Seniors Head For “The Happiest CIty In California”

Santa Cruz is said to be the third happiest city in the nation. Well seniors, let’s head west and check out happy Santa Cruz. Hosting one of the last remaining seaside amusement parks on the West Coast or hiking seven miles inland to admire the redwood forest along with a top-notch farm-to-table cuisine, Santa Cruzans love their life and senior visitors do as well.

Situated on the northern part of Monterey Bay, the California city of Santa Cruz lies about 30 miles southwest of San Jose and 74 miles south of San Francisco.

Incorporated in 1866, the city is the seat for the County of Santa Cruz. The principal industries of Santa Cruz are tourism, agriculture, manufacturing, and education. The University of California at Santa Cruz is located in this city.

Seniors Are You Into Paddle Boarding

Santa Cruz was founded in 1769 by Spanish explorer Don Gaspar de Portola, who named the area after the Spanish name for “Holy Cross.” In the late 1800s, agriculture, logging, lime processing and commercial fishing were the thriving industries.

Local lore has it that Santa Cruz is the birthplace of mainland surfing. There is a plethora of other things to see and do without getting on a surfboard, for instance a paddle-board.  Have you ever done that?

Kayak Connection offers tours and hourly rentals. I saw photos of people paddling around with a dog riding on the board. In Santa Cruz, they say that  early morning solo paddle is surprisingly serene. On some days you might even see whales floating by.

Santa Cruz is famous for its beaches and for the sport of surfing. The Santa Cruz Surfing Museum, housed in the Mark Abbott Memorial Lighthouse, traces more than a century’s worth of surfing history associated with Santa Cruz. Museum visitors enjoy a spectacular view of the city and the Monterey Bay while overlooking the famed surfing site known as Steamer Lane.

Seniors Go From Beaches To Mountains

Santa Cruz seniors go from beach life to mountain life in only 20 minutes time. Roaring Camp Railroads is a narrow-gauge steam engine that invites tourists to chug through huge redwood trees that have been in place for hundreds of  years.

The Farmer’s Market has been in place for 27 years and is loaded with certified-organic growers. My wife and daughter would be drawn here with all the organic products . TripAdvisor suggests that senior visitors not miss the West Cliff Drive and then the Natural Bridges State Beach.

And for those with a demanding palate, we start off with SOIF…which means thirst in French. Chef Patrice Boyle is the former owner of a winery in California. This is a wine bar and restaurant with a shop that features fine wines from around the world.

How about some scratch-made organic ice cream from Penny Ice Creamery? Gayle Ortiz invites visitors to taste her gluten-free chocolate cookies. It is a great stop for the makings of a great picnic. I was impressed with her offering of silly-good deviled eggs.

I just might run into you in Santa Cruz, a great place for fun, food and taking in the crisp air along the Pacific Ocean. -jeb

Seniors Check Out Reynoldsburg

Reynolds burg, senior travelers learn, a city in Fairfield, Franklin, and Licking counties in the  state of Ohio, is a suburban community in the Columbus, Ohio metropolitan area with a population of nearly 36,000.

Originally called Frenchtown, Reynoldsburg was platted back in 1831 by John French, and named for him. The present name is for John C. Reynolds, a local merchant. A post office called Reynoldsburg was established in 1833, and the name was later changed to Reynoldsburg. The area started developing rapidly after the National Road was built.

For you salad lovers, the city is known as the birthplace of the tomato and it celebrates a fun annual summer festival dedicated to tomatoes. Reynoldsburg’s Tomato Festival features a host of activities, all revolving around the tomato.

Seniors Hike the Trails at Blacklick Woods

The area also has some interesting historical sites. The Alexander W. Livingston House is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The house was built in in 1864-1865 by Livingston, a horticulturist, who is world famous as the developer of the tomato into a stable commercial crop.

For me personally, I’d want to check out Smokey Bones Bar and Fire Grill, The Thirsty Turtle and spend some quality time in Blacklick Woods Metro Park. In addition to the golf courses, the park offers an extensive network of hiking and biking trails, picnic areas, and a nature center.

