Seniors Discover Ibiza Off The Coast Of Spain

Get your coffee, senior friends, we’re heading for Ibiza, one of the Balearic islands, off the east coast of Spain. This archipelago of Spain is found in the Mediterranean Sea, not far from Valencia.

Ibiza is where millions of folks enjoy the year-round climate and Ibiza Town and Sant Antoni is where the exciting and lively nightlife is found. Ibiza is home to quiet villages, yoga retreats and beaches, from Platja d’en Bossa, lined with hotels, bars and shops, to quieter sandy coves backed by pine-clad hills found all around the coast.

I would head off first to the beach of Talamanca with its calm and shallow bay on the south east coast. And I would not want to miss the magnificent cathedral constructed during the 13th and 14th centuries on the site of an ancient temple dedicated to Mercury.

Seniors Enjoy World Heritage Town

Ibiza Town (Eivissa) , a World Heritage Town, the capital and largest city on the island, is the port city overlooking the Mediterranean. Ibiza Town was founded by the Phoenicians 2600 year ago, and since then has been continually populated.

Although called Ibiza in English and Spanish, the official name is the Catalan Eivissa (as restored in 1986) and its inhabitants call it the Vila d’Eivissa or simply Vila (“Town”).

Sa Penya is the most distinctive neighborhood in Eivissa, where the cobweb of streets stretch out to the ancient walls of the city. This is where senior visitors congregate to please their palates, shop and inhale the spirit of Ibiza Town.

Seniors Are Charmed By The Island

The  nightlife is legendary, with world-class restaurants, a great selection of bars in the pretty Old Town and in trendy Marina Botafoch, and where the world-famous Pacha nightclub with the best DJs of the world play each night in summer. The island charms visitors all year long from nations around the globe.

Seniors will find a fine array of small boutiques, high-end fashion stores, specialty shops and a variety of novelties. Ibiza attracts an international crowd all year round and is known for celebrity spotting during the summer months.

Ibiza offers senior visitors museums, beaches, cruises along with Es Vedra, Dalt Vila and Cala Comte, as well as a host of holiday rental villas and luxury hotels. Wikitravel notes that Ibiza Town is full of character, heart, soul, spirit and history and is home to the amazing UNESCO World Heritage listed site Dalt Vila – a huge, walled fortress surrounding a cobbled street town.

So seniors, set your sails for Ibiza .  Read up on the plethora of amenities this exciting island offers. Many visitors enjoy biking around the island to get to know the terrain.  Enjoy you stay in Ibiza. -jeb

Seniors Head North To Ketchikan

Ketchikan , population 8,214, is an Alaskan city that senior travelers will find facing the Inside Passage, a popular cruise route along the state’s southeastern coast. It’s known for its many Native American totem poles, on display throughout the town.

Ketchikan is known as Alaska’s “first city” due to its location at the southern tip of the Inside Passage. This city, 689 miles northwest of Seattle, is the first city you reach as you cruise north, and for many visitors, their first introduction to the beauty and majesty of Alaska.

Nearby Misty Fiords National Monument is a glacier-carved wilderness that features snow capped mountains, waterfalls and salmon spawning streams. It’s also home to rich wildlife including black bears, wolves and bald eagles.

Seniors Like The Totem Poles

Its history goes back to 1885 when a fellow named Mike Martin purchased 160 acres of land from Chief Kyan, and this area later became the township of Ketchikan.

The Cape Fox Tlingits and Tongass used Ketchikan Creek as a fish camp. They called the area ‘kitschk-hin.’ The large resources of timber and fish attracted the non-natives to Ketchikan. In 1892, the Ketchikan Post Office was established. Seven canneries were in operation by 1936. Later on, several lumber mills opened in the city.

The living, artistic traditions of the Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian peoples gave rise to the original totem poles that are on display in The Totem Heritage Center. Senior visitors can enjoy the Ketchikan Public Library, the oldest continually-operating library in the State of Alaska, founded in 1901.

