Seniors Drop By Oxon Hill

The Scripps National Spelling Bee was held in Oxon, Hill, which seniors learn is a suburb of Washington, D.C., located southeast of the downtown district and east of Alexandria, Virginia.

Two student were declared co-champions after a roller-coaster finish, tying for the top honors for the third year in a row after both spelled correctly: Kjeldahl, Hohenzollern, juamave, groenedael, zindiq and euchologion. Would you have even come close for any of those big words? Not me! And the two champions were only 11 and 13 years old!

Back to Oxon Hill… named for the colonial 18th century manor home of Thomas Addison, which burned in 1895 but was replaced in 1929 by a large 49-room neo-Georgian-style home called Oxon Hill Manor, standing on a bluff over the Potomac River.

Seniors Enjoy Oxon Hill Historic Sites

Oxon Hill Manor, the Butler House, Oxon Cove Park, and historic St. Ignatius Church, constructed between 1890 and 1891, are all listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Seniors, check out these national historic sites, major attractions in Oxon Hill.

Politicians G. Gordon Liddy and George McGovern called this community “home.” Another “must see” site in the area is the 18th century Harmony Hall mansion, located on a 62.5-acre open pasture land estate along the Potomac River. In earlier decades, many residents in the area were scientists from the adjacent U.S. Naval Research Laboratory, Air Force personnel, or musicians in military bands.

TripAdvisor suggests The Woodrow Wilson Bridge Trail, is a favorite for many senior visitors. Oxon Cove Park and Oxon Cove Farm is a national historic district where visitors can enjoy a living farm museum. This farm museum was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2003.

Oxon Hill Manor would be an excellent visit for my wife and me as both these seniors  love to visit old historic hom es. The National Harbor Marina is a fun place to hang around and take in the boats and sites.

Seniors Drive The National Historic Road

The National Historic Road, also known as the Cumberland Road, and later US Route 40, was the first major highway in the United States built by the federal government. Built between 1811 and 1837, the 620-mile Road connected the Potomac and Ohio Rivers and was a main transport path to the West for thousands of settlers.

The nation’s first federally funded interstate highway,  opened the nation to the west and became a corridor for the movement of goods and people. Today, senior visitors experience a physical timeline, including classic inns, tollhouses, diners, and motels that trace 200 years of American history.

Be sure to set your GPS for the Road and enjoy all the scenery, the sites and the history. -jeb

Seniors Visit “The Jewel of the Meadowlands”

Secaucus , “The Jewel of the Meadowlands, seniors learn, is located within the New Jersey Meadowlands, and is the most suburban of the county’s municipalities.

Secaucus is a derivation of the Algonquian words for “black” (seke or sukit) and “snake” (achgook), or “Place Of Snakes” , or sekakes, referring to snakes.

In the early parts of the 20th century, Secaucus became home to a number of pig farms, slaughterhouses, rendering plants, and junk yards. This gave it the reputation of being one of the most odorous towns in the New York metropolitan area. However, in 2008, the New Jersey Monthly magazine ranked Secaucus among the 15 best places to live in New Jersey.

Seniors Find Secaucus Close To Manhattan

Is any town in New Jersey more conveniently located? Secaucus is the first true suburban community outside Manhattan, just five miles from Times Square. It’s convenient, yet it’s small town. Who says you can’t have the best of both worlds?

Senior visitors staying at the community’s many fine hotels and motels, can be in Manhattan in as little as 20 minutes via express bus. Or they quickly can be on their way to other points via the New Jersey Turnpike or State Route 3, both of which pass through the town.

And just across the Hackensack River, a mile away, is the area’s sports and entertainment center, The Meadowlands, home of the Giants, the Jets, concerts, circuses, ice shows, weekly flea market; and the Meadowlands Race Track. Dino Park is just for you folks who enjoy viewing animated dinosaurs right out of Jurassic Park.

Seniors Ask, “What Are The Meadowlands?”

The New York Times notes that…“Hemmed in by the Hackensack River to the west, Mill Creek and Penhorn Creek to the east, Secaucus is a peninsula and part of the Hackensack Meadowlands, a 30-square-mile environmentally sensitive expanse of marshes, waterways and meadows that stretches across parts of 14 municipalities in Bergen and Hudson Counties and includes habitats or breeding grounds for 900 animal and plant species.