Before departing I would visit the Reynoldsburg Truro Historical Society, a group dedicated to promoting and preserving the local history. Senior visitors will find an interesting collection of tools, costumes, photos, household furniture, farm items and published materials relating to historic Reynoldsburg and Truro Township.

Seniors Enjoy Reynoldsburg’s Scottish Heritage

Also known as the Heritage Sports Complex, Huber Park is situated on 42 acres of land. The park includes a classic paved trail that can be used for biking or jogging.

Reynoldsburg has a very active Scottish American Society, which celebrates the city Scottish heritage year-round. The society’s main event of the year is the Reynoldsburg Tartan Day that highlights pipers, Scottish highland and country dancers, Scottish games, athletic demonstrations and weaponry displays.

Senior bikers, the Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum is nearby in a suburb called Pickerington where over 200 motorcyclists are enshrined into the Hall of Fame, one of the museum’s main galleries.

Senior travelers, plan a stop in Reynoldsburg when you are in the Columbus, Ohio area. A fun time awaits your visit. -jeb

Seniors Find Burlington/Skagit County Scenic

Burlington is a city in Skagit County, Washington with a population around 8,500. Dotted with hundreds of lakes and blessed with millions of acres of forest land, Skagit County has something for every senior sportsperson : fishing, hunting, hiking, camping, rock-hounding and even paragliding.

Originally, Burlington’s businesses were centered around Fairhaven Avenue. Today, Fairhaven Avenue is the center of Burlington’s old downtown, and provides a gathering place for the whole city during the annual summer Berry Dairy Days.

Fishing is a top attraction. “As one of the longest rivers on the West Coast, the Skagit River meanders from its headwaters high in Canada 150 miles to its delta just southwest of the world-famous tulip fields of the Skagit Valley.

Seniors Awed By The North Cascades

“In less than 35 minutes you can be in mountains, taking in the beautiful North Cascades. The North Cascades National Park Complex spans the Cascade Crest from the temperate rainforest of the wet west-side to the dry ponderosa pine ecosystem of the east.”

Burlington began as a logging camp, established by John P. Millett and William McKay, in 1882. It was officially incorporated on June 16, 1902. Today Burlington is locally famous for its proliferation of shopping malls and for having some of the best youth sports fields in Washington.

A short 35 minute drive from Burlington west on Highway 20 will bring you to scenic, historic and unforgettable Deception Pass State Park, a 4,134-acre marine and camping park with 77,000 feet of saltwater shoreline as well as 33,900 feet of freshwater shoreline on four lakes.

Senior Hiking/Biking Paradise

Seniors can enjoy a stop at the Trainwreck Bar and a visit to the Sakuma Brothers Farm. Then there’s Orca whale watching, white water rafting and kayaking through Deception Pass. Senior hikers and bikers can enjoy bicycling through the Valley or hiking one of the many trails in the national parks and forests. The views will take your breath away.

Senior visitors will love the Skagit Valley . The Skagit River system is home to many year-round resident Bald Eagles but each winter their numbers increase dramatically with the return of spawning salmon. In all, five different species of salmon return to the Skagit River to spawn, then die along the shores of the river. With such an abundance of food during these circle-of-life phenomena, eagles have found the Skagit to be an excellent fishing spot.

Then there’s Skagit Speedway, the premier motorsports facility in the northwest United States. Each year hundreds of thousands of fans of fixed-wing dirt track racing flock to the Speedway to enjoy an evening of exciting fun.

Hiking trails abound in the region and vary widely as far as difficulty. Senior hikers, try the flat Cascade Trail that follows an abandoned railroad line. So what are you waiting for senior travelers? Burlington sounds like a great destination area. -jeb

Seniors Enjoy A Top Destination In The US

Senior travelers, TripAdvisor recently listed the Top 25 Destinations in the US and up came Mount Desert (pronounced like dessert ) Island as #15. News to me as the others I had heard of and even have written blogs on several of them.

Mount Desert Island , is the largest island off the Down East coast of Maine, always referred to by the locals in Hancock County simply as “ The Island. ”

French explorer Samuel de Champlain’s observation that the summits of the island’s mountains were free of vegetation as seen from the sea led him to call the island “île des Monts Déserts” , or Island of the Bare Mountains .