Seniors Enjoy Alaska’s First City

There are a good number of lakes like Fawn Lake and Scout Lake, where your chances of landing one are good, so toss in your best rod and reel. I’d want to visit the Tongass Historical Museum where seniors will learn the history of Alaska’s feisty “First City.” The Museum tells the authentic tale of Ketchikan as a Native fish camp, gold and copper mining center, fishing port, timber town, cannery site, transportation hub, and lively community.

Then there’s Dolly’s House – the only “den of iniquity” that still stands today at Number 24 Creek Street. Its green dollhouse appearance looks much like it did during its heyday. Inside you’ll find photos of Dolly, the cabbage rose wallpaper she favored, and you might even spot the “secret closet” in Dolly’s bedroom, where she stashed contraband liquor during the Prohibition years.

The 40 acre Alaska Rainforest Sanctuary, 8 miles from Ketchikan, has tall stands of spruce, hemlock and cedar trees with a forest floor saturated with mosses, wild flowers and a variety of berries.

Ketchikan , the fifth most populous city in the state, is truly the beginning of the last frontier. Set at the southernmost entrance to Alaska’s famed Inside Passage—a network of waterways that snake through some of the most jaw-droppingly beautiful wilderness in the world—Ketchikan is best known for three things: feisty salmon, idyllic scenery, and an incredibly rich Alaska Native culture.

Seniors, enjoy Ketchikan. -jeb

Seniors Head For Warm St. Barts

Seniors, let’s head for Saint Barthélemy, a French-speaking Caribbean island commonly known as St. Barts , and famous for its white-sand beaches and upscale designer boutiques. St. Barthélemy lies about 35 kilometers southeast of St. Martin and north of St. Kitts.

The capital, Gustavia, encircling a yacht-filled harbor, has many high-end restaurants and historical attractions like the Wall House Museum, whose exhibits highlight the island’s Swedish colonial era. Perched above Gustavia is 17th-century Fort Karl, looking out over popular Shell Beach.

St. Barts is an arid, volcanic rock of only 8 square miles fully encircled by shallow reefs where senior visitors will discover a variety of iguanas, night-blooming cactus, beaches and luxury yachts, designer boutiques and perhaps even several celebrities.

Seniors Enjoy Caribbean Dreamland

Inhabited primarily by the descendants of the original French settlers and transplanted Europeans, the island has a strong, independent personality. Frequent visitors who know the islands in the region say that St. Barts is the most unique and unusual of the various French West Indies islands.

As soon as you land at Gustave III Airport, seniors, you’ll find yourself transported into a dreamland, a far-away place without the constraints of everyday life. Both the airport and the island’s main town of Gustavia are named for King Gustav III of Sweden. Excellence, luxury, calmness, peaceful, serenity…the perfect adjectives to describe the island.

The Caribbean’s most elite, most expensive island lives up to its reputation as an adult sandbox, where the rich and famous gather. But St. Barts has charms that make it attractive to regular folk like you and me, from its uncrowded white-sand beaches to its distinctly Gallic flair.

Seniors Enjoy Beautiful Beaches

The tiny capital of Gustavia, with its gingerbread-trimmed cottages and top-notch designer shops, surrounds a yacht-filled harbor.

On the opposite side of the island, near the airport, St.-Jean is a diminutive strip of attractive boutiques and beach bars that some have  compared to St.-Tropez. Imagine that!

The 22 gorgeous, white-sand beaches are the trump card of St. Bart’s. It possesses a definite French vibe. TripAdvisor has been to St. Barts and has nearly three dozen things to keep you busy, primarily the many beaches starting off with Colombier  Beach. CNN ranked Saline Beach as No. 5 among the top 100 in the world.

Hop on board this plane as we land in St. Barts skipping across the bay to touch down. So seniors, its time for a visit with your travel agent to learn how easily you can  land in this French-speaking paradise.  -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 Plan A Visit To Elmira

Senior travelers, welcome to Elmira, a city in Chemung County, New York, with a population of 30,000. Among the notable people who called Elmira home is Tommy Hilfiger and Ernie Davis, first African-American Heisman Trophy winner.

