Seniors Enjoy Columbia County, NY

Hudson is located along the west border of Columbia County, New York with a population of around 7,000. Senior visitors find that Hudson overflows with history. The city is named after the adjacent Hudson River and ultimately after the explorer Henry Hudson.

Hudson is said to be a lively urban gem set in the jewel-like natural environment of Columbia County.  “The city is a minor miracle and beautifully preserved with its 300 historic buildings representing every architectural style of the last three centuries, yet buzzing with all the ingredients of a much larger city.”

With its diverse and creative locals, world class retail and dining, and an exciting art and music scene, senior visitors discover it to be an America of the past, present and future. Antique lovers enjoy strolling and browsing among the 51 stores and 10 miles of historic streets.

Seniors Enjoy One Of  The “Coolest Small Towns”

Hudson was the first chartered city in the United States and settled by the Dutch in the mid-17th century and at that time called Claverack Landing. Budget Travel labels Hudson “One of the coolest small towns in the U.S.A.”

Hudson has been called “one of the richest dictionaries of architectural history in New York state” and “a treasure house of architectural styles.” From 18th-century Federal buildings to 20th-century Arts and Crafts houses most of Hudson remains miraculously unscathed by urban renewal efforts that other communities have had to deal with.

Among the plethora of treasures is the Hudson Opera House that was constructed as Hudson’s city hall in 1855. Senior visitors also find the Columbia County Courthouse, and the Hudson Area Association Library, a structure once considered “the most handsome building in Hudson.”

Seniors Find Olana State Historic Site

Seniors, start with a visit to the FASNY Museum of Firefighting. Take The Farm to Glass Wine Tour and enjoy some of New York’s finest. Plan to enjoy a theater presentation at one of Hudson’s four theaters or take a Hudson Cruise.

I would not want to miss a visit to the Olana State Historic Site with its Persian Style mansion and environs. Olana was the home and estate of 19th century Hudson River School artist Frederic Edwin Church.

This 250 acre New York State Historic Site and National Historic Landmark  offers spectacular views of the Hudson River and Catskill Mountains and is one of the most popular cultural tourism destinations in the Hudson Valley.

Seniors, set your GPS for upstate New York and plan to spend some quality time in “one cool small town”.  -jeb

Seniors Find Excitement in Rust, Germany

TripAdvisor is at it again selecting the best of the best for travelers of all ages.  This time they selected the top 25 amusement parks in the entire world and up came Rust, Germany as #7. Ever heard of Rust? Neither has this senior.

Rust is a town of only 4,000 and home of the famous theme park Europa Park . Rust lies about three long football passes from the Rhine River just south of Strasbourg. Europa-Park is the largest theme park in Germany and the second most popular theme park resort in Europe, following Disneyland Paris.

While Europa-Park is the big draw, I wanted to put emphasis on the town itself, but I lost.  I have found so often that TripAdvisor likes to high light bars, restaurants and places to eat. This time in Rust they highly recommend that visitors be sure to stop in at Bar Colosseo .

It is a highly popular choice in Rust for dining and quenching your thirst. The Bar is on the 5th floor of the Hotel “Colosseo” where you’ll find everything you need to wind down after an eventful day. Dozens and dozens of spirits from all over the world are featured.

Seniors Enjoy Beautiful Parks, Ice Revues and Shows

Visitors will not have problem finding lodging with the 139 hotels in town. There is a wide variety of excitement going on at Europa-Parks’ 90-hectare site… something even senior visitors can enjoy.

With a sensational mix of high-adrenaline rides, cleverly conceived themed areas, beautiful parks, plus around 6 hours of shows including children’s theatre for your grandkids, ice revues and variety of features each day.

The folks who designed this park clearly have scoped out the competition — if they can’t have Mad Tea Party spinning teacups, they’ll put spinning Delft coffee cups in the Holland section; instead of a Haunted Mansion, they have a Ghost Castle in the Italy area; and let’s just call Pirates in Batavia, in the Portugal section, an “homage” to Pirates of the Caribbean.