There are four towns on Mount Desert Island with beautiful seashore views for visitors to enjoy. The Island is crowded with visitors during the summer months, but seniors can still find solitude by taking one the Island’s famed hiking trails. Shore Path is an enjoyable walk along the ocean next to Bar Harbor. Summer visitors discover that each of the villages has its own unique flavor and attractions.

Seniors Find Crown Jewel In Acadia National Park

Bar Harbor is the largest town, but Southwest Harbor and Bass Harbor on the southwestern end affords senior visitors with both a quieter and more affordable stay. Frenchman Bay, named for Samuel de Champlain, the French explorer who visited the area in 1604, is a popular aquatic scene.

Acadia National Park—one of the most popular parks in the United States—is Mount Desert Island’s crown jewel: some 40,000 acres of mountains, river valleys, glacial lakes, bluffs, and beaches. Mount Desert Island is rich in geological history dating back to approximately 550 million years.

The island has a year-round population of 10,500+, although it is roughly estimated that two and a half million tourists a year visit Acadia National Park.

Seniors May Run Into Some Notables

The island is home to numerous well-known summer colonies such as Northeast Harbor and Bar Harbor. A few of current notable summer residents include George Mitchell, Tim Robbins, David Rockefeller, Susan Sarandon, and Martha Stewart. Nature abounds as do scenic views in every direction.

Mount Desert Island has a rich history, established culture and thriving economy separate from Acadia National Park. The island has a  population that swells every summer.

Senior travelers will not want to miss the fantastic drive along the 27-mile Park Loop Road and then perhaps hike one of the great trails. Enjoy your time on Mount Desert Island. Perhaps I will see you there. -jeb

Seniors Find A Real Treasure

I rarely focus in on a county or country per se, but this exception pays off for senior visitors in Rhode Island. South County’s vacation appeal reaches to charming villages, rolling countryside, historic sites and hundreds of acres of woodlands.

Senior travelers will enjoy unlimited opportunities for hiking, canoeing, cycling, shopping and touring. History and culture are evident throughout South County as well.

Historic inns and bed & breakfast establishments offer senior visitors the opportunity to personally experience Colonial- and Victorian-era South County.

Regional history thrives at local museums like South County Museum, Gilbert Stuart Birthplace and Smith Castle, while summer stock theatre productions delight audiences at charming Theatre by the Sea.

Seniors Enjoy Cultural Hotspot

South County is long recognized as a cultural hotspot with its thriving arts scene. The numerous art galleries alone are a major draw for many tourists. Parks and recreation areas dot the landscape.

The Matunuk Oyster Bar would be high on my choices for a dining experience, learning about all the work the owner goes through to put oysters on the table in his Bar.

South County’s reputation for coastal beauty precedes itself.  With 100 miles of breathtaking coastline, the wide variety of beaches are the jewels in Southern Rhode Island’s crown. From tame, foot high, family friendly waves to pristine stretches of sand, South County is an ideal spot for seniors seeking rejuvenation.

Seniors Enjoy South County’s Villages

Historic downtown Westerly is another major draw along the coast. I would put the South County History Center on my bucket list as it is located at the Old Washington County Jail ( 1858-1861) in historic Kingston Village.

TripAdvisor offers 184 things for senior visitors to see and do. TripAdvisor further notes that South County is one of New England’s favorite vacation spots.

Whether you’re a thrill-seeker looking for adventure or you want a peaceful setting where you can simply relax and unwind, South County is the perfect vacation destination.

For you oenophiles, South County features some awesome vineyards. Scarborough, Misquamicut, Narragansett, Charlestown, and Matunuck beaches, offer open sand, some surfing, equipment rentals, and pavilions with plenty of summer food.

Senior travelers, you are welcome in South County, a place you can’t help but enjoy -jeb

Seniors Discover Devon, England

Devon , a county also referred to as Devonshire, in south west England, encompasses sandy beaches, fossil cliffs, medieval towns and moorland national parks. Senior travelers find themselves on the English Riviera, a series of picturesque, south-coast harbor towns including Torquay, Paignton and Brixham.

