Seniors Discover The Wonders Of Baja California

I had the pleasure of visiting the Baja with family to celebrate my father-in-law’s 75th birthday. We traveled all the way to the end to Cabo San Lucas. Senior friends, get your coffee and let’s head south to Baja California.

The peninsula is known colloquially as Baja by American and Canadian tourists, and is renowned for its natural beauty and pristine environment.

Britannica notes that Baja California, also called Baja California Norte, is bounded to the north by the United States (California and Arizona), to the east by the state of Sonora and the Gulf of California (Sea of Cortez), to the west by the Pacific Ocean, and to the south by the state of Baja California Sur.

Its capital city, Mexicali, lies on the U.S.-Mexico border, opposite Calexico, California. Visitors will discover a miraculous sea, teeming with life, ringed by desert islands alive with awesome wilderness. Giant cactus, a rich array of flora and fauna, and huge wind-scaled sand dunes dot the environment. Fodor’s will give seniors 5 good reasons to consider Baja California for your next vacation.

Seniors Watch Whales

Baja draws ecotourists who go whale watching for migrating California Gray Whales as well as senior tourists that arrive to the Baja California Gold Coast and resorts on the southern tip of the Peninsula.

Its location between the North Pacific and Gulf of California give it a reputation for good sports fishing, that we tried without much success. Hooked into a nice Black Marlin, but he managed to get free. Senior visitors can enjoy a cruise with National Geographic twin ships: Sea Bird and Sea Lion, to explore the Sea of Cortez.

The landscape off Baja California spans mountains and beaches on the Pacific Ocean and Gulf of California. Towns near the U.S. border include Tijuana, famous as a nightlife and shopping destination, and Tecate, known for the large Tecate beer brewery and a renowned spa, Rancho La Puerta.

Senior Visitors Enjoy A Sparsely Populated Place

The province of The Californias was united until 1804, in the Spanish colonial Viceroyalty of New Spain, when it was divided into Alta (upper) and Baja (lower) California. So that’s how it got its name. LonelyPlanet notes that Baja is famed for its sun-washed beaches.

“Baja California was somewhere I’ve always wanted to visit,” filmmaker Joshua Cowan says. He hung out in hot springs, surfed on deserted, world-class beaches, went fishing in the bright blue waters off the coast, and trekked the peninsula’s jungles.

According to TripAdvisor , senior visitors will also find plenty to see and do, 427 to be precise. The Baja California is wild and sparsely populated and the two coasts vary a great deal. They are separated by rugged mountain ranges and desert vistas. Senior friends, let’s put our coffee down and go visit with our travel agents! -jeb

Senior Single Men Seek Travel Tours

USA Today recently wrote that Seniors who love to travel have many options for exploring the world, even by themselves. Several companies offer trips geared toward senior single travelers.

Special features like a slower pace, tours that aren’t too physically taxing, and social gatherings like nightly dinners and dances with other tourists near the same age make the tour attractive to senior single men.

From Mediterranean cruises to escorted treks through South America, travel opportunities for single seniors cover a broad range.

Senior single men, Vacations To Go offers a cruise for singles. Each year, they  select several itineraries in different regions of the world, on various cruise ships, and negotiate an extremely low rate for single customers.

Trained hosts from their headquarters organize get-togethers, cocktail parties, dinner seating and more, allowing individuals or friends to travel as part of a large and fun-loving group of singles.

Senior Single Men Enjoy Road Scholar

Road Scholar is a premier program with many solo travelers. I have had the pleasure of serving as a Tour Group Leader with this organization and they are first class. They are trusted and well known for offering a warm and welcoming atmosphere for couples and solo participants alike. The atmosphere you’ll find is of learning in the company of a small group of individual friends, rather than traveling with a collection of couples.

If you are single and over 50, traveling by yourself may seem daunting. If Cancun was the go-to destination when you were 20, it may not be your scene anymore.

At Stitch , they have scoured the globe for the 5 best travel destinations for singles over 50 that will give you the best opportunity to enjoy your travel.