Seniors Also Find a Castle and Half-Timber Houses

But though there are seven dramatic roller coasters at Europa Park, this place is not just about the rides. It’s a clever microcosm of Europe, with shops and restaurants and shows as well as rides in mini versions of 11 different countries .

Fodor’s highlights Rust noting that the town, on the Rhine almost halfway from Freiburg to Strasbourg, boasts a castle dating from 1577 and painstakingly restored half-timber houses. The big claim to fame remains  Germany’s largest amusement park, with a specially designed autobahn exit.

Frommer’s kicks in their thoughts on Rust noting that from the country that brought you the Porsche and the autobahn, you’d expect the rides at Germany’s largest theme park to be high-tech and speed-obsessed…and they are.

That being said, seniors can enjoy Rust and “rub noses” with folks from all over the world. -jeb

Seniors Visit Phillips Academy

This senior read recently that Jeb Bush, George Bush, Dr. Spock, and Oliver Wendell Holmes among a long list of other famous people, all attended Phillips Academy , established in 1778 in Andover (pop. 34,000). I knew of the fame of the Academy as years back I was a teacher (they called me a Master) at a private secondary academy in Minnesota.

Today there are just over 1,100 students who attend the Academy, the oldest and most prestigious independent secondary “prep” school in the country. The Academy is a co-ed, independent day  and boarding school.

The campus is well worth a visit. John G. Palfrey, Head of the Academy, points out that…” We often point to the achievements of Andover alumni – an extraordinary group of bridge builders, entrepreneurs, public servants, inventors, artists, performers, and leaders in nearly any field you can think of.” Historically, Samuel Phillips Jr., the Academy’s founder, provided gunpowder from his Andover factory for Revolutionary War troops.

Seniors Find Andover Near Boston

Senior travelers will find Andover , in Essex County, 23 miles north of Boston. The city is situated on the banks of the Merrimack River, one of the larger waterways in the New England region that has helped define the livelihood and culture of those living along it since native times.

There is always lots of history associated with the east coast of the US and Andover is a prime example. It was settled in 1636 under the Native American name of Cochichawicke , a local waterway and incorporated in 1646. Today the town is known as the “Home of America.”

If you follow this travel blog daily, you are well aware of my leaning on TripAdvisor for providing information on what to see and do in areas all over the world. So it is with Andover.  The American Gallery of American Art rates #1 in town.

The Gallery’s collection of American art is one of the most comprehensive in the world, including more than 17,000 objects spanning the 18th century to the present.

Thomas Cochran created the Addison Gallery of American Art at Phillips Academy in 1931 as the most extraordinary of his many gifts to the school.

Senior Birders and Hikers Enjoy the Area

The Ward Reservation is a 704-acre open space reserve and a favorite spot for senior visitors to check out  hayfields, hilltops, wetlands, creeks, swamps, and woodlands.

If you are into hiking, the Bay Circuit Trail awaits your footsteps…lots of them, as it runs from the north shore to the south shore of Massachusetts covering close to 200 miles. Senior birders, only 0.68 miles from Andover city center, is the Andover Bird Sanctuary (Moncrieff Cochran Sanctuary).

Seniors, stop in Andover and spend time enjoying all that the town has to offer. You may just want to make the town your target for exploring the entire historic northern Massachusetts region. -jeb

Seniors Set Their Sites On Bluffton

Bluffton is a Lowcountry town in Beaufort County, South Carolina with a population right at 13,000. It is the southernmost coastal county in the state. Senior travelers will find the scenic town on a high bluff overlooking the May River, a pristine waterway that has strongly contributed to the town’s history and continued success.

Bluffton is only a ten minute drive to Hilton Head Island. Originally settled in 1825 as a summer resort for wealthy rice and cotton plantation owners, historic Bluffton features a host of awesome antebellum homes like the Rose Hiill Mansion.