In case you were wondering, like me, the name Devon derives from the name of the Britons who inhabited the southwestern peninsula of Britain at the time of the Roman conquest. I also discovered that Devon may mean “defender” in reference to the Celtic inhabitants who fought off Anglo Saxon invaders during the dark ages.

Senior visitors will discover  the entire Devon area to be highly scenic with colorful fields, azure coasts, tall cliffs and historic buildings. Plymouth is the largest city in Devon with a population of 255,000.

This Senior Enjoys Clotted Cream

Devon’s area is 2,590 square miles and its population is just over one million. Despite its small Jewish population, Devon is known to contain two of Britain’s oldest synagogues.

The county has given its name to a number of culinary specialities. The Devonshire cream tea, involving scones, jam and clotted cream, is thought to have originated in Devon. My wife fell in love with clotted cream in Bath last year.

I write a lot of these travel blogs using TripAdviso r as a reference. This time I think they set a record, 1,171 things to see and do in Devon County. That’ll keep you busy for a long, long time.

The Jurassic Coast is famous for its many ammonite fossils. Senior fossil-lovers, clotted cream enthusiasts, scenic view proponents…set your sails for Devon.

Seniors Seek Out Rural Experience

“Devon is best known for cream teas and surf beaches, but a raft of openings are elevating the county’s image with rarefied takes on the rural experience. The elegant Lympstone Manor has been reimagined by eminent chef Michael Caines, who will reopen it in 2017 as a 21-room hotel and restaurant.

Design lovers can soon overnight at the Secular Retreat, a strikingly minimal property inspired by ecclesiastical architecture and designed by Peter Zumthor. And on the coast, the Art Deco Burgh Island Hotel has another groundbreaking design in the works: a suite that bridges the vertiginous gap between two rocky outcrops.” —Emily Mathieson

Senior travelers, enjoy all  that the county of Devon has to offer. Hope to see you there. -jeb

Seniors Discover Cookeville

Cookeville , with a population around 31,000, is the  seat of Putnam County and home to Tennessee Technological University, senior travelers to Tennessee learn.

The city was named in honor of Richard Fielding Cooke, a state senator. Many of the first settlers in what would become Putnam County came from Virginia and North Carolina via the Walton Road in the late 1700’s and the early 1800’s.

Most of these settlers were of English and Scotch-Irish descent.  Putnam County was named in honor of Israel Putnam, a general in the Revolutionary Army.

Seniors Find “Land of Lakes”

Known as the “Hub of the Upper Cumberlands,” approximately 25,000 people travel to Cookeville daily to work, shop, or attend school. Toss in your clubs and play a round or two at Cookeville Golf and Country Club or Belle Acres Golf Club. Cookeville hosts the Putnam County Fair every August, the Fall FunFest in September and an annual city fun for the Fourth of July .

Cookeville could be called “Land of Lakes” as there are three man-made lakes maintained by the Corps of Engineers located near Cookeville. They were created to help flood control in the narrow valleys of the Cumberland Plateau. Center Hill Lake, Cordell Hull Lake, and Dale Hollow Lake.

Two smaller man-made lakes, City Lake and Burgess Falls Lake, lie along the Falling Water River, which flows through the southeastern part of the county. Cane Creek Lake, created by an earthen dam built by the Civilian Conservation Corps, lies in the western part of Cookeville.

TripAdvisor has eighteen things for senior visitors to check out beginning with Cummins Falls State Park, the Cookeville Deport Museum and Dogwood Park.  Seniors, have you ever seen Dogwoods in full bloom? They are awesome, colorful and beautifully scented.

Seniors Find Great Outdoors

Seniors who are looking for a great place to keep in shape, Cookeville’s a natural. You will find hills, trails, caves, lakes and streams, with surroundings that invite hikers, cavers, bikers, climbers, spelunkers and horseback enthousiasts.

