https://seniorcitizen.travel Travel Discounts & Destinations for Senior Citizens Sun, 17 Dec 2017 15:07:23 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=3.9.34
https://seniorcitizen.travel/types-of-vacationtravel/wine-trips/seniors-enjoy-california-6/ https://seniorcitizen.travel/types-of-vacationtravel/wine-trips/seniors-enjoy-california-6/#comments Thu, 04 May 2017 08:00:19 +0000 Jim Becker Family Travel Hiking/Recreation Wine Trips Happiest City Santa Cruz CA seaside amusement park senior travel California https://seniorcitizen.travel/?p=26814 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 […]
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.
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.
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
https://seniorcitizen.travel/types-of-vacationtravel/wine-trips/seniors-enjoy-california-6/feed/ 0https://seniorcitizen.travel/types-of-vacationtravel/family-travel/seniors-enjoy-connecticut-3/ https://seniorcitizen.travel/types-of-vacationtravel/family-travel/seniors-enjoy-connecticut-3/#comments Tue, 02 May 2017 08:00:36 +0000 Jim Becker Family Travel United States historical town Pomfret Connecticut senior travel Connecticut https://seniorcitizen.travel/?p=26790 Seniors Visit Pomfret For The First Time Pomfret, a town in Windham County, Connecticut with a population of about 4,200, was incorporated in 1713. Wow, senior friends, Pomfret is historical, one of the oldest towns in the state! The town was named after Governor Saltonstall’s estate near Pontefract (meaning broken bridge) in Yorkshire, England, and agriculture […]
Pomfret, a town in Windham County, Connecticut with a population of about 4,200, was incorporated in 1713. Wow, senior friends, Pomfret is historical, one of the oldest towns in the state! The town was named after Governor Saltonstall’s estate near Pontefract (meaning broken bridge) in Yorkshire, England, and agriculture and various mills along the town’s plentiful waterways supported the settlers’ earliest enterprises.
The town might be best known for the wolf’s den where Israel Putnam killed Connecticut’s last known wolf. Rocky paths connect to join the small cave which is the actual wolf den with a glacially positioned boulder called the Indian Chair. Now part of Mashamoquet Brook State Park, Wolf Den is on the National Register of Historic Places.
There are eerie remains of an 18th-Century Settlement in Pomfret where Welsh roots inspired the name of the new community. Obadiah Higginbotham and Jonathan Randall both settled the area in 1790. I love that first name.
This senior first came across the name of Pomfret while searching for top private schools in Connecticut. Pomfret School, with only 350+ students, is one of the state’s well known private schools.
Today, Pomfret is a residential community with light industry, including fiber optic manufacture, ample protected open land, and a large historic district listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.
While the town is small it has several sites not to be missed: the Sharpe Hill Vineyard, Airline State Park Trail, Martha’s Herbary and Pomfret Wine and Spirits. I would want to pay a visit to Tyrone Farm, a uniquely beautiful 170 acre country estate. The farm is a fourth generation family business.
Pomfret offers beautiful vistas, winding country roads, stone walls, and an eclectic collection of shops and restaurants. Town government has been sensitive to maintaining the rural environment and historic charm that makes Pomfret the quintessential New England Community.
Listed on the National Register seniors will want to visit the Brayton Grist Mill, Gwyn Careg, Israel Putnam Wolf Den and the Pomfret Town House that was erected in 1841 and was used for many years as the site of Pomfret’s town meetings. It is now owned by the Pomfret Historical Society.
Senior hikers will find extensive walking, hiking and horse trails. The Connecticut Audubon Center at Pomfret offers spectacular birding and is particularly known for its grassland habitats. The motto is “Close to Home…Far from Ordinary.” Enjoy genealogy? Read up on the local history that describes the town in detail.
Seems like there is always more to learn about a small community and Pomfret has its related topics all on one site. Seniors travelers, I think you will enjoy a stop in Pomfret. -jeb
https://seniorcitizen.travel/types-of-vacationtravel/family-travel/seniors-enjoy-connecticut-3/feed/ 0https://seniorcitizen.travel/types-of-vacationtravel/family-travel/seniors-enjoy-the-sights-and-sounds-of-louisiana/ https://seniorcitizen.travel/types-of-vacationtravel/family-travel/seniors-enjoy-the-sights-and-sounds-of-louisiana/#comments Mon, 01 May 2017 08:00:02 +0000 Jim Becker Family Travel United States senior travel Louisiana St Landry Parish Zydeco capital https://seniorcitizen.travel/?p=26768 Seniors Spend Time In St. Landry Parish St. Landry Parish, Louisiana, with a population that runs around 84,000, is the Zydeco Capital of the World. Senior travelers will find the parish seat, Opelousas, 21 miles north of Lafayette, and 126 miles west of New Orleans. The Parish was created in 1807. Its history much precedes 1807 […]
St. Landry Parish, Louisiana, with a population that runs around 84,000, is the Zydeco Capital of the World. Senior travelers will find the parish seat, Opelousas, 21 miles north of Lafayette, and 126 miles west of New Orleans.