Elmira was long an area inhabited by indigenous people. It was occupied by the Cayuga nation of the Iroquois Confederacy. They had some relations with Europeans and English over fur trading, but were relatively isolated from the encroaching settlements.

The New York legislature established the Township of Chemung, now Chemung County, in 1788. The settlement of Newtown was soon established and in 1808, the village officially changed its name to the Town of Elmira, at a town meeting held at Teal’s Tavern.

Seniors Find Mark Twain’s Summer Home

It is said the town was named after tavern owner Nathan Teal’s young daughter, but that story has never been confirmed. In any case, the City of Elmira, also called “The Queen City” , was incorporated in 1864 from part of the town of Elmira and the village of Elmira. Take in some of the sites in Elmira and be sure to see the neat photos of downtown.

TripAdvisor has been to Elmira and notes 18 things not to be missed, including the Tanglewood Nature Center and Museum. This senior would want to visit Elmira College as well, located right in the heart of the city and one of the top private colleges in the Northeast.

Mark Twain, renowned author and world-traveler, summered in Elmira for more than twenty years and is buried in Woodlawn Cemetery. Perched high above the Chemung River Valley in his octagonal study, Twain penned his literary classics.

Seniors Enjoy Finger Lakes Region

Located at the gateway of New York’s scenic Finger Lakes Region, senior tourists enjoy swimming, boating, fishing, camping, hunting, skiing and sight-seeing, including the spectacular fall foliage.

A famed civil war prison camp was in Elmira for 369 days,  from July 6, 1864 to July 11, 1865. There were 12,000+  prisoners at Elmira.

Many today however are completely unaware of the camp and the Confederate prisoners that were held there 145 years ago. The camp is gone now, except for a flagpole that stands as a lone reminder to the most important time in our nation’s history, the American Civil War.

Senior visitors to Elmira will find the city a beautiful one and with a plethora of family-minded activities. jeb

Seniors Coast Into Anacortes

Anacortes is homeport to the San Juan Islands in the Pacific Northwest. Senior travelers will find Anacortes on Fidalgo Island, conveniently situated halfway between Seattle and Vancouver BC and is the destination point for the San Juans and International ferry runs for Washington State.

The name “Anacortes” is a consolidation of the name Anna Curtis, who was the wife of early Fidalgo Island settler Amos Bowman. The population runs just over 16,000. Senior travelers are invited to hang out in this vibrant Old Town.

All within walking distance, senior visitors will discover casual cafes or elegant dining. They will enjoy quirky to sophisticated shopping, art galleries and antique shops. Seniors are invited to experience this island getaway any time of the year.

Seniors Take a Whale Watching Adventure

Have you ever gone on a whale watching adventure? My family and I did that off the coast of Massachusetts. A fun time it is. Anacortes serves as home port to one of the world’s largest whale watching fleets, with two daily sailings in prime-time.

Each sailing typically lasts a half-day, during which riders are treated to a wonderful introduction to the beauty of the San Juan Islands. Educators provide a running commentary about geography, island history, and Puget Sound’s rich biology.

Oh, and you’ll also see local orca pods, along with dolphins, seals, and other resident wildlife. Deposited back to the dock after lunch on board, get your land legs back with a stroll. Sound like fun? It is.

Seniors Enjoy a Marina, A Hike And A Ferry Ride

Cap Sante Marina: One of the most beautiful, accessible and active marinas in the state, Cap Sante Boat Haven is named for the promontory across the harbor. Unlike all other major marinas in the state, this one is open to the public, with no locked gates.

Senior visitors are free to wander the docks, explore the fishing fleet, and have a visit with boat owners, some of whom live on board their own vessels.