Among them are seven endangered bird species, including the peregrine falcon and the sedge wren, and seven endangered plants.”  You animal lovers and birders will love it here, so bring along our field glasses.

Senior travelers, the Secaucus Yards and the Secaucus Station are some of the important locations in town that are worth a visit. Secaucus is also near many of New York’s attractions like the George Washington Bridge, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Empire State Building, and the New York Botanical Gardens.

TripAdvisor has their own preferences starting with the Meadowlands Exposition Center and Mill Creek Marsh. Seniors, when you are in the New York City area, consider a stop in Secaucus, a community that has much to offer.  -jeb

Seniors Enjoy Conway’s Riverwalk

Conway , the county seat of Horry (O-REE) County, South Carolina is part of the Myrtle Beach metropolitan area. The home of Coastal Carolina University whose student population is just over 10,000, has a mascot that this senior has always loved: Chauncey the Chanticleer, that comes from Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales. He is a large crowing rooster.

Numerous buildings and structures  in Conway are on the National Register of Historic Places like the City Hall building, designed by Robert Mills, architect of the Washington Monument.

Since the completion of the Main Street USA project in the 1980s, Conway’s downtown has been revitalized with shops and bistros. The Riverwalk, a highlight of the downtown renovation, is an area of fine dining which follows a stretch of the Waccamaw River that winds through Conway and adds much scenic beauty to the community.

Seniors Introduced To One Of Oldest SC Towns

Conway is one of the oldest towns in South Carolina. Originally early English colonists named the village “Kings Town” but soon changed it to “Kingston”. The town was founded in 1732 as part of Royal Governor Robert Johnson’s Township Scheme. It was laid out on a bluff overlooking the Waccamaw River in what is now known as Horry County.

After the American Revolution, the residents changed the town’s name to Conwayborough in honor of the Revolutionary War General, Robert Conway. In 1883, the town was named Conway by the General Assembly. The area’s early industries were centered around turpentine and lumber.

Seniors Enjoy Conway’s History And Culture

So what attracts seniors to Conway, South Carolina? Plenty. The Horry County Museum, Myrtle Beach National Wax Museum, Franklin G. Burroughs-Simeon B. Chapin Art Museum, and Children’s Museum of South Carolina offer interesting insight into the area’s local history and culture.

Seniors can also visit local attractions like the Horry County Jail, Horry County Courthouse, and Conway City Hall. Wadus Lake and Bear Swamp are popular attractions where one can enjoy a variety of water sports. The city hosts annual festivals such as the Rivertown Jazz & Arts Festival and the Round the Fourth Festival.

Combining historic charm and contemporary excitement, Historic Downtown Conway has eclectic shops, spas, gourmet restaurants, casual eateries and a B&B making it a great destination for residents and visitors alike.

Conway is a charming town with much to offer senior visitors: walking tours, riverboat cruises, antique shops, restaurants and cafes, the Horry County Museum, and numerous historic landmarks.

TripAdvisor highlights the Conway River Walk, the Horry County Museum and the L.W. Living History Farm. Toss in your clubs and enjoy three golf courses in  Conway. Get adventurous and do some kayaking or canoeing on the Waccamaw River. Enjoy your time in Conway. -jeb

Familys’ Warm Memories Of Bath

The tearooms, a daily stop: Jolly’s, The Georgian Tearoom, The Pump Room and The Bath Bun.  The Pump Room in the Abbey Church Yard, “regarded as the social heart of Bath for centuries, this salon and ballroom still retains all the glory of its past.” And there are so many more in Bath that these seniors want to discover.

The Pump Room opens onto the Abbey Church Yard and on Sunday, the streets of Bath fill with street entertainers.

One that we particularly enjoyed was a piano player in the Abbey square.  If you look closely in the next picture you might see a green jacket.  The man in that jacket would be jeb. These seniors found the Bath Abbey a stunning masterpiece. And the pianist wasn’t bad either.

The Bath Abbey with the man in the green jacket.

The gentleman in The Beau Nash silver antique store shared that until relatively recently all the buildings in the city were  black, thanks to the soot from all those chinmeys that this senior found so fascinating.