The Parish was created in 1807. Its history much precedes 1807 as the territory that became St. Landry Parish was inhabited as early as 10,500 B.C. Saint Landry is the patron saint of Opelousas and his feast day is celebrated June 10 of each year.
The Parish is 939 square miles in area and there are 12 municipalities located within the Parish each with its own distinct personality. Senior visitors will see evidence of the French heritage in St. Landry Parish from the visitors guide en français, the signs, newspapers, restaurants menus, and the many surnames of its inhabitants.
La Table Française are local gatherings that take place throughout the Parish. It presents an opportunity for the locals to share conversation en français over a good cup of café. Having been a teacher of French for over 30 years, I’d like to think that I would fit right in…but with the local acadian accent…maybe not.
Senior travelers, head down to Arnaudville the end of May and take in the 32nd Annual Étouffée Festival. Étouffée is a “smothered” dish and a favorite among locals, enough to stir up some friendly rivalry.
Get a taste of the competition at the Mayor’s Cook-off, which will feature a diverse variety of étouffées including crawfish, seafood, vegetable, and even wild game. Arnaudville is a haven for musicians, artists, and champions of the French language itself. Look up their cultural events on Google.
Be sure to sample the Gumbo, a dish that originated in southern Louisiana from the Louisiana Creole people during the 18th century. St. Landry Parish is the site of one of the oldest European settlements in Louisiana, le Poste des Opélousas, an administrative territory established by the French in 1720.
The local cuisine naturally reflects its dramatic history and diverse cultures. It is said that one might best describe the history of St. Landry Parish’s cuisine as that of a cultural gumbo. Blackberry pie would be high on my dining dishes.
Eunice is known as the “Prairie Cajun Capital” and is popular for its annual Mardi Gras celebration. Seniors, spend some time in Eunice visiting the Cajun Music Hall of Fame and Museum and the Liberty Theater, a restored 1924 Vaudeville Theatre.
I would not want to overlook Grand Coteau (Big Ridge en français), that is on the National Register of Historic Places, that includes over 70 structures with a wide variety of architectural styles.
Krotz Springs, Leonville, Palmetto and Lebeau…the town list goes on. St. Landry Parish claims a state tourism honor and for good reason. Set your GPS for St. Landry, seniors, and enjoy some great music, Louisiana food and scenery that will be memorable. -jeb
https://seniorcitizen.travel/types-of-vacationtravel/family-travel/seniors-enjoy-the-sights-and-sounds-of-louisiana/feed/ 0https://seniorcitizen.travel/favorite-travel-destinations/sunday-coffee-with-jeb-152/ https://seniorcitizen.travel/favorite-travel-destinations/sunday-coffee-with-jeb-152/#comments Sun, 30 Apr 2017 08:00:16 +0000 Jim Becker Editors Choice Europe Family Travel Tours/Cruises/Rail Balearic Island holiday destination Ibiza Spain Unesco World Heritage Site https://seniorcitizen.travel/?p=26746 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 […]
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.
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.
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
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https://seniorcitizen.travel/types-of-vacationtravel/family-travel/seniors-visit-ohio-2/ https://seniorcitizen.travel/types-of-vacationtravel/family-travel/seniors-visit-ohio-2/#comments Sat, 08 Apr 2017 08:00:32 +0000 Jim Becker Family Travel Hiking/Recreation United States Columbus Ohio area Reynoldsburg Ohio senior travel Ohio https://seniorcitizen.travel/?p=26720 Seniors Check Out Reynoldsburg Reynoldsburg, 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 […]
Reynoldsburg, 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.
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.
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
https://seniorcitizen.travel/types-of-vacationtravel/family-travel/seniors-visit-ohio-2/feed/ 0https://seniorcitizen.travel/types-of-vacationtravel/family-travel/seniors-stay-a-little-longer-in-california/ https://seniorcitizen.travel/types-of-vacationtravel/family-travel/seniors-stay-a-little-longer-in-california/#comments Tue, 04 Apr 2017 08:00:52 +0000 Jim Becker Family Travel United States Newhall CA old west movie town senior travel California https://seniorcitizen.travel/?p=26694 Seniors Visit The Old Community of Newhall Senior travelers will find Newhall, California, the southernmost and oldest community of Santa Clarita, just outside of Los Angeles. Established in the 1850′s as a stagecoach stop, today, it is notable for its antique car shows, mountain surroundings, and ranch houses. Named after businessman Henry Newhall, Newhall is home to the […]
Senior travelers will find Newhall, California, the southernmost and oldest community of Santa Clarita, just outside of Los Angeles. Established in the 1850′s as a stagecoach stop, today, it is notable for its antique car shows, mountain surroundings, and ranch houses.
Named after businessman Henry Newhall, Newhall is home to the William S. Hart County Park, featuring tours of the famous silent movie maker’s mansion.
The Old West still lives in Newhall’s Western Walk of Fame and the William S. Hart Regional Park with its exhibition of Western life and an example of an old-time ranch house and the original Saugus train station.
Newhall is also home to the Pioneer Oil Refinery, the oldest surviving oil refinery in the world and the first commercially successful refinery in California. Senior visitors can enjoy the William S. Hart Museum and Ranch along with the Placerita Canyon Nature Center and Old-Town main street shops. Then there are car shows and a meal at the legendary Way Station.
Decades before the city of Santa Clarita, there were two small towns in the Valley: Newhall and Saugus. The Santa Clarita Valley was simply an area of ranches and farms in northern Los Angeles County.
Newhall was the place where ranchers bought groceries and other needs — and, at Saugus, shipped out what they produced via the railroad. Eventually, Newhall and Saugus were absorbed into what is now Santa Clarita.
Beale’s Cut was the first man made passage from the San Fernando Valley to Santa Clarita and Northern California. Beale’s Cut was completed in 1864 by a crew headed by General Edward F. Beale and was 90 feet deep.
Santa Clarita has hosted countless location shoots in its scrubby hills for Hollywood’s cowboy pictures. The Walk of Western Stars is an extensive sidewalk tribute to the movie, TV and radio legends.
The small shops in downtown Newhall mostly close by dinner time. Not a bad time for a stroll — It’s just you and the memories of Clayton Moore, the original Lone Ranger; Tex Ritter the singing cowboy; Hoot Gibson, rodeo champ actor and director. Remember all those folks? Maybe not if you are not as old as this senior, but I loved them all and watched many black and white TV shows featuring those cowboys.
You don’t have to be a cowboy to enjoy the Santa Clarita Cowboy Festival in Old Town Newhall. Suspending inside a larger than life horse shoe, festival goers will step back in time to the 1860’s.
This is Newhall, seniors. Set your GPS for this exciting old western setting and enjoy the flavor. -jeb
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https://seniorcitizen.travel/favorite-travel-destinations/seniors-always-enjoy-california-2/ https://seniorcitizen.travel/favorite-travel-destinations/seniors-always-enjoy-california-2/#comments Mon, 03 Apr 2017 08:00:52 +0000 Jim Becker Editors Choice Anza-Borrego State Park Borrego Springs California Super Bloom https://seniorcitizen.travel/?p=26677 Seniors Find Flowers Galore in Borrego Springs “Super Bloom” draws crowds this time of year in California and no better place to see them than Borrego Springs. Many of this years blooms have been lying dormant for years, but today a spectacular display is in view for senior visitors to the area. It is estimated […]
“Super Bloom” draws crowds this time of year in California and no better place to see them than Borrego Springs. Many of this years blooms have been lying dormant for years, but today a spectacular display is in view for senior visitors to the area.
It is estimated that over 150,00 folks will travel to this little town that lies 85 miles northeast of San Diego to enjoy the wide array of beautiful flowers. The natural show at Anza-Borrego is expected to roll along through May, with different species blooming at different elevations and in different areas. Folks are making a “beeline” to what The Washington Post calls “Flowergeddon.”
‘Super Bloom’ is what they call a mass amount of desert plants that come to life with blazing orange poppies in particular filling up memory chips in cameras. The wet winter is the principal reason for the display and it is said that this happens only once every ten years.
Much of what senior visitors will see takes place in Anza Borrego State Park that has 640,000 acres for you to take in. The name of Anza-Borrego State Park is derived from a combination of Juan Baptista de Anza and “borrego” which is Spanish for little lamb, in honor of the local herds of bighorn sheep.
While there are hundreds of species, you will note the spiny ocotillo cactus, my wife’s favorite, with flaming tall red blooms that the hummingbirds enjoy. The town is the only California town that is completely surrounded by a state park.
The locals in Borrego Springs call the visitors “flower peepers.” This Master Gardener would be one of the more enthusiastic “flower peepers” there. I had a garden back in Illinois the size of a football field and I grew many flowers.
Yellow, orange, purple and magenta blooms abound in every direction. Visitors come from as far away as China and Japan to enjoy the scenery, with the Bigelow Monkey flower an 8 inch favorite of Asian tourists.
In Borrego Springs the locals (population around 3,500) are completely surrounded by nature, set in the midst of Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. Senior visitors can hike a desert canyon or just relax by the pool, play some golf or watch the roadrunners, and always amaze yourself with the dark night sky.
There is no hustle-bustle in Borrego Springs, a small town with a homey feel. This stop is a wonderful opportunity for seniors and others to enjoy Borrego Springs. A local landmark is the traffic roundabout between the airport and downtown, known as Christmas Circle.
Seniors, enjoy Borrego Springs and the beauty that surrounds it this time of year. -jeb
https://seniorcitizen.travel/favorite-travel-destinations/seniors-always-enjoy-california-2/feed/ 0https://seniorcitizen.travel/types-of-vacationtravel/family-travel/seniors-enjoy-visiting-washington/ https://seniorcitizen.travel/types-of-vacationtravel/family-travel/seniors-enjoy-visiting-washington/#comments Wed, 29 Mar 2017 08:00:31 +0000 Jim Becker Central America Family Travel Hiking/Recreation United States biking and hiking trails Burlington/Skagit County Washington fishing senior travel Washington https://seniorcitizen.travel/?p=26619 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 […]
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.
“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.
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
https://seniorcitizen.travel/types-of-vacationtravel/family-travel/seniors-enjoy-visiting-washington/feed/ 0https://seniorcitizen.travel/types-of-vacationtravel/family-travel/seniors-discover-mount-desert-island-maine/ https://seniorcitizen.travel/types-of-vacationtravel/family-travel/seniors-discover-mount-desert-island-maine/#comments Mon, 27 Mar 2017 08:00:13 +0000 Jim Becker Family Travel Hiking/Recreation United States Bar Harbor Mount Desert Island Maine senior travel Maine Coast top destinations for senior travelers https://seniorcitizen.travel/?p=26639 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 […]
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.
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.
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
https://seniorcitizen.travel/types-of-vacationtravel/family-travel/seniors-discover-mount-desert-island-maine/feed/ 0https://seniorcitizen.travel/favorite-travel-destinations/sunday-coffee-with-jeb-157/ https://seniorcitizen.travel/favorite-travel-destinations/sunday-coffee-with-jeb-157/#comments Sun, 26 Mar 2017 08:00:22 +0000 Jim Becker Editors Choice Europe Family Travel popular tourist destinations senior travel Baltic States senior travel Helsinki Finland https://seniorcitizen.travel/?p=26530 Seniors Settle Into Helsinki, Finland Senior friends, pour yourself a cup of coffee ad let’s head up north to Helsinki, Finland’s capital. You will find this popular tourist destination sitting on a peninsula in the Gulf of Finland. Its central avenue, Mannerheimintie, is flanked by institutions like the National Museum, that traces Finnish history from the Stone Age to […]
Senior friends, pour yourself a cup of coffee ad let’s head up north to Helsinki, Finland’s capital. You will find this popular tourist destination sitting on a peninsula in the Gulf of Finland.
Its central avenue, Mannerheimintie, is flanked by institutions like the National Museum, that traces Finnish history from the Stone Age to the present. Also on Mannerheimintie are the imposing Parliament House and Kiasma, a contemporary art museum. Ornate red-brick Uspenski Cathedral overlooks a harbor. The population runs right at 630,000.
Helsinki is sure to leave a lasting impression on its senior guests. This charming city boasts an array of attractions, historical sites and grand structures that sit next to the city’s other half, the ocean itself which stretches along the Gulf of Finland, the easternmost projection of the Baltic Sea.
The “Daughter of the Baltic” has been the Finnish capital since 1812, when it was rebuilt by the tsars of Russia along the lines of a miniature St. Petersburg, a role it has played in many Cold War movies.
Today, Helsinki pulls off the trick of being something of an international metropolis while still retaining a small-town feel. The best time for seniors to visit Helsinki is in summer, when Finns peel off their overcoats and flock to outdoor bars and cafes to enjoy the sunshine. The city is officially bilingual, with an 86% Finnish-speaking majority and a visible 6% Swedish-speaking minority.
Helsinki is among the world’s northernmost capitals and the lengthy winter, from November all the way up to March, is dark and freezing. You can find several quality tours of the city both on foot and by water.
Helsinki is a vibrant seaside city of 300 beautiful islands, great green parks and many historic buildings. Helsinki was founded in 1550 by King Gustav Vasa of Sweden as a trading post.
The Ateneum is Finland’s best-known art museum and the home of Finnish art. The Cathedral, by Carl Ludvig Engel, rising on the northern side