Manufacturing is the largest sector in Cookeville’s economy with over 100 plants and 8,000 employees. In 2006 Oreck Manufacturing, the vacuum people, moved their Long Beach, Mississippi plant to Cookeville after Hurricane Katrina. Facebook suggests places to eat, stay, and shop.

Cookeville, simply said…is a “Great Place to Be!” The City Square at night is a great place for some memorable photos. The city is recognized as the largest micropolitan area in Tennessee, making the small community a vibrant hub of activity.

Seniors, Cookeville, the hub of the 14-county Upper Cumberland region, is surrounded by stunning scenery, from hills, rivers, and waterfalls. So enjoy all that this area has to offer. -jeb

Seniors Are Attracted To France’s Dordogne Valley

The Dordogne Valley , a department in southwestern France, that senior travelers will find between the Loire Valley and the Pyrenees, is named after the great Dordogne river that runs through it. My travel hero Rick Steves takes on an exciting visit to the Dordogne River Valley.

There is so much for senior visitors to take in, like the Cabanas de Breuil, La Roque-Gageac, a member of the Les Plus Beaux Villages de France, canoeing on the Dordogne River, the famous prehistoric caves of Lascaux, the Château de Beynac and the capital city Périgueux.

The beautiful countryside lies in all directions and attracts visitors from all over the world. Foie gras is a luxury food product of this area, made of the liver of a duck or goose that has been specially fattened. I’d make a point to spend some quality time in Sarlat that is undoubtedly one of the most attractive and visited medieval cities in France.

Seniors Enjoy Medieval Jewel, “Sarlat”

The capital of the Black Périgord truffle, on the edge of the Quercy causses (limestone plateaus), Sarlat is a major tourist site, renowned for its large historical center containing countless buildings dating mainly from the medieval and early Renaissance period, 13th to 16th century. Over a million visitors discover or rediscover this medieval jewel every year.

I have lost count of the number of times I have visited France, somewhere  over three dozen, and this region has always fascinated me. There are more than 1,500 castles in Dordogne, making it “The Other Château Country”, meaning all those along the Loire Valley.

Forty eight parks and gardens allure gardeners like me to the area and some “grands étangs” (ponds) are teeming with birds and other wildlife. The Grotte at Lascaux II is an exquisite 39m-long replica museum of the renowned prehistoric cave paintings of animals, discovered in 1940. Lascaux is the most famous cave in the world.

Take Note Senior Bikers and Hikers

The Valley of the Dordogne developed because of the importance of the river as a transport route, and trade originally developed around the wood and leather industries.

The landscape consists of steep wooded hills climbing up both sides of the river valley, with small picturesque villages both in the valley itself, like Brivezac and Saulières and also nestling deep in the ‘side valleys’ for example, Neuville and Albussac.

The countryside is largely unspoiled with traditional houses and smallholdings to admire as you explore. It is a great place for senior bikers and hikers. The Dordogne is without doubt the most diverse region in France, and perhaps even all of Europe.

Beautiful medieval towns and villages, castles and forts are perched high above both the Dordogne and Vézère River. The Prehistoric Vézère Valley offering caves and cave art, help to make this area a popular destination.

Seniors, head your rental car to southwest France and the Dordogne Valley. Enjoy, do some research and planning and it will pay off big dividends.  -jeb

Seniors Can Enjoy The Hike

There are many possibilities for trekking tours in Greenland. The south of Greenland offers senior hikers a great variety in landscape from grasslands to glaciers, in the east the mountains are steeper and higher than other places on this great island, and the west is home to some of the world’s biggest glaciers and the unique Ilulissat ice fjord.

Greenland is a massive island and an autonomous Danish territory between the North Atlantic and Arctic oceans, with much of its land surface covered in ice. Most of its small population lives along the ice-free, fjord-lined coast, particularly in the southwest.

Its northerly position, largely above the Arctic Circle, offers natural phenomena such as summer’s midnight sun and winter’s northern lights. Greenland has the largest natural park in the world.

Seniors Discover The Greenland Ice Sheet

There are hiking trails for the long distance trekker and the casual day-hiker. Follow low elevation routes for a few hours and take in the Arctic ambience, or extend the trip a bit and hike from inland out to the coastline.