Senior hikers, you will find more than 50 miles of trails throughout Anacortes and Fidalgo Island encompassing Mount Erie, four fresh-water lakes, old growth forest and a variety of wildlife, including bald eagles.

I took a ferry up through the San Juan Islands to Vancouver Island. What a memory that remains in my mind’s eye.

You will not want to miss Washington Park, Mt. Erie Park and Cap Sante Park, each with awesome scenery. There’s much to see and do in Historic Anacortes . A great choice for a coastal destination. -jeb

Seniors Enjoy Archeological Tours

Grab your coffee, seniors, we’re checking into archeological tour s today. If you enjoy archeology, as I do, check out  Archeological Adventures. You will also discover a wide range of museums throughout the world that focus on ancient ages. You are invited to journey back in time and some even offer biking as part of a tour.

This former teacher of French would enjoy an archeological tour of southern France. “Archeological Tours create a customized tour to take in the artistic splendors of France, from the earliest times to the present. This can include, depending on your interests and time available, the spectacular cave art sites of south west France, the enigmatic Neolithic carvings of southern Brittany, the stunning Medieval and Renaissance architecture and art in the Loire Valley, Ile de France, Picardy and Normandy, the exquisite Bayeux tapestry.”

Guatemala, Rome, Easter Island and China rise to the top from among the many interesting choices. You will want to get acquainted with the AIA, Archaeological Institute of America that can help senior travelers find just what they might be looking for.

Seniors Enjoy Comfortable to Luxurious

The Archeological Conservancy offers tours to the remote jungles of Honduras. Archeological tours offer in-depth land trips that range from comfortable to ultra-luxurious and cruises aboard small ships that dock and anchor at historic ports and towns that larger ships are unable to visit.

Throughout the world senior archeology enthusiasts will come in contact with a heart of history that is very exciting. The Yucatan Peninsula, an exciting trip for my wife and me, offered great sites that included Chichen Itza and Tulum. Read what USA Today has to say about this portion of Mexico.

If I wanted to take in Egypt, I would visit the Land of the Pharaohs with the most famous archaeologist in the world – Dr. Zahi Hawass. There is no better person to lead you through the fascinating history of ancient Egypt than Dr. Hawass. For over 20 years he held all the keys to the Egyptian antiquities and he is renown throughout the world for his expertise.

Seniors Enjoy Learning Vacations

Tara Tours will help you discover the Ancient treasures of the Moche, Chimu, Nazca and Inca civilizations, while you travel through some of the most spectacular geographical locations on earth. Peru is a country full of interesting archaeological sites. Perhaps biblical archeology is up your alley, mingling with archaeologists and Bible scholars who share their latest research and findings.

Archaeology tours explore bygone cultures to learn what shaped and drove these ancient societies along with their politics and technological developments, and how they helped shape our modern world.

Andante Travels offer over 120 archaeological tours that focus on cultural holidays, exploring every corner of the ancient world. Elder Treks features adventure tours for folks over the age of 50, that’s us.

Seniors, what are we waiting for? Check them all out!  -jeb

Seniors Enjoy The Famed Window Rock

Window Rock is a city (3,000+) in Apache County that serves as the seat of governmental capital of the Navajo Nation, the largest territory of a Sovereign Native American Nation in North America. Senior visitors will find the “Window Rock”, a “one of a kind” phenomena that the Navajo tribesmen relish.

This majestic circular rock formation that serves as a backdrop of the Navajo Nation capital is also home to a hand-carved superbly-detailed Navajo Code Talker statue and a memorial that pays tribute to Navajo veterans. In World War II,  the Navajo language was used as a secret code which was never broken by the enemy.

The Navajo Nation is home to an array of unparalleled picture-perfect sites and it is also a natural magnet for the entertainment industry.

Many black and white western movies originated on the Navajo reservation and the filming continues today. A great place for senior travelers to begin their journey to the Navajo Nation is in Window Rock, which is nestled in the northeast portion of Arizona near the Arizona-New Mexico border.