Apparently the city decided to clean house and underwent a citywide wash.  Underneath all the black was this lovely, soft, yellow limestone. Even the newer buildings were constructed with the Bath Stone.

jeb has trouble letting ‘fudge’ pass him by.  We walked past the Fudge Kitchen, then backed up.  ummm yes…it was good!

These Seniors Discover Clotted Cream

Jeannine in the Bath Bun Tearoom with scones and clotted cream

Clotted Cream…I think I’d heard of it, but had no idea what it was other than some form of cream, probably. And then I tasted it.  Karen tasted it.  And we were ready to put it on anything that went into our mouths.

Neither of us were particularly fond of the English ‘tea and milk’, or coffee with milk. So we used clotted cream in our coffee when we could get our hands on it.

We smothered our scones with clotted cream. We added it to the little ‘tea sandwiches’. We dreamed of clotted cream.

I asked the host at the Bath Bun exactly what Clotted Cream was: Cream from Devonshire cows that was heated till it clotted.  It looked like velvety soft cream cheese and tasted heavenly.

She Finds Her Coffee Mug, He Finds His Book

The Pulteney Bridge over the River Avon

My favorite take home souvenir is a coffee mug.  I started scouting out the coffee mugs the minute we arrived in Bath.  On this day, Sunday, I saw the mug.  Circled with pictures of Bath monuments, just the right size, my coffee tastes marvellous.  All I’m missing is the clotted cream!

When Karen’s class ended, we roamed the city together. Crossed the Pulteney Bridge daily, enjoyed the view down the River Avon. Met our guide to the Cleveland Pools under The Big Tree, and enjoyed a great walk to the pools.  Found another tearoom to enjoy, another great restaurant, soaked up the historic city and decided that

We will return to Bath one day….

Seniors Visit The Roman Baths

I’m one of those who would love to travel back in time for a day…or two. These seniors visited the Roman Baths in Bath, England.

Listening to the guided information plus using our imagination was perhaps a bit like walking back in time, back 2,000 years when the Romans built and used one of the finest spas of the ancient world. To reach the level of the Roman Baths , required descending 4 meters below the current street level.

With the use of audioguides, we followed the path through the extensive Roman ruins, listening to the story and marveling at the site. It was amazing to learn that the hot thermal waters continue to flow just as they did 2000 years ago.

Seniors Walk To The Royal Crescent

Another walk back in time for these seniors would be to meet Beau Nash, the man called Bath’s ‘Master of Ceremonies’ in the 1700′s.

As we were told on our walk to The Royal Crescent this man single handedly determined who could stop and stay in Bath and who had to move on, thereby creating an aristocratic destination for the wealthy of England.

The next walk back in time would be to Number 1 Royal Crescent, during the 19 years that Henry Sanford occupied it. The Royal Crescent was built, we were told, by Bath businessmen to rent to the wealthy English who came for a season to gamble, to play and to display their wealth.  “Bath became the Las Vegas of England in the mid 1700′s” we were told.

Number 1 Royal Crescent was recently restored to it’s former beauty and grandeur and we found ourselves glued to the story told by the guides in each room of the house.

Jane Austin, 17th Century Condos And Bath Stone

The Circus is a circle of Georgian buildings, beautifully designed.  We were awed by the continuity of the stone in Bath…it’s all the same soft yellowish color.

In the center of the Circus are 5 or 6 very old, very big trees.  And on top of the circle of buildings is chimney after chimney after chimney. Then down Gay Street sits The Royal Crescent…a row of 18th century condos, all uniquely connected, forming a crescent shape.

One very interesting fact: the front of these amazing buildings is uniform and beautifully designed by the architect.  However, the back of the buildings was finished by someone else…anyone else…and any which way!

Royal Crescent Hotel Garden and jeb

The Royal Crescent Hotel allowed us to walk through to the gardens behind.  This grand hotel occupies a part of the Royal Crescent and is truly elegant.

I was expecting to see where Jane Austin lived when we stopped at that museum. Her family home was actually across town.  A stop in a local pub for tea for me and a beer for jeb concluded our day.

to be continued…

jeannine

These Seniors Fell In Love With Bath

These seniors had the sheer pleasure of accompanying our daughter to England for a two day class she participated in outside the beautiful, historical, intriguing city of Bath. While she was ‘in class’, her parents walked the streets of England’s only World Heritage City.