Join Arctic Caving Adventure on a day trip to the ice cap. Eat lunch in a landscape of white snow and ice. Experience the ever-moving and rugged frontier of ice and the amazing blaze of color in the ice chasms.

Some destinations in the world are home to the most active volcano or the largest coral reef, but Greenland has something of a totally different nature as its claim to fame – the Greenland Ice Sheet.

This coast-to-coast ice cap has almost single-handedly formed the world’s perceptions of this large northern country, and for the many populations who have lived in Greenland throughout the millennia, it has all but defined the entire way of life.

Seniors Discover The Greenland Destination

Mining, fishing and hunting have comprised most of the large island’s small economy for centuries. This Arctic country might be huge, but a trip to western Greenland can take in a breathtaking range of sights, from Disko Bay’s iceberg studded waters to valleys so vast you’ll feel like the last hiker on Earth.

Senior travelers to Greenland can visit three isolated villages with colorful houses, friendly people and howling sled dogs and spend the nights in the middle of the settlements.

Magnificent adventures lie at senior visitors feet. The words magnificent, unrivaled and unspoiled are common because that’s the way it is. Great expanses, green oases, small flowers, ice, modest and challenging ascents. What more could you wish for?

Senior adventurers, pack those hiking boots, some warm duds and visit with your travel agent for a great hiking experience in Greenland. There are many tours .  Who knows, maybe I just might run into you there. It’s on my travel bucket list. -jeb

Seniors Enjoy Time In Idyllwild

Idyllwild, Pine Cove, and Fern Valley (neat names huh?) are three adjacent unincorporated communities, of which Idyllwild is the largest. Seniors can find Idyllwild in the San Jacinto Mountains. Small as the town be, it overflows with things to see and do and scenic beauty in all directions.

Idyllwild has earned the designation as one of the 100 Best Small Art Towns in America. Idyllwild was also voted L.A.’s Best Mountain Getaway. The arts thrive in Idyllwild in the form of art, music, and theatre and they all draw in visitors from across the country and across the ages. Idyllwild is loaded with amenities and scenic beauty.

Senior visitors can enjoy the Mount San Jacinto State Park and Wilderness and the Idyllwild Nature Center . Trails and picnic areas surround this museum focusing on local ecology and Cahuilla Native culture. The Cahuilla are a California tribe, located in the center of Southern California. Most Cahuilla people still live in this area today.

Seniors Find Palms to Pines Scenic Byway

The summer concert series and the annual 5K and 10K race are highly popular. The International Festival of Cinema is another big draw. “Mile-high Idyllwild” is a popular southern California mountain resort about one mile (1.6 km) in altitude.

Idyllwild is flanked by two large rocks, Tahquitz Peak (with nearby Lily Rock) and Suicide Rock, which are famous in Southern California rock climbing circles.

One of Idyllwild’s attractions is that it offers all four seasons, yet in winter is only an hour’s drive down to the desert on the Palms to Pines Scenic Byway. This 67-mile route will take you from Palm Desert past snow-peaked mountains to Banning Pass.

Palms to Pines Scenic Byway offers a full variety of ecosystems in the Lower Sonoran region. From clusters of desert palms to high country conifer forests and snow-capped mountains, senior travelers can experience a contrast of ecosystems within a short distance. The hill” has been minimally developed over the years and remains a center for hiking, mountain and rock climbing, and horseback riding.

Seniors Find A Hiking Trail

There are numerous hiking trails seniors can enjoy, with the Devils Slide Trail being one of the most popular. The trail has previously been called “the backdoor to Idyllwild.”

Devil’s Slide Coast contains miles of trail varying from breezy boardwalk strolls and paved pathways to steep and challenging hikes. Hook up your bike and roll along dramatic cliffside trails catching great views. There are opportunities for all levels of cycling.

Idyllwild sits amid tall trees, welcomes artists of all genres and motorcyclists of all ages. The town monument is a wood carving of animals native to the area. Sounds neat doesn’t it! Yes, seniors, set your GPS for Idyllwild, California’s Natural Treasure. -jeb