Senior v isitors will find attractive bed and breakfasts, historic churches (The Church of the Cross), charming boutiques, appealing fishing tours and whale watching, the May River Theater, the May River Gallery and fine dining with authentic southern food.

Seniors Enjoy Old Town

Bluffton is widely known for its eclectic Old Town District with natural views of the May River. Be sure to watch the video link focusing on historic downtown Bluffton. It is a loaded site with lots to explore. Bluffton has been called “the last true coastal village of the South” .

There is a lot of early history in and around Bluffton. Back in 1842 Bluffton became a hotbed of separatist sentiment. Two years later 1844 the Bluffton Movement, a protest against federal taxes, gave birth to the secession movement and led South Carolina to be the first state to leave the Union.

Bluffton has lots of museums and galleries to keep senior visitors interested. There is one area called a “Gallery Without Walls” in Old Town Bluffton. I think my wife and I might just head there first.

Seniors Find An Amazing Non-Beach Getaway

The town has gorgeous antebellum homes, historic churches and all kinds of artisan shops and a variety of restaurants. But note, Bluffton is anything but calm and quiet. It was named #1 for Amazing Non-­Beach Getaways by Huffington Post. That’s really no surprise with all the gorgeous old oak trees draped in moss and the scenic views of the May River.

The “official town homepage” has more for senior visitors to consider, including some extra special dining, lodging and a super Farmer’s Market. Scroll down to the large bucket of crab and touch the Discover Bluffton button. Now take the Magical History Tour of Bluffton with an explorer map to aid your walking tour.

So set your sights for Bluffton, a town that has it’s own unique style and laid back atmosphere. Visitors discover that it is a place to play, shop, dine and to spend a few days taking in all the amenities. -jeb

Seniors Enjoy Oceanside Hampton

Hampton is a town in Rockingham County, New Hampshire with a population of around 15,000.  Located beside the Atlantic Ocean, Hampton is home to Hampton Beach, a summer tourist destination. Senior visitors will find a great beach and “a whole lot more” in Hampton.

The Sand Sculpture competition is highly popular and folks from all over the country come to enjoy viewing some of the talented artistry and scenic views .

Hampton Beach State Park has a playground and an amphitheater. The Park provides year-round recreation, with Atlantic ocean-front facilities situated along miles of sandy beach. Activities in the park include swimming, fishing, picnicking, and RV camping with full hook-ups in the campground.

Situated on a Victorian farm with tours & a retail store, Smuttynose Brewing is a brewer of craft beers since 1994. And get this: 72 current beers and 63 that archived. With a name like Smuttynose, this senior would just have to check it out for myself.

Seniors Enjoy Historical Hampton

There is lots of history in Hampton. The town was settled in 1638 by a group of parishioners. It was first called the Plantation of Winnacunnet. Named after Hampton, England, Hampton was one of four original New Hampshire townships.

It you want to know more about the history of the town, drop by the local library that makes available on its website thousands of pages of information on the history of Hampton. Their goal is to create a digital archive of Hampton’s past that will be useful to historians, genealogists, and anyone interested in the history of the community.

Seniors Also Enjoy Hampton’s Activities

The local Chamber of Commerce wants senior visitors to know that Hampton is loaded with activities. For starters take a whale watch cruise, then head for the local golf course for a round or two.  Try your luck at the nearby Ocean Gaming Casino at Hampton Beach or head out to sea on a fishing tour with Gauron Fisheries and maybe hook into something big.

Hampton History Bits is a collection of pieces of Hampton’s past, which are on exhibit around town. Artifacts together with brief text tell tiny tales to entertain and enlighten – and perhaps rekindle memories at the Tuck Historical Society & Museum.

I came across a photo of Paice Cove and you will not want to miss taking a few memorable photos of the scene. Senior travelers, bring along a good appetite as seafood abounds in the many fine restaurants in town.  -jeb

Today Seniors Visit Rural Pennsylvania

This senior loves rural Pennsylvania. Having spent a summer with my young family out in Lancaster County, I learned a lot about life in the area. I was doing a workshop for language teachers at Millersville University, in Millersville PA, near Lancaster.