We settled ourselves into Henrietta House’s Garden Suite, a lovely, charming and totally comfortable Bed and Breakfast. Then we headed off for the afternoon at the Thermae Spa. With two large baths to choose between, one indoors and the other out, plus 4 steam rooms each with different aromas we kept ourselves moving between the steam rooms and the water.

My favorites were the Eucalyptus Steam Room and the Lemon and Ginger Steam Room It was the perfect way to balance the activity and stress of the first two days in London, jet lag and a not particularly comfortable hotel room.

These Seniors Love The English Countryside

The ride to Bath on the Express train was enjoyable. For this senior, it was the first return to England after about 45 years and coming from the Arizona desert, the green and lush of the English countryside was pure delight to our eyes.

We discovered Bath to be a walking city filled with tearooms, coffee shops, very old, historic buildings, a beautiful Abbey, church spires, restaurants and more restaurants all with the River Avon running through it.  Young people, elderly, a medieval city restored, history and more history, oozing charm and beauty and very friendly, helpful residents.

I was especially enamored with names and chimneys: Quiet Street, Gay Street, Corn Street, Stall Street, Jolly’s, Slug & Lettuce, Pig & Fiddle, Vinegar Hill.  And the rows and rows of chimneys.

Tea Time And Dinner Time

Karen and her dad

We could make ‘Tea Time’ any time of the day.  And our first “Tea” was at Jolly’s….we found it in the back of a department store. This senior had never experienced an  English Tea. Not only the tea, but everything that went with it…oh my…little sandwiches and sweets.

For whatever reason, it didn’t interfere with our dinner that evening, well at least not completely. Our hosts at the Henrietta House suggested we go to Clayton’s Kitchen for dinner, and we were not disappointed. jeb ordered guinea fowl and Karen and I each dined on a salad: roasted goat cheese over squash and greens and for Karen, beet, feta salad.

Of course we walked everywhere, entranced with the history, the architecture, the cobblestone streets, the chimneys, the big, old Plane trees, the old historic buildings. The tearooms, the coffee shops, and the restaurants.  The museums, the Roman Baths, the Abbey. And friendly, helpful residents.

…to be continued,

jeannine

Seniors Stop At “The Rendezvous City”

Riverton “The Rendezvous City” is a community of around 11,000, where, senior travelers will find that four rivers join together. The town was built on land ceded from the Wind River Reservation in 1906.

Riverton was established in 1906 and was originally served by the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad, and thus became its supplier of railroad ties in 1914.

Senior visitors can enjoy the Pioneer Association Museum of the American West and the Fremont County Pioneer Museum in Riverton. The Riverton Museum and Wind River Heritage Center provide insights into the area’s history. Riverton hosts the Wild West Winter Carnival every February.

Seniors Enjoy A Ghost Town

RIverton, Wyoming is highly scenic and senior visitors will find Sinks Canyon State Park and South Pass City State Historic Site worth a visit. South Pass City is a historic stop about ten miles north of the Oregon Trail and once was a bustling gold mining camp.

Today it is one of the best known ghost towns in Wyoming. It is also one of the most authentic old settlements in the American Old West. Situated in a small valley along the banks of Willow Creek on the southeastern end of the Wind River Mountains, South Pass City got its start in the summer of 1867 when gold was discovered in the Wind River Mountains by a group of Mormon prospectors.

Toss in your hiking boots and tackle Rails to Trails used for biking, walking and jogging. The trail cuts through town along the old railroad right-of-way. Down the trail you will note multiple monuments and historical markers as well as plenty of wildlife and a variety of hearty plants and beautiful native flowers.

Seniors Find The 1838 Rendezvous Site

I’d want to be sure and shoot some photos of The 1838 Rendezvous Site. It served as a gathering and trading place for legendary mountain men such as Jim Bridger, William Sublette, Kit Carson and Jedediah Smith. It is still used today and is the only rendezvous site that remains at the original location. Central Wyoming College is located in Riverton and the campus is worth a visit.