Tips For Senior Solo Travel

Allianz features 11 Secrets for Successful Senior Singles Trave l. Looking for a travel companion who shares your love of river cruising, fine wine and Paris flea markets? Look in the mirror. Traveling solo might seem daunting, but it’s easier — and more rewarding — than you think. These 11 tips for senior singles travel can help you create the perfect solo vacation.

About Travel has an article called Tours and Cruises for Single Seniors . They list several companies and organizations that provide single seniors tour information. This is one of the best sites I have found that addresses the topic and provides so much help. So “O Solo Mio” and get going.

Lastly, Fodor’s has a link on Single Senior Citizen Travel with comments made by single folks who experienced solo travel. This blog is simply a step in helping you to make some choices on your own.

Talk with your travel agent who is experienced in travel for those who prefer to travel alone, but not be alone on the trip. Enjoy making your plans, and better yet, enjoy your solo adventure wherever you choose to go. -jeb

Senior Women Enjoy Travel Options

We are often asked about programs that feature senior women who can travel with other senior women. Yes there are programs all over the world that cater to solo female travelers. Sorry men, this one is just for the women.

There is often comfort afforded to women who prefer to travel with other women and usually it is of the same age range.  Today we highlight programs that focus on travel for women as the French say “d’un certain age.” That is a nice way of saying “older.”

Journey Woman notes that if you’re an older adventuress, this is an absolutely wonderful time in your life to be traveling. In most cultures, age brings respect. Children will gravitate to you.

Local women will be protective, you’ll suffer less from pesky unsolicited male advances, and your travel budget absolutely expands with all the lovely discounts your age group is offered. The possibilities are endless. Take advantage, ladies. You’ve earned the right.

Senior Women Travel Solo Together

Women Traveling Together was started in 1997 by a 40-year old business woman who desperately wanted to do some vacation traveling, but didn’t want to go alone or travel as a single on a couple’s tour.  Unable to find a ready-made solution that met her needs, Debra Asberry spent seven months interviewing women in order to design a travel company that catered to the needs of women traveling solo.

Women Traveling Together (WTT) has a large and loyal repeat client base that has grown year after year since 1997, making it possible to offer more than 60 trips a year.   “80% of WTT travelers come solo. We really should have named the company “Women Traveling Solo Together” because that’s in a nutshell what we’re all about. Select your tour and be assured that fellow WTT travelers are as interested in and excited about the destination as you are.”

Senior Women’s Travel Days Not Over

Why travel alone when you can connect with like-minded women on a trip led by knowledgeable, local guides? At Rio Grande Travel , senior women can find thoughtful and well-planned vacation packages. Women can choose pre-planned trips alone, a travel group for senior women or perhaps embark on a journey with a bunch of friends!

A while back we featured a travel blog for Senior Women . Please check out the programs on that site and learn about the various opportunities that are available.

Senior Women’s Travel focuses on trips for 50+ women with a passion for travel. “It was founded on the premise that your travel days are not over .

Senior women — widowed, divorced, or with a mate who no longer wants to travel — should still be able to travel with zest, comfortably and safely. No-hassle travel, everything is done for you. No single supplements, exciting destinations, culture, good food, and interesting companions.”

So take you pick ladies and enjoy the trip. -jeb

Seniors Explore The World

This senior was curious to find out the largest cities in the world by population and the largest countries by surface area. Get your coffee and let me show you what I discovered. I figured that China was the largest both by population and surface area. I was wrong, very wrong. What do you think the two or three top would be? I’ve been to three of the largest five cities.

Tokyo is far above New York Metro with 33,200,000. I remember trying to take a photo of Tokyo and found that it is impossible. NYC came in second with 17,800,000 and Seoul, Korea missed NYC by only 100,000 and Mexico City by 300,000. You can look these up yourself and many are surprising, at least it was to me. Bombay (Mumbai), Calcutta (Kolkata), Delhi and Chennai are huge in India.

Now let’s consider the largest countries by total population. China, right. And who follows by only 100 million? Yes, India. But did you know that the USA ranks third just ahead of Indonesia and Brazil.