This is  Pennsylvania Dutch Country with many Amish families that live without electricity, and many of our modern conveniences. Senior visitors will find horses and black buggies on many of the roads throughout Lancaster County, home to the second largest Amish settlement in the world.

Senior visitors will get a glimpse of farm life as it was in the early 1800s. Visit markets and farm stores for homemade shoofly pie and fresh produce, or shop for a handmade Amish quilt. The many colorful restaurants throughout the area serve Amish food “family-style” that is always tasty and plentiful.

Seniors Find One Of Oldest Inland Towns

Lancaster is one of the oldest inland towns in the United States. With a population of 60,000, Lancaster ranks eighth in population among Pennsylvania’s cities. On looking up the history of Lancaster, I learned that it was originally called Hickory Town . It was later renamed after the English city of Lancaster by native John Wright.

Originally settled in the early 18th century, the city was founded by James Hamilton with development from Centre Square that makes it easily navigable for senior visitors. The town symbol is a red rose from the House of Lancaster.

Many of Lancaster attractions provide insights into the area’s rich history and offer senior visitors interesting things to see and do. President James Buchanan’s elegant home, Wheatland, is historic but contrasts sharply to the simpler Pennsylvania Dutch heritage sites in Lancaster.

Seniors Visit City With Rich History

Lancaster is situated right in the center of Lancaster County, and senior visitors discover that its seven square miles are packed with art, museums, historical attractions, restaurants and cafes, theaters, shops and boutiques.

‘A great deal of the city’s charm stems from the stories, architecture, and traditions rooted in its rich history. Lancaster City is a place where historic preservation and a cutting-edge arts scene live and thrive side by side. A city of neighborhoods that are safe and welcoming, a city that encourages entrepreneurship and investment; a city that values the cultural, ethnic, and diverse lifestyles of its residents and guests.’

Spend a few days in Lancaster and you will find that you will never be short on exciting attractions and events. Your visit will prove to be memorable. - jeb

Seniors Enjoy the Fun Coast

We know where the famous Daytona 500 race takes place and this senior was confident that there is a lot more to see and do in a city of over 60,000 than watching race cars speed by at the International Speedway.

Today, the Daytona Beach area entertains nearly 8 million annual visitors who come from around the world to relax and enjoy the area’s treasures, both old and new. Learn about the history of the city at the Halifax Historical Museum housed in the former 1910 Merchants Bank building. The two-story interior walls are graced with hand-painted murals depicting area scenes. The building is a destination in itself and you won’t want to miss it.

Senior visitors learn that Daytona Beach was once inhabited by the indigenous Timucuan Indians who were nearly exterminated by contact with Europeans through war, enslavement and disease and became extinct as a racial entity through assimilation and attrition during the 18th century.

Seniors Enjoy Great Beach Views

Daytona Beach is roughly 50 miles northeast of Orlando and 240 miles northwest of Miami. There are some great beach views and wonderful lodging all along the Atlantic shores. You will also see the name “Halifax area” (for simply Daytona) in the area. This refers to the Halifax River that flows through Daytona Beach and other nearby municipalities.

Recall your US History and Ponce de Leon, who was searching for the Fountain of Youth? During his 1513 search for the Fountain, he discovered the now-popular DeLeon Springs located just west of Daytona Beach.

Later, a fellow by the name of Matthias Day, a wealthy northern tycoon, was so completely enamored with the entire area that he became the founding father of Daytona (now called Daytona Beach) and built its very first hotel in 1874.

Seniors Find Daytona Boardwalk And Pier

The Daytona Beach Pier is the most recognizable landmark on Daytona Beach and has been the center of beach life since the founding of the community. The original pier, built by Thomas Keating and known as Keating Pier, was constructed of palm logs, was built before the turn of the 20th century and extended 600 feet into the ocean.