The Riverton Chamber of Commerce sponsors a Buffalo Barbecue. The folks in Riverton know how to put on a great parade.  And then there is the Balloon Day in Riverton. Are up for a balloon ride? Coward Jim is still considering…

Seniors can enjoy hunting, fishing, hiking and rock climbing in the Riverton area. Check out these fun times plus many more including hot air balloon rides.

Remember the “Marlboro Man?” That was Darrell Winfield who called Riverton home. Astronaut John Bennett Herrington, Lance Deal, a four-time Olympic hammer thrower and Brett Newlin an Olympic rower were also from Riverton. Enjoy Riverton folks. -jeb

Seniors Explore Weehawken

Another one of those city names that draws my attention for a travel blog. Just wrote one on Chowchilla, California and now we  seniors are off to explore another, Weehawken , New Jersey. This township in Hudson County has a population of around 14,000.

The name Weehawken is generally considered to have evolved from the Algonquian language Lenape spoken by the Hackensack and Tappan.

It has variously been interpreted as “maize land”, “place of gulls”, “rocks that look like trees” , which would refer to the Palisades, atop which most of the town sits, or “at the end” , among other suggested translations, so take your pick.

Weehawken was formed as a township by an act of the New Jersey Legislature, on March 15, 1859, from portions of Hoboken and North Bergen. The township’s written history began in 1609, when Henry Hudson, on his third voyage to the New World, sailed down what was later named the North River on the Half Moon and weighed anchor in Weehawken Cove. Enjoy this drone flyover of Weehawken.

Seniors Learn Of NoHu

Weehawken is part of the New York metropolitan area. Situated on the western shore of the Hudson River, along the southern end of the New Jersey Palisades across from Midtown Manhattan, it is the location of the western terminus of the Lincoln Tunnel.

Weehawken is one of the towns that comprise North Hudson, sometimes called NoHu in the artistic community. Senior visitors enjoy the Ferry Connection ride from Midtown NY to Weehawken.

Hamilton Park is an area that senior visitors can enjoy with its grassy areas, floral gardens, benches, summer concerts and awesome NYC skyline views from waterside cliffs. Boulevard East is well known and consists of a mostly two lane, scenic thoroughfare in the North Hudson, New Jersey municipalities of Weehawken, West New York, Guttenberg and North Bergen.

Seniors Enjoy Dinner Cruise

On your visit to Weehawken, seniors, spend leisurely time at the Weehawken Waterfront Park. Weehawken  is home to several historical sites like Sybil’s Cave, the oldest manmade structure in Hoboken, created in 1832,  the Weehawken Water Tower and the Hudson and Manhattan Railroad Powerhouse.

TripAdvisor suggests a Spirit of New York & New Jersey Dinner Cruise where one can enjoy the best views of Manhattan and New Jersey’s Hudson shoreline. It departs from both Chelsea Piers in New York and Lincoln Harbor in Weehawken. Not upscale enough…then seek out Vista Yacht Cruises at Lincoln Harbor Yacht Club in Weehawken that specialize in all kinds of special events.

The boulder on which Alexander Hamilton laid his head as he died can still be visited on New Jersey coast at the Weehawken Dueling Grounds. Seniors, set your GPS for Weehawken and explore all the amenities available. It will prove to be an exciting adventure. -jeb

Seniors Are Drawn to Milford

Senior travelers discover Milford, a town in Hillsborough County in southern New Hampshire, on the Souhegan River, that has a population just over 15,000. It is the retail and manufacturing center of a six-town area known informally as the Souhegan Valley.

Like most towns named Milford in the United States, its name comes from the fact that it grew around a mill built on a ford – in this case on the Souhegan River. The town is known for its “Pumpkin Festival” which is normally held in early October.

The festival is held over a 3-day weekend (Friday-Sunday) and attracts more than 35,000 people. The festival has many attractions including: food vendors, music stages, craft fair, carved Pumpkin lighting, a haunted Trail, a Beer and Wine Tasting and a fireworks display around the Oval.

Here is a neat live camera of the Oval and you will soon note why it is called the “Oval.”

