Seniors Pay A Visit To “The Big Box”

El Cajon is a city in San Diego County, California. In a valley surrounded by mountains, seniors learn that the city has acquired the nickname of “The Big Box.” Its name originated similarly, from the Spanish phrase “el cajón,” which means “the box” or “the drawer.” With a population of 103,000, El Cajon is situated about 15 miles east of San Diego.

El Cajon, “The Big Box,” was first recorded on September 10, 1821, as an alternative name for sitio rancho Santa Mónica to describe the “boxed in” nature of the valley in which it was located.

That name appeared on maps in 1873 and 1875 and was shortened to simply “Cajon,” until the modern town developed in which the post office was named “Elcajon.” In 1905, the name was once again changed and expanded to “El Cajon” under the insistence of California banker and historian, Zoeth Skinner Eldredge.

 Seniors Find Themselves In The Valley Of Opportunity

Seniors find The Valley of Opportunity is loaded with amenities and things to see and do.  The Water Conservation Garden is a big draw as is the Sycuan Casino. Plan to visit Taylor Guitars, an American guitar manufacturer based in El Cajon, the #1 manufacturer of acoustic guitars in the United States.

Toss the clubs in the trunk and play a round or two at the Singing Hills Country Club – Willow Glen Course. One of El Cajon’s Premier events, the famous Cajon Classic Cruise, is held in the center of Downtown El Cajon.

For years the pasture lands around El Cajon supported the cattle herds of the mission and its native Indian converts.

Nearby San Diego Zoo And Sea World

El Cajon is home to Grossmount Community College, Cuyamaca College, San Diego Christian College, and the Southern California Seminary. Also located within the city’s boundaries are Gillespie Field (airport) and Knox House Museum.

There are several attractions within easy driving distance: the San Diego Zoo and Sea World.  Senior visitors will discover the Sunny Side of San Diego, the cities of El Cajon, Lemon Grove, La Mesa and Santee.

Seniors, if you are there the weekend before Thanksgiving, you can take in the Annual Mother Goose Parade. The parade includes over 100 colorful and exciting entries.

Let Facebook help with your planned itinerary for nightlife, museums, dining out, a walk in Wells Park and various places to bed down. -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 Stop By Libertyville

Libertyville is a village in Lake County, Illinois and an affluent northern suburb 20 miles from downtown Chicago. Senior travelers will find it located 5 miles west of Lake Michigan on the Des Plaines River with a population of around 21,000.

The Des Plaines River forms much of the eastern boundary of the village. Other bodies of water include Butler Lake and Lake Minear. Libertyville’s main street is Milwaukee Avenue (Illinois Route 21).

The Potawatomi Indians inhabited the village of Libertyville until 1829. George Vardin was the first white settler of the area. He built a cabin at the site of present day Cook Memorial Public Library District. The area at that time was known as Vardin’s Grove.

Dr. Jesse Foster was the first practicing physician of Libertyville, and Horace Butler was its first lawyer. The area was named Independence Grove in 1836. The name was changed to Libertyville because there was another place by the name of Independence Grove in Illinois.

The first post office was established on April 16, 1837. The Milwaukee Railroad entered the village in 1881 and the Village of Libertyville was incorporated in 1882.

 Seniors Enjoy Illinois Nature Preserves

The nearby Des Plaines River makes for fun fishing and great swimming. More than six miles of trails connect parks, neighborhoods, shopping areas and 1600 acres of open space. Two ecologically significant local open spaces – Oak Openings and Liberty Prairie – have received the state’s highest protection status as Illinois Nature Preserves. In addition, four lakes are located near the village limits, including Lake Michigan.

I discovered that Libertyville illinois was the home of Marlon Brando and Adlai Stevenson among a host of other celebrities. St. Sava Serbian Orthodox School of Theology in Libertyville is the professional theological school in the Serbian Orthodox Church in the USA and Canada. Well worth a visit is the monastery church of St. Sava.