While senior visitors stroll the pier, stop in at Jake’s Crab Shack that offers its unique brand of seafood and casual entertainment. I think that my wife and I would spend a lot of time at the Shack.

The Boardwalk and Pier is the premiere entertainment center in the area and features outdoor and indoor rides and amusements including a classic arcade. Here senior visitors enjoy fireworks display every Saturday night at 9:45 from Memorial Day through Labor Day.

Enjoy your stay in Daytona Beach. -jeb

Seniors Enjoy Grand Junction

These seniors passed through Grand Junction (GJ) on I-70 on our way from Denver to Las Vegas. The Grand Valley,” as it is called, is filled with awe-inspiring natural beauty and dramatic red rock landscape.

Grand Junction offers exhilarating outdoor adventure and award winning golf courses. Seniors can stroll along Main Street and enjoy interacting with outdoor sculptures or tour one of  20 wineries. GJ lies right in the heart of wine county. Did you know that they harvest grapes in Delta County Colorado?

Grand Junction is located along the Colorado River and where the Gunnison River flows into it from the south. The name “Grand” refers to the historical Grand River , which was renamed the upper Colorado River in 1921, and the word “Junction” is from the joining of the Colorado and Gunnison rivers. Grand Junction has been given the nickname “River City”.

Seniors Find Grand Valley, A Fruit Region

Historically, a little-known civilization known as the Fremont  first moved into the area about 200 A.D. The mysterious Fremont left Western Colorado about 1300 A.D. Roughly 100 years later, the first bands of wandering Utes moved into the region.

Grand Junction,  settled by white farmers in the 1880s, sits near the midpoint of the 30-mile Grand Valley that is a major fruit-growing region. The Colorado National Monument, with its spectacular canyons cut deep into sandstone, overlooks the city on the west .

One of the grand landscapes of the American West, this treasure is much more than a monument. Towering monoliths exist within a vast plateau and canyon panorama. Senior visitors can experience sheer-walled, red rock canyons along the twists and turns of Rim Rock Drive, where you might even come across a herd of bighorn sheep and see soaring eagles overhead.

Seniors Find Mountain Biking Destination

Close by is The Country Jam Ranch, a permanent festival site built for music festivals, including Country Jam, an event that has been held since 1992 and one that draws thousands of country music fans to the area. Stick in a couple of lawn chairs and your mountain bikes.

The Grand Junction area has turned into a major mountain biking destination, with bikers coming from the Front Range of Colorado, the Salt Lake City area, and even as far away as California to enjoy the area’s  single-track trails. The Kokopelli Trail is said to be “world-class.”

Seniors, set your GPS for Grand Junction and enjoy all that the city has to offer. Spend some quality time in downtown Grand Junction, bring along a healthy appetite and enjoy a wide variety of fruit and and some great Colorado wines. I wish now we had spent more time in Grand Junction ourselves. -jeb

Seniors Seek Adventure in Split, Croatia

In one of my recent travel magazines, I discovered that Split is one of the fastest developing tourism cities in all of Europe. This senior found Split to be an awesome city full of excitement and ancient history. Get your coffee and let’s head for Split, Croatia this morning.

Split, on the eastern shore of the Adriatic Sea, was founded on old Roman ruins on a peninsula that juts out from the Croatian coast. It is indeed a modern city on ancient roots.

The everlasting youthful spirit of Split, with approximately 200,000 residents, lives within its warm Mediterranean temperature and has done so for 1700 years. Tall archways and symmetrical lines heighten the magnetism of the main spectacular square.

One of the favored tourist destinations in Split is the famed Split green market, where senior visitors can feel the spirit of the city . This area is often called the heart of Split , and it inspires an abundance of various types of flavors, aromas, and colors.

Seniors Start With Roman Ruins

TripAdvisor advises that you start off at Diocletian’s Palace and Mausoleum, considered to be one of the most imposing Roman ruins and the main attraction in Split. The ruins are some of the most valuable surviving buildings of the Roman era along the blue Adriatic coast.