Seniors Enjoy ‘The Granite Town’

Milford was once home to numerous granite quarries, which produced a stone that was used, among other things, to make the pillars for the U.S. Treasury in Washington, D.C.—pillars that can still be seen on the American $10 bill. Its nickname remains “The Granite Town,” although only one small quarry is in operation as of 2007.

Like many New England riverside towns, Milford, established in 1794, developed several thriving textile mills in the 19th century. That industry left New England by World War II, but Milford remains the commercial and retail center for surrounding towns.

Despite the town’s strong economic base, it manages to keep a small-town New England flavor. Officially designated Union Square, the Milford Oval is neither square nor oval in shape, but rather triangular. The Oval is the town center, with the Pillsbury Bandstand as its centerpiece and the Souhegan River as backdrop.

Seniors Find Fruit Farm And Goats

TripAdvisor suggests senior visitors start your visit with the Monson Center. Me, I’d definitely want to stop by Butternut Farm on Federal Hill Road to check out all their goats.

Actually, it is a family run, family oriented, pick your own fruit farm where you can purchase fruit trees and where you will find a goat dairy. I love goats. They are such unique animals.

Milford is also home to the Milford State Fish Hatchery. And schools and colleges… Milford is within easy commuting distance to  Nashua Community College, Saint Anselm College, University of New Hampshire at Manchester, Daniel Webster College, Manchester Community Technical College, Southern New Hampshire University and Franklin Pierce University, so take your pick.

Seniors, if you are history buffs, check out the The Carey House, home of the Milford, New Hampshire Historical Society. So set your sites on Milford and enjoy all the amenities that the town has to offer. -jeb

Seniors Spend Time In Historic Bardstown

Bardstown was named the ‘Most Beautiful Small Town in America’ by the Rand McNally. Senior travelers will find picturesque Bardstown in the heart of Kentucky’s Bluegrass Region. Bardstown is the second oldest city in Kentucky and is home to Federal Hill, the inspiration for the state song, “My Old Kentucky Home.”

Known as the ‘Bourbon Capital of the World’, Bardstown has the art of distilling the tipple down to a fine art, with some local distilleries dating back as far as 1776 and celebrates this history each September with the annual Kentucky Bourbon Festival. Bardstown is to bourbon what Napa Valley is to wine.

My Old Kentucky State Park hosts The Stephen Foster Story, a Broadway-style musical about the ‘American father of music’ and composer of Kentucky’s state anthem. Bardstown’s downtown is a mix of historic buildings, eclectic boutiques and great restaurants.

Seniors Visit Historic Places

With a population of 13,000, Bardstown is the county seat of Nelson County. This historic town was  named for the pioneering Bard brothers David and William, having a 1,000-acre land grant from Patrick Henry, then governor of Virginia.

More than 300 buildings in Nelson County are on the National Register of Historic Places; nearly 200 of them are in the historic downtown district. Trip Advisor suggests senior visitors check out the local distilleries, taking one of the Historical and Heritage Tours, and then visit the Bardstown/Nelson County Historical Museum.

Many senior visitors head right for Old Bardstown Village, a recreation of a 1790 frontier community, home to settlers exploring the west. Eight original and authentic log cabins, each 150-200 years old, highlight a creek that runs through the grounds and supplies power to Brown’s Grist Mill.

Seniors Enjoy Bourbon Capital

Bourbon immersion: Bourbon Capital of the World . Official Trailhead of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. Heaven Hill, Maker’s Mark, Jim Beam, Barton 1792, Willett Distillery. Bourbon-themed Bourbon Manor Bed & Breakfast inn, cafe, spa and Bourbon Bar. Kentucky Bourbon Marketplace. Oscar Getz Museum of Whiskey History. Menus offering bourbons by the hundreds (Kreso’s-140, Rickhouse-120, Bourbon City Bistro-120) and home of the Kentucky Bourbon Festival.

I found it of interest that the discovery of Bourbon in 1789 is attributed to Baptist minister Elijah Craig. At any given time, Kentucky has more barrels of bourbon aging than people – some 5 million to its 4.2 million population.

Senior travelers, plan a stop in Bardstown. With ten hotels and a variety bed and breakfasts, accommodations are not lacking.  Enjoy the Old Talbott Tavern, which began operating in 1779, or experience a night in jail at the Jailer’s Inn. Try to top that one! -jeb