Lambs Farm, a non-profit organization near Libertyville that provides vocational and residential services for over 250 adults with developmental disabilities. Located on a 72-acre campus, Lambs Farm includes several family attractions with a petting zoo, a pet shop, a miniature golf course, several small amusement rides, a restaurant, a thrift shop, a country store and a bakery.

 Seniors Find A City Of Parks and Lakes

Senior visitors will find a number of attractive parks in Libertyville and lakes for boating and fishing. Golf enthusiasts are invited to play a round of two at Riverside Golf Course.

Seniors can visit Ansel B. Cook Victorian Home Museum, David Adler Cultural Centre and Cuneo Museum & Gardens. MainStreet Libertyville invites senior visitors to enjoy Libertyville’s downtown Heritage Area offering a look back to the days of old with historical buildings and quaint shops. 

TripAdvisor offers suggestions for things to do and places to eat. Seniors, when you get done checking out Chicago, head north to Libertyville and enjoy the village. -jeb

Seniors Enjoy A Visit To Norristown

Norristown is a borough and the county seat of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. Senior travelers will find Norristown located along the Schuylkill River in a fertile agricultural region approximately six miles from the Philadelphia city limits.

Two major tributaries, the Stony Creek and the Saw Mill Run, bisect the town into thirds and empty directly into the Schuylkill. The locals are called Norristonians and the city has a population of around 35,000.

The area where Norristown sits was originally owned by the family of Isaac Norris, who purchased the land from William Penn in 1704.

Years back, at its height, Norristown was an industrial, retail, banking, and government center. Breweries, cigar factories, textile mills, icehouses, foundries, rolling mills, and lumber yards provided ample employment for skilled laborers and artisans.

Senior Visitors Find National Historic District

Benjamin Rush, Evansburg, French Creek, Meshaminy and Marsh Creek state parks are all located in the region. Senior visitors can fish and boat on the Schuylkill River and golf at three clubs. The community has numerous attractive Victorian mansions.

Norristown’s rich cultural life is supported by the Iron Age Theatre, The Centre Theatre and Theatre Horizon.

TripAdvisor suggests senior visitors check out the cute Red Pandas at Elmwood Park Zoo and enjoy Elmwood Park’s popular summer concerts.

Central Norristown Historic District is a national historic district encompassing approximately 1,900 buildings in the central business district and surrounding residential areas of Norristown.

Notable buildings include the Montgomery County Courthouse, Philadelphia and Western Railroad Station (1931), Scheidt Brewery, Montgomery County Jail, Y.M.C.A, Odd Fellows Hall, and a variety of workers’ housing and imposing dwellings. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1984.

 Seniors Enjoy Norristown Farm Park

The Norristown Farm Park is one of the most unique parks in the Pennsylvania state park system. The Park is a working farm in continuous use since colonial times. The 690-acre Park is home to 71 species of wildlife, fish, reptiles and amphibians; 173 species of birds; 89 species of trees; and 216 species of wildflowers.

Senior visitors will find hiking trails, a trout nursery, picnic areas, separate forest areas of mixed oak and other deciduous trees, flood plain, old farm fields, working fields, wetlands and two streams. There are 15 historic buildings on the property, the earliest dating from 1764.

Most of the original 1784 Town of Norris is included in the old business and government center, whose focal point is the Montgomery County Courthouse.

Enjoy Norristown and all that the city has to offer. -jeb

Seniors Stop In Dardenne Prairie

Senior travelers learn that Dardenne Prairie is a city in St. Charles County, Missouri with a population of around 13,000. Dardenne Prairie was originally a prairie region which began in the area near St. Peters, Missouri and extended north of Dardenne Creek, almost to Peruque Creek. The area was so named after the stream.

In early documents the name appeared as Dardonne Creek, Darden Creek, Dardenne River, or Dardonne River. In Houck’s history of 1908, Dardene River is also found.

An explanation for the name is that it was borrowed from the Dardenne family, early pioneers in the Mississippi Valley. “A Touissant Dardenne from Montreal, Canada, married Marie Francoise Lever at St. Anne de Fort Chartres, November 21, 1747. So  now you have the derivation of the city name.

 Seniors Find Hiking/Biking Trails

Welcome to Dardenne Prairie, Missouri, “A City of Possibilities.”  The Easter Egg Hunt is a fun time for all held annually in the city. TripAdvisor can help senior visitors find their way around with suggested restaurants, places to stay and things to do.

They were big on Dardenne Greenway with two trailheads that loop three miles on either side of Henning Road in Dardenne Prairie. The master plan for the Dardenne Greenway follows Dardenne Creek across St. Charles County. When complete, it will connect the communities of Dardenne Prairie, O’Fallon, Cottleville, and St. Peters as well as portions of unincorporated St. Charles County.

Looking for the best trails around Dardenne Prairie, Missouri? Senior hikers or bikers can find the top rated trails in Dardenne Prairie, whether you’re looking an easy walking path or a long bike trail. So bring a sturdy pair of hiking boots and your bicycle and enjoy the great Missouri outdoors.

Seniors Enjoy Dardenne Prairie’s Parks

The City of Dardenne Prairie Parks and Recreation Department proudly presents the Summer Concert & Movie Series: free outdoor concerts and movies. The Recreation Department  provides a great balance of a strong park system with recreational activities for the community.

Pack a lunch and picnic in beautifully landscaped  Georgetown Park with just over 1/3 of an acre located at the corner of Feise Road and Henke Road. The nearby Renaud Spirit Center is a recreation and aquatic center.

Seniors, when you are traveling through Missouri, enjoy a stop in Darnenne Prairie.  -jeb

Seniors Stop In Somerville

 Somerville is a city that senior travelers will find in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, two miles northwest of Boston with a population of around 79,000.  Somerville, an industrial city that lies adjacent to Cambridge, is the most densely populated city in New England.

In 2006, the town was named the best-run city in Massachusetts by the Boston Globe. In 1972, in 2009, and again in 2015, the city received the All-America City Award. Somerville has a good number of squares that are centers for business and entertainment, as well as a number of other neighborhoods.

The original choice for the city’s new name, after breaking away from Charlestown, was Walford, after the first settler of Charlestown, Thomas Walford. However, this name was not adopted by the separation committee.

Charles Miller, a member of this committee, proposed the name “Somerville”, which was ultimately chosen. It was not derived from any one person’s name, and a report commissioned by the Somerville Historical Society found that Somerville was a “purely fanciful name.”

Seniors Find A City Of Squares

Once part of neighboring Charlestown, Somerville became incorporated as a separate town in 1842 and in 1872 the town was incorporated as a city.

The ensuing years saw the city’s population grow in leaps and bounds, aided by the establishment of streetcar lines and a burgeoning prominence of heavy industry which took root in the city.

Like its neighbor Cambridge, Somerville is defined by its city squares, which mark the neighborhood boundaries and also house unique centers of business and entertainment. Among these are Davis Square, Ball Square, Union Square, Teele Square, and Magoun Square.

TripAdvisor has 27 things not to be missed in Somerville, beginning with Davis Square, a ‘fun, funky and energetic square”. Somerville, a thriving arts community, hosts a series of arts-related events throughout the year. ArtBeat finds artists and patrons converging on Davis Square to celebrate one of the area’s largest arts festivals. And the Illuminations Tour, an annual trolley tour of holiday light displays.

 Seniors Enjoy Somerville’s Museum

The Somerville Museum chronicles Somerville’s roots with historical exhibits and artistic displays. Senior visitors enjoy city parks, main streets, shops, neighborhoods and many sites that make this New England town unique.

Due to Somerville’s close proximity to various institutions of higher education, the city has a constant influx of college students and young professionals who reside in sections near Cambridge where Harvard University, Lesley University, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology are located and near Tufts University, which straddles the Somerville-Medford city line.

Seniors visit the Longfellow House, the former home of the famed poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, the Museum of Science, Harvard’s Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology, and the Busch-Reisinger Museum.

The “Official City Homepage” offers senior visitors information on the city. So when you are in the Boston area, make it a point to check out Somerville. -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