It is in this  quarter of Split that houses numerous shops, cafes, restaurants and apartments, located in the old buildings along a host of narrow streets of the palace and fortress. Add the Grgur Ninski Statue and the Cathedral and Bell Tower of St. Domnius to your must see list.

The 13th century cathedral hosts the emperor’s mausoleum. The former Roman temple of Jupiter now serves as a baptistery. It took ten years to construct and it still stands firm today and is a World Heritage Site selected by UNESCO.

Seniors Enjoy The Split Summer Festival

Perhaps time your visit for the Split Summer Festival with theater, music and dance all over the city. It is the prime annual event attracting visitors from all over the world. For seniors who enjoy hiking, Split is surrounded by mountains with well marked trails.

Lonely Planet adds that Split ( Spalato in Italian) is a great place to see Dalmatian life as it’s really lived. Always buzzing, this exuberant city has just the right balance of tradition and modernity. Split’s residents are literally living in a Roman palace and senior visitors will have the same feeling.

So put Split in your pocket , visit with your travel  agent and learn how easily senior travelers can make this exciting trip . -jeb

Seniors Enjoy the “Festival Capital of Louisiana”

Lake Charles is where senior citizens will be given a warm Cajun greeting and feel welcome any time of the year. Lake Charles ,  with a population of 75,000, is the fifth-largest city in Louisiana and is located on Lake Charles, Prien Lake, and the Calcasieu River between Lafayette and Beaumont.

Founded in 1861 in Calcasieu Parish, today it is a major industrial, cultural, and educational center in the southwest region of the state and home to McNeese State University . Lake Charles is where senior visitors will experience the very essence of Louisiana.

Due to all the lakes and waterways throughout the city, metropolitan Lake Charles is often referred to as the Lake Area . On March 7, 1861, Lake Charles was incorporated as the town of Charleston. Six years later, dissatisfaction over the name arose and Charleston was renamed and incorporated as the town of Lake Charles. In 1910, a fire, known as the “Great Fire of 1910″, devastated much of the city.

Seniors Enjoy the Boardwalk, Mardi Gras and Zydeco

Senior visitors can take a stroll along the beautiful Lake Charles Boardwalk and enjoy some good cajun dishes at one of the fine restaurants. The Beckers would enjoy an evening with the local symphony orchestra that hosts concerts at the Rosa Hart Theatre.

There are five museums in town, one of which houses the largest display of Mardi Gras costumes in the world.

Senior visitors are never bored in and around Lake Charles . They can enjoy a classic Mardi Gras, Contraband Days, the Louisiana Pirate Festival, Christmas at Historic City Hall, casino gambling, 75 annual festivals, the Creole and SWLA Boudin Trails, museums, galleries, great fishing and hunting, scenic parks, great shopping and nightlife unlike anywhere else in the country.

If you spend any amount of time in town, you are bound to hear Zydeco.  It is a musical genre evolved in southwest Louisiana by French Creole speakers which blends blues, rhythm and blues, and music indigenous to the Louisiana Creoles and the Native people of Louisiana.

Moi, j’adore Zydeco . At its core it is the sound of an accordion paired with the scrapping of a washboard and horns. Once you hear Zydeco, you won’t forget it.

Seniors Discover the Lake Charles Architectural Style

Tour the Charpentier Historic District on the National Register of Historic Places that covers more than 40 blocks of turn-of-the-century buildings of mixed styles with turrets, towers, gables, shingling, leaded glass and gingerbread accents on the porches and railings.

The Charpentier (French for “carpenter” ) District stands in homage to the carpenter architects who freely designed as they built, creating a unique Lake Charles style. TripAdvisor suggests three scenic parks to top off their list and a walk over to the Gator Pond to see some live gators.

So set your GPS for Lake Charles and enjoy a great variety of fun things to see and do. -jeb