Seniors Explore The World Some More

So, how are you doing? Now let’s explore the largest in size by area. Any ideas? China? They came in #4 behind Russia, Canada and the USA. Any idea of #5 or #6? Try Brazil and then Australia. They have a lot of land and like Russia, Canada and China, lots of the area is unused and desolate. Not so with the USA.

Russia encompasses 17,075,200 sq. km. Seniors, do you know how much a kilometer is? Well, it is 0.621371 miles and 1 mile equals 1.60934 kilometers. Voila, there you have it, that really helps a lot, doesn’t it? Canada has about half as much land as Russia with 9,994,670 sq. km. I always wonder who is able to figure out those stats right down to the last kilometer . Just 9.7% of the land of Canada is privately held and of course Russi has Siberia.

Seniors Explore The World Even More

Well, perhaps you are totally bored with all those figures by now. I will depart today’s blog with one last piece of information for those seniors among you who are still reading this article. Curious what the largest bodies of water in the world are?

As you may already know, the Earth is often referred to as the “blue planet.” This particular nickname was given due to the immense volume of water covering the surface of our planet; more specifically, 70% of the Earth is covered by water, making up  326,000,000,000,000,000,000 gallons. Now who did that calculation?

The Pacific Ocean is not only the largest body of water, but it is also the oldest. I’ll let you go figure that one out… I had no idea.  See you back at seniorcitizen.travel tomorrow. Ciao. Au revoir. Auf  Weidershehen. Arrivederci. Aloha. Adiós. Sayonara. Shalom. Totsiens. Vale and Zàijiàn. -jeb

Seniors Enjoy San Luis Potosí

I have been all over Mexico, but not to San Luis Potosí, commonly called SLP or simply San Luis. This capital city in the Mexican state of San Luis Potosí is home to over 722,000 inhabitants. Seniors, get your coffee, we’re off to Mexico today to a Bucket List city.

San Luis Potosí, which has some of the richest silver mines in Mexico, is also where Gonzales Bocanegra wrote the Mexican national anthem in 1854. The state, San Luis Potosi, is a glorious secret for senior outdoor adventurers, encompassing territory as diverse as rainforest and high desert and scored by hundreds of majestic mountains.

Located in North-Central Mexico, the state is bordered by 9 other Mexican states, making it the state with the most borders with other neighboring states. The mean elevation is about 6,000 ft ensuring a temperate climate for the most part.

TripAdvisor notes three dozen things that senior visitors can see and do, starting off with the Huasteca Potosina and the beautiful Cathedral. Me I’d want to be sure to take in a site called the Cave of Swallows (Sotano De las Golondrinas).

Seniors Find Colonial Charm

The city is full of “Colonial Charm,” but then Mexico has that in all four corners. Historically, while scant information exists on the state’s pre-Hispanic era, the Huastecos, Chichimecas and Guachichile Indians are believed to have inhabited the lands that now comprise San Luis Potosí as far back as 10,000 B.C.

The grand old dame of colonial cities, San Luis Potosí was once a revolutionary hotbed, an important mining town and seat of government to boot. Today the city has maintained its poise as the prosperous state capital, orderly industrial center and university seat.

The city’s colonial core is made up of numerous plazas and manicured parks that are linked by attractive pedestrian streets. Although not as striking as Zacatecas or Guanajuato, this lively city’s cultural elegance is reflected in its delightful colonial buildings, impressive theater and numerous excellent museums. I am good at wandering, ask my wife…how about you?

Seniors Enjoy Big, Awesome Architecture

From El Mirador, a famous waterfall, Tangamanga Park and great museums, I’d want to be sure to wander around the Historic Downtown area starting in Founders Square that dates back to 1592. Don’t miss the Water Tank, a neoclassical monument quarry.

San Luis Potosí is synonymous with big and awesome architecture. Many buildings are made of quarry in Baroque style that contrasts with the lordly and elegant neoclassic style prevalent in the city as well as in the local architecture of the houses with their characteristic facades and the large, iron window frames.