Seniors Enjoy Navajo Culture

Window Rock has a Navajo cultural vibe. It is often described as the center of political activity, but it is also a great venue for educational, historical and cultural enrichment for folks of all ages.

Senior visitors who visit the World War II memorial to the Navajo veterans  learn about the significance of the Navajo language in U.S. history and how it is still spoken today. The architectural design of the memorial is based upon traditional Navajo values that embodies a spirit of sacredness.

Window Rock is the home of two great celebrations – the Annual Fourth of July PRCA Rodeo and the Navajo Nation Fair in September.

The Navajo Nation Fair is the “Largest American Indian Fair” in all of North America. Both events offer senior visitors a great opportunity to see colorful Navajo dances, lively Navajo entertainers, savory Navajo cuisine and exquisite one of a kind Navajo crafts. The real draw is the beautifully-dressed Navajo elders in traditional Navajo attire and vintage jewelry.

Seniors Awed By Scenic Wonders

Until 1936, the Window Rock area was simply one of the scenic wonders of Navajoland, until the Commissioner of Indian Affairs at that time, John Collier, selected the site for the planned Navajo Center Agency. In 1936, the administrative buildings, quarried from the local sandstone, were completed.

Later, a Navajo Tribal Council House would be built in Window Rock.  In 1961, a Navajo Tribal Museum was established in a small building on the Window Rock Tribal Fairgrounds. In 1997, a $7 million dollar permanent home was built to store the treasured Navajo artifacts.

So set your GPS for Window Rock, enjoy the amazing scenery, fascinating history and naturally, the famed Window Rock as well.  - jeb

Seniors Find Sun and Fun in San Juan

San Juan , is Puerto Rico’s capital city and as seniors learn, a hot tourist destination. Grab your coffee, my friends, and let’s find out just what makes it so inviting.

Sitting on the island’s Atlantic coast, its widest beach fronts the Isla Verde resort strip, known for its bars, nightclubs and casinos. Cobblestoned Old San Juan features colorful Spanish colonial buildings and 16th-century landmarks including El Morro and La Fortaleza, massive fortresses with sweeping ocean views. Senior visitors can also enjoy the Paseo de la Princesa bayside promenade.

San Juan is known as the Walled City and in Spanish as “la perla”…the pearl. With a population of 390,000, it is the financial and industrial center of the island, and where most cultural events take place. The San Juan Airport and Cruise Port are both Caribbean hubs welcoming millions of tourists every year.

Seniors Enjoy City With Rich History

This modern city is also the second oldest settlement in the Americas.  It is rich in history, treasuring its past, but setting new standards in technology across the Caribbean.

My wife and I always enjoy starting with a visit to the oldest quarter of the city. Old San Juan is the oldest settlement within Puerto Rico and the historic colonial section of the city.

The settlement is a National Historic Landmark District and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places as the “Zona Histórica de San Juan” (English: San Juan Historic Site). Bring along some extra memory for your camera and visit  the traditional callejón (alley) in Old San Juan and the Plaza de Armas.

Seniors Also Enjoy Vibrant Modern City

Fodor’s notes that if you associate Puerto Rico’s capital with the colonial streets of Old San Juan, then you know only part of the picture. San Juan is a major metropolis, radiating out from the bay that was discovered by Juan Ponce de León.

More than a third of the island’s nearly 4 million citizens proudly call themselves sanjuaneros . Locals go about their daily business surrounded by colonial architecture and towering modern structures.

The Island was established back in 1521. The old town was inaugurated almost a century before the Mayflower laid anchor in present-day Massachusetts, and is now a historic wonderland whose historical authenticity pulsates with modern energy.

San Juan is fueled by galleries, superb restaurants for senior gourmets and a bar scene that takes over the streets as the sun goes down. TripAdvisor has listed 183 things for senior visitors to see and do . So get out a pencil and paper and chose several that you would put at the top of your visit list.  Enjoy your trip to Puerto Rico and San Juan. -jeb