oregon’s largest natural deep water port.  With the largest natural harbor between Seattle and San Francisco, Coos Bay is a major shipping and manufacturing center.

Though a small area of only 16,000 residents, Coos Bay features a variety of outdoor activities, including fishing, clamming, bird watching, sea lion and whale watching, tours, cycling, and 4-wheel rides in the dunes.

Nearby, the city of Charleston is located at the head of the channel connecting Coos Bay to the Pacific Ocean. The estuary south of town offers senior visitors wildlife viewing and paddling possibilities and is within easy reach of not one, not two, but three scenic state parks just a few minutes out of town.

The city is widely known for the vast amount of wood products which enter and leave the city each day. The phonetic name of the city is ‘küs; the “s” is not said as a “z” and the ü takes on the “oo” sound. Thus Koos Bay is the proper pronunciation.

The Bay Area consists of four cities which include Coos Bay, North Bend, Empire, and Charleston, and is the home to Southwestern Oregon Community College. The Bay area is also the proud home of the Southwestern Oregon Regional Airport (OTH) which offers daily flights to and from major airline destinations.

Seniors Enjoy The Oregon Coast

Coos Bay has its history as the city was established in the 1800′s and today there are a large number of interesting and educational places for seniors to visit. Empire is a district in the northwest part of Coos Bay, founded as Empire City in 1853. It was assumed that the area would be the city center, so downtown infrastructure was created.

The beaches and the surrounding areas offer a great opportunity to enjoy many recreational activities. Fishing, hiking, crabbing, ATV riding, mountain biking, boating, hunting, surfing, sea kayaking and many other ‘ing’ words are available at your fingertips.

There are a number of parks in the area, including Mingus Park, Sunset Bay State Park, Golden and Silver Falls State Natural Area, Bullards Beach State Park and Shore Acres State Park. Boating and fishing facilities are provided by the Lower Empire Lake, Upper Empire Lake and the Middle Empire Lake.

Senior tourists can visit the Coos Historical and Maritime Museum and the Coos Art Museum. If attractions aren’t what you’re looking for you can spend a day taking a scenic drive on one of the Coos Bay area’s byways, back-ways, or historical routes exploring the diverse wildlife and scenery.

The Oregon Coast is Oregon’s number one tourist destination. Senior visitors come from all over to enjoy the scenic beauty, historical sites and wide variety of recreation opportunities. You will have many wonderful, scenic memories.  jeb

Seniors Enjoy Glasgow in Big Sky Country

Glasgow, a town near Fort Peck Lake is the county seat of Valley County, Montana. The population runs just over 3,500. The Scotties of Glasgow High School have put the town on the map with 46 Montana State Championships in their storied history.  

A major draw for senior tourists is the Glasgow Pioneer Museum of Valley County where you will find some super genealogical archives and the Western Reading Room.

 The town was named after Glasgow, Scotland and overlooks the Milk River Valley. The river is a major tributary of the Missouri River. Glasgow, maintains its roots as a busy agricultural and commerce hub in Northeastern, Montana. In the 1960s the population flourished up to 12,000 because of Glasgow Air Force Base (SAC).

This small town has much to offer the senior traveler and families relocating from another area. Like so many Montana towns, Glasgow began as a railroad town in the 1880′s. Today its economy is heavily dependent on agriculture. Wheat, alfalfa, and barley are the main crops with a large number of beef cattle herds as well.

Water pastimes such as fishing, swimming, and boating are popular on the nearby Missouri River and Fort Peck Lake. The city even has its own international airport, so you can fly in yourself.

 Seniors Birders and Wildlife Enthusiasts Welcomed

Senior visitors are guaranteed to see wildlife all around as you travel northeast Montana’s roads and highways, lakes and rivers. Bighorn sheep, deer, elk, and pronghorn antelope are among the large mammals you’ll see on Montana prairies. Birders will thrill at the variety of resident and migrating birds found in the region, including pheasants, grouse, osprey, eagles, and cranes.

 American Indians inhabited the region for centuries, and extensive buffalo and pronghorn antelope herds provided ample food for the nomadic tribes. The Nakoda, Lakota and Dakota peoples alternately inhabited and claimed the region from the 16th to the late 19th centuries.

In 1804 the Lewis and Clark Expedition came within 15 miles of the future site of the city of Glasgow and noted the extensive herds of buffalo and various game.

Glasgow was founded in 1887 as a railroad town by James Hill, who was responsible for creating many communities along what is called the High-Line of the BNSF Railway.

Glasgow is served daily westbound and eastbound by Amtrak’s Empire Builder so senior travelers can easily arrive in town by train or car. Enjoy your visit to Glasgow.  jeb

Seniors Get Lost In Woodstock

Just for the fun of it, this senior input “Best Small Towns in the US” into a search engine and up came Woodstock and two others. So welcome to Woodstock, Vermont, (pop 900+) one of New England’s premier four season vacation destinations.

Woodstock is a quintessential New England Village and a thriving Vermont resort community.  Noted for its natural and man-made beauty, the town is cradled between leafy green hills and the serpentine Ottauquechee River.

It is home to the Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Park and the historical Woodstock Inn & Resort, a year-round resort since 1892 when the Woodstock Inn first opened. The Village of Woodstock has thoughtfully preserved its architectural and natural heritage with much of the Village included in a Historic District.

 The question most frequently asked by senior visitors is, “How does one account for the many fine homes when there is no evidence of industry to support them?” The answer is that a mere twenty years after the first settler arrived in 1765, Woodstock became the Shire Town, or seat, of Windsor County.

Seniors Enjoy Prettiest Small Town in America

 Described by Ladies Home Journal magazine as “The Prettiest Small Town in America”, it is a visual treat with tree lined streets, perennials and annual flowers everywhere the eye can see. And Woodstock was called “One of America’s most picturesque villages” by National Geographic Magazine.

The Boston Globe noted that “Quaint meets contemporary in Village of Woodstock, Vt.” The Village curves around the beautiful Outtaquechee River which can be seen from the many covered bridges throughout the Town and Village.

Woodstock has a stunning village green, a range of 19th-century homes, woodland walks just outside town, and a settled, old-money air. This is a good place to explore by foot or bike, or to just sit on a porch and watch summer unfold. One of the most popular bike rides in all of Vermont is the ride along the scenic road that follows the river from Woodstock to Quechee.

Spring begins in Woodstock when the sap begins to run from those famous Vermont Sugar Maple trees. Senior visitors will find Woodstock home to a variety of country inns, hotels, motels, B & B’s and casual to elegant dining venues. The only golf course in Vermont designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr. is in Woodstock.

Village Green and Covered Bridge

Browse the shops and galleries and walk across the famed covered bridge that spans the Ottauquechee River. Woodstock’s centerpiece, the Village Green, is ringed with Federal mansions, a Greek-Revival courthouse and a Romanesque-style library.

You will find Woodstock a memorable experience where you can walk through one of Vermont’s most beautiful landscapes, under the shade of sugar maples and 400-year-old hemlocks, across covered bridges and alongside rambling stone walls. Hope to run into you there… let’s Get Lost In Woodstock.  jeb

Seniors Enjoy Westcliffe

The historic town of Westcliffe is one of the most amazing small mountain towns in the state. Senior visitors discover this quaint little town at the base of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, the longest and straightest mountain range on earth.

The town lies in the Wet Mountain Valley, between the Wet Mountain range and the Sangre de Cristo mountain range and is approximately 50 miles due west of Colorado Springs. The Sangres’ string of 13,000 and 14,000 foot snow-capped peaks tower over the 7,800-foot valley floor. The town is to the east of the Sangre De Cristos.

It offers many grandiose  views and in town you will find 600+ happy citizens. Note that Westcliffe wasn’t built until the Denver & Rio Grande arrived in 1881, so it had a lot of history to live prior to the arrival of the railroad.

This quaint rural setting is a place where senior citizens can slip under the radar to spend long summer days enjoying the high meadow mountain weather while visiting with the company of those friendly residents.

Westcliffe is adjacent to the historic mining town of Silver Cliff, and two towns are being connected and often appear as just one. The valley is a peaceful home for residents and a glorious get-a-way for senior visitors who discover this well-kept Colorado secret.

You will find Silver Cliff lying just to the west of Westcliffe. Silver Cliff was formed in the late 1870s to house the miners of its namesake, the Silver Cliff mine, and other silver mines in the neighborhood, such as the Bull-Domingo.

This particular area of the Colorado Rocky Mountains is known as the Sangre de Cristo’s and is famous for it’s unparalleled views and endless miles of lush wilderness trails and mountain meadows bursting with wild flowers.

 Seniors Awed At Mountain Views

Custer County is visited yearly by visitors from all over the world, for not only the views of the mountains, but for  hiking, fishing, camping, horseback riding, bird watching, and technical climbing, as well as the Wildlife preserve and observatory it has held intact.

Senior visitors who want to enjoy the outdoors in a more passive way will find great spots for photography and bird/wildlife viewing. When the tent is raised with the Sangre de Cristo Mountains as a backdrop, you know its music festival time in the Wet Mountain Valley.

 The High Mountain Hay Fever Festival brings the best of blue grass to over 4,000 people from around the country each July. Westcliffe is just a super cool spot for settling in for a day or two to just unwind. You will find the scenery worth a visit and for those of us who love flowers, especially wildflowers, Westcliffe is the place to be when they are in full bloom.

What a great setting and what a neat small town. Stop in on your next trip to Colorado. jeb

Seniors Find It ‘Famously Hot’

Columbia is the state capital and largest city in the State of South Carolina. The population runs just over 130,000. Down there they say “Famously Hot”…so this senior had to find out what that means. Is it Historic? Gracious? Sultry? Columbia, encompasses each of these and much more!

Columbia tantalizes all of your senses with a relaxing, comfortable pace, an abundance of playgrounds including Lake Murray. Columbia was the first city, as well as the first-planned capital in America named for Christopher Columbus and was founded March 26, 1786.

As the Palmetto State’s capital and a college town, U of SC’s campus area covers over 350 acres and has an enrollment of just over 27,000 students.  Area attractions are easy to find lying at the confluence of three rivers just downstream from a 50,000-acre recreational lake.

Enjoying more than 300 days of sunshine per year, senior visitors can expect Columbia and the surrounding communities to offer an exciting variety of year-round attractions. You’ll find fascinating historical and cultural attractions, a world-class zoo, outdoor recreation, festivals, parks and sporting events. It also is home to the Army’s largest training center for basic combat, called Fort Jackson.

Historical and Artistic Attracts Senior Visitors

Columbia is a city rich with history. There are numerous things for the entire family to see and do, including enjoying the arts, playing or watching sports, attending festivals, or participating in outdoor activities. The city is located in the middle of the state and it is only a two-hour drive to both the mountains and the beach.

Seniors are always welcome to Downtown City Center, which senior visitors will find to be both a vibrant commercial and residential city center. It is home to a diverse and growing business market that includes numerous law firms, banks and real estate corporations.

Known as a bike-friendly city, Columbia is home to friendly people, beautiful weather, a reasonable tax base and home values, excellent schools, easy access to the beaches and mountains, some super parks and recreational opportunities, and the list goes on.

Columbia has been named a top mid-sized market for relocating families in the nation. Also, increasingly, Columbia is becoming recognized as an ideal city for retirees.

It’s always nice to see a list entitled the “Top Ten Things To See And Do” and the Riverbanks Zoo and Botanical Garden are at the top. Lake Murray, a popular destination for boating and fishing, is one of the premier lakes in southeastern United States.

When you are in the south, plan on a visit to Columbia, a “City on the Rise.”  jeb

Seniors Head Northeast to Augusta, Maine

Augusta, located in the Kennebec Valley, was first explored by the Popham Colony in 1607, but not inhabited until 1629, when English settlers from the Plymouth Colony established a trading post. The settlement then was known as “Cushnoc”, an Indian name, meaning “sacred place.”

Augusta became the capital of Maine in 1827. Today its role as the seat of state government is augmented by its shipping, manufacturing and publishing trades.

The many waters of the State of Maine are exhilarating, restorative and invigorating. There’s no better place to explore them than the Kennebec Valley Region in and around Augusta, where you’ll will find every type of inland water adventure imaginable.

Senior visitors who arrive in the Valley will enter a vivid landscape of river towns, lakes, mountains and vast forests. This vacation offers a blend of outdoor adventure, culture, scenic splendor, dining and the story of America’s first frontier.

 Small State Capitol Offers Much To Senior Visitors

Main points of interest in and around Augusta include Blaine House, the Governor’s home, Children’s Discovery Museum, Fort Western, the Maine State Museum, and Capital Park. There is an awesome Botanical Garden on 20 acres of land directly in front of the State House.

Augusta has many attractions and one of the most distinguished is the State Capitol Building, designed by the famous architect Charles Bulfinch. The 180-foot dome of the State House, constructed of Maine granite, is one of the most distinguishing architectural features of the capital city.

You can learn more about Maine and Augusta at The Maine State Museum, which is adjacent to the State House. Did you know that Augusta is the third-smallest state capital after Montpelier, Vermont and Pierre, South Dakota?

Seniors Enjoy Beautiful, Natural Environment

There is much for senior travelers to see and do both in and around Augusta. Many lakes and streams, the great Kennebec River, and beautiful forested hills offer a unique natural environment.

Pine Tree Arboretum has over 200 labeled species of trees, shrubs and “Space Trees” (from seed that traveled on the Space Shuttle) on display at this 224-acre garden.

There are opportunities for bird-watching, picnicking, hiking on beautiful wooded trails, biking, and cross-country skiing. The University of Maine at Augusta is the third largest school in Maine’s public university system.

 Senior golfers, note that Augusta is home to some of the best golf courses in the state of Maine.  For live entertainment, Gaslight Theater in the closeby village of Hallowell is another fun attraction to take in.

Many senior visitors head out to Old Fort Western. Built in 1754, it is a National Historic Landmark and America’s oldest surviving wooden fort, a reminder of the great contest between cultures that dominated New England life 250 years ago.

Swing by Augusta and enjoy. jeb

Mongolia: Land of the Nomads

It is said that we are only six people away of knowing everyone in the world. This senior says five, unless you include the Gobi Desert. That’s Mongolia. It has always seemed to be in a far far away place where Genghis Khan ruled and where folks ride small and very fast horses and drink fermented mares milk.

The country has grown to be a place to visit for adventure-seeking tourists. The country is a landlocked country located between China and Russia. This video called Mongolia: The Melody of Nature, will enthrall you.

Mongolia is more than twice as big as Texas and even bigger than Alaska. Its area is 618,000 square miles and forty percent of the population continue to live the traditional nomadic lifestyle tending more than 28 million head of livestock. Animal husbandry remains a backbone of the national economy, providing 20 percent of the world’s cashmere production.

Mongolia is a vast emptiness that links land and sky, and is one of the last few places on the planet where nomadic life is still a living tradition, and this what attracts senior tourists. Ulan Batar, the capital and largest city, is home to about 38% of the population.

With the exception of the westernmost province where Kazakh is spoken, everyone speaks Mongolian. Mongolia is home to the “three manly sports”: wrestling, horse racing, and archery. The ideal Mongolia travel season starts in May and hits its highest peak in July, during the Naadam holiday, and in August when the weather is most favorable for traveling.

 Seniors Discover a Large Country With Few People

Mongolia is the nineteenth largest, and the most sparsely populated independent country in the world with a population of just over 3 million. The country has very little arable land with much of its area covered by arid and unproductive steppes.

The Great Gobi Desert is a treasure chest full of astonishing surprises that draw in the most avid senior travelers, explorers and scientists. This land of Ghengis Khan has more than 4,000 lakes. Archaeologists have found remnants of a 500,000 year old culture, which in many ways parallels the nomadic tribes and lifestyles that still exist today in some of the outer reaches of the country.

Because of the eternal blue dome hanging over endless steppes, from the ancient times Mongols refer to their motherland as “Blue Mongolia.” Even nowadays, old women will splash into air at the morning dawn a bit of freshly brewed tea with milk as an offering to the Blue Sky and the Mother Nature. The national drink is called Airag made from fermented mare’s milk and is an acquired taste.

Mongolia is a perfect destination for horse trekking, long-distance cycling or hiking, or more leisurely activities such as fly-fishing, yak carting or camping out under a sprawling mass of stars.

Ulaanbaatar, the main entry point, presents a number of quality museums, Buddhist temples and the famed Gandan Monastery – the most important monastery in the country. Seniors, enjoy your coffee and say “Good Morning” to Mongolia. jeb