Senior travelers, enjoy the many amenities of this awesome Mexican city. -jeb

Seniors Visit Querétaro

Although I taught French for over 35 years, I truly love Spanish, Mexico and Mexicans. I have had the good fortune to travel to Europe over 30 times and to Mexico a dozen times. This senior enjoys exploring Mexico, its cities, its people, its history, its culture and its food.

I was reading the various news sources on my phone this morning and up came Querétaro.  That’s an area that I am not acquainted with. I’ve been close by, but never there. I learned lots by putting this blog together, enough that its on my own travel bucket list .

Querétaro is the fastest-growing city in Mexico, basing its economy to IT and data centers, logistics services, aircraft manufacturing and maintenance, call centers and manufacturing center for automotive and machinery industry, chemicals and food products.

Seniors Find Large City In A Small State

Querétaro is a small state in north-central Mexico, however the city is huge with a population of nearly 2 million inhabitants. The historic center of its capital, Santiago de Querétaro, has fountain-filled squares and stone streets lined with bougainvillea.

Its wealth of Spanish colonial architecture includes churches such as the ochre San Francisco and the baroque Santa Rosa de Viterbo. One of the most distinct sites is called Los Arcos, an aqueduct with 74 pink stone arches.

Querétaro has an interesting ethnic and cultural heritage that has developed from the integration of pre-Hispanic and European customs.

UNESCO, that selects World Heritage Sites, notes that the old colonial town of Querétaro is unusual in having retained the geometric street plan of the Spanish conquerors side by side with the twisting alleys of the Indian quarters.

Seniors Find The Safest City In Mexico

I learned recently that Querétaro has repeatedly been recognized as the metro area with the best quality of life and as the safest city in Mexico, a significant fact for seniors planning their travel to Mexico.

It is also the most dynamic in all of Latin America and is experiencing an ongoing social and economic revitalization. The city’s full name is “ Santiago de Queretaro “ , and although it’s spelled out fully on the doors of every taxi in the city, none of the locals use the full name in polite conversation.

The region of Querétaro has a rapidly growing vineyards agriculture and it hosts the famous wine producer from Spain called Freixene. The wine production in Querétaro is now the second largest in Mexico after the Baja California region.

Enjoy this hub of culture and all the city has to offer. -jeb

Seniors Enjoy Cozumel

Cozumel is on this senior’s travel bucket list. Get your coffee and let’s see why.  I have been close to Cozumel, having spent time on the Riviera Maya and Cancun, the island is close by.

Cozumel (pop. 100,000), a mostly undeveloped Mexican island in the Caribbean Sea, is a popular cruise ship port of call famed for its scuba diving.

Cozumel dates back to 300 A.D. when the first Mayans settled on the island. At Arrecifes de Cozumel National Park, divers can explore a section of the Mesoamerican Reef and Museo Subacuático de Arte’s submerged sculptures.

Chankanaab is an eco park surrounding a lagoon with underwater caverns, home to dolphins, manatees and sea turtles. Cozumel’s largest city and capital is San Miguel de Cozumel (pop. 77,236).

Seniors Find ‘Heaven On Earth’

Folks who have been there call it “ Heaven on Earth .” Seniors, perhaps it’s time to put Isla Cozumel on your bucket list.

Loaded with history at every turn, there is something exciting to discover and explore, beginning with the majestic archeological site in San Gervasio dating back to 800-1000 AD.

Over two million visitors come to the island each year, making it one of the most important tourist destinations in all of Mexico. Many arrive to dive, snorkel and enjoy long days of Mexican sunshine.

Cozumel is home to the largest reef system in the Americas, the Mesoamerican Reef. Teeming with hundreds of varieties tropical fish, turtles and other colorful sea life, it is truly a diver’s dream.

The underwater world around Cozumel was discovered by Jacques Cousteau in 1959 who called it one of the best diving areas in the world.

Seniors Enjoy More Than Water Sports

However, there is more to Cozumel than just water sports . Fine dining, shopping and soaking up the sun rank a close second. US News Travel suggest that senior hikers take a trip through the Punta Sur Ecological Park. The Atlantis Submarine Adventure looks like something my wife and I would enjoy.

The name Cozumel was derived from the Mayan “Cuzamil” or “Ah Cuzamil Peten” in full, which means the island of swallows. Fodor’s notes that the Isla is not another Cancún yet, but Cozumel’s days as a rustic divers’ hangout are history.

It’s rare to find such stunning natural beauty, glass-clear aquamarine seas, and vast marine life combined with top-flight visitor services and accommodations, and as a result Cozumel’s devotees are legion. -jeb

Seniors Stop In Colorful Tonalá

I discovered a family heirloom yesterday, an ashtray. I turned it over to discover that someone brought it home from Tonalá, Mexico. This senior has been all over Mexico but have never heard of Tonalá… population of over 400,000. Tonalá is a city and municipality within the Guadalajara Metropolitan Area in the state of Jalisco in Mexico.

Seniors, come along with TripAdvisor and check out the world famous Tonalá Craft Market. Tonalá is best known as a major handcrafts center for Jalisco, in particular its pottery, as well as its very large Thursday and Sunday street market that is dedicated to handcrafts.

Seniors Find Ceramics Center In Tonalá

It is said that Tonalá is where the professionals shop for quality purchases. From the pre-Hispanic period, the “Tianguis” on Thursdays was the traditional meeting on the square of Tonalá.

Early ceramics in the area were rough and utilitarian, for such purposes as cooking, carrying water or storing seeds. Some of these were multicolored, but the decoration faded because the pieces were not fired after painting. Not so today. It is all quality and well done.

Tonalá has been a ceramics center since the  preHispanic period. The “municipal palace” or local government building is distinguished by its clock tower and arches, which are decorated in ceramic tiles in traditional motifs.

Fodors notes that among the region’s oldest pueblos in Mexico is bustling Tonalá, a unique place filled with artisan workshops small and large. Although it’s been swallowed by ever-expanding Guadalajara, Tonalá remains independent and industrious.

Tonalá, A Working Village

More geared to business than pleasure, Tonalá doesn’t have the folksy character of nearby Tlaquepaque. There’s a concentration of stores on Tonalá Avenue and Avenida de los Tonaltecas, the main street into town.

Many more shops and factories can be found spread throughout Tonalá’s narrow streets. And for what its worth, Fodors suggests that since the town has unusually long blocks, wear your most comfortable walking shoes.

Now part of the Guadalajara metropolitan area, it is a working village where senior visitors will find hundreds of craft workshops producing blown glass, forged iron, paper mache and rustic wooden furniture, as well as clay in a variety of techniques.

Industrious artisans go about their work, but seniors can also visit their studios. On Thursdays and Sundays in Tonalá, a huge street market extends over several blocks, with vendors offering all kinds of handcrafted items and novelties from throughout Mexico.

So when you are in Guadalajara, make a visit to this exciting city.  Put it on your travel bucket list like I have and enjoy. - jeb

Seniors Enjoy the Eden of Mexico

Holbox (pop. 1,600) is an island in the Mexican state of Quintana Roo, located 7 miles north of the Yucatán Peninsula. Senior travelers can find this island about 40 miles northwest of Cancun. Holbox Island is just 26 miles / 42 km long.

Holbox, called the “Eden of Mexico,” is separated from the mainland coast of Mexico by a shallow lagoon which gives sanctuary to thousands of flamingos, pelicans and other exotic birds and creatures. It is an ideal place for senior birders to enjoy spending a couple of days just enjoying the winged wonders of the island.

Holbox has several alternatives to enjoy nature, but the one that attracts most visitors is the experience of swimming with the impressive whale shark from June to September, an opportunity you can experience in very few parts of the world.

Seniors Discover One Of Mexico’s Well Kept Secrets

Isla Holbox is a well kept secret not known to many Mexicans outside of the Yucatan . The island was settled by pirates who intermarried with local Mayans living in the area. Incidentally for your information, Isla Holbox is pronounced i-la holebosh – “x” in Mayan is pronounced “sh”.

If you are like me and enjoy a tour of wherever you are before you go out to discover sites for yourself, check out the various tours available on Isla Holbox. A modern catamaran takes senior visitors to Holbox in just 15 minutes.

Holbox ( “black hole” in Yucatec Maya) is full of surprises. Both the land and the people are special, something to be explored at leisure and cherished. The locals of Holbox invite you to enjoy the natural beauty of their island.

Fishing, Birding and Whale Watching

Fishing remains a major draw for those of us who enjoy casting a line. For the more adventurous visitors, kiteboarding is lot of fun at Isla Holbox. The island is lined with seemingly endless beaches, tranquil waters and a galaxy of shells in various shapes and colors.

Lying within the Yum Balam reserve, Holbox is home to more than 150 species of birds, including roseate spoonbills, pelicans, herons, ibis and flamingos. In summer, whale sharks congregate nearby in unheard-of quantities. Once on site you will want to enjoy the Yalahau Lagoon. The La Odonata is a great place for enjoying the seafoods of the Caribbean.

The highlight of Isla Holbox is the annual migration of the whale shark, the largest fish in the world, an event that happens every summer in the Gulf of Mexico. Dolphin and whale watching is another fun activity. All transportation on the island is by golf-carts, motorbikes, bicycles and of course walking.

They say that it is hard to believe that a place like this could be so close to the megalithic tourist destination of Cancún and yet be a million miles away in attitude, natural beauty and environmental diversity and so loaded with “Island Life.” jeb

Seniors Drop  South to Todos Santos

Get your coffee and let’s head to one of “The Best Places to Visit in Mexico”… Todos Santos . Senior travelers will find  this small coastal town at the foothills of the Sierra de la Laguna Mountains, on the Pacific coast side of the Baja Sur Peninsula, about an hour’s drive north of Cabo San Lucas on Hwy 19.

Senior visitors discover handicraft shops, owner-operated art galleries, upscale restaurants, boutique hotels and restored colonial buildings. There are many beautiful beaches within a 15 minute drive of Todos Santos.

Todos Santos is called Pueblo Magico (magic city). Subterranean springs descending from Sierra La Laguna give birth to this oasis in the middle of a desert peninsula. That’s why mango, papaya, citrus fruits, sugarcane, and avocado are easily grown.

Seniors Visitors Charmed by the ‘Magic City’

In addition to its exuberant plant life, this Magical Town has other charms that it slowly reveals to senior visitors: the beauty of its nearby beaches (perfect for surfing), its arts community, small hotels with excellent service, and a surprising range of dining options.

January signals the start of many annual events and activities with the week long art festival. The rich cultural history of Mexico is celebrated with music, folk dancing and theaterical artists. The Todos Santos Music Festival adds music to the long list of artistic endeavors hosted in this Pueblo Magico.

Blessed with the most favorable climate in Baja Sur, Todos Santos is a haven for artists, craftsmen, surfers and travelers seeking adventure, natural beauty and a healthy lifestyle.

Rich history, centuries’ old traditions and warm hospitality blend with modern conveniences to make this a magical community.

There are some 20 art galleries on the narrow  streets, such as the Galeria Logan, Gabo, and the Faces of Mexico Ethnic Art Gallery, which features some of the area’s traditional masks.

Senior Tourists Enjoy Desert Oasis

Seniors will want to visit the Tortugueros Las Playitas Sea Turtle Conservation Project and spend some time on Playa Los Cerritos that draws in tourists from all over the country. The Ochre-Colored Church is also a major draw for visitors.

The historic Todos Santos Inn, a former hacienda, has been restored as a historic village inn. With its antiques, soaring beamed ceilings and courtyard gardens, the Todos Santos Inn evokes a bygone era. The nearby Playa Cerritos is a world of its own, with surf lessons, local artisans selling trinkets, massages on the beach, and horse-riding lessons.

Some would call Todos Santos one of the most appealing towns in all of Baja, maybe even all of Mexico. A quirky mix of locals, fishers, surfers and New Age spiritualists, the town of ‘All Saints’ has thus far escaped the rampant tourism of the other Cape towns, but still has all kinds of things to see and do.

Seniors, drop on down the Baja and enjoy a few days in Todos Santos. Looks like a fun place to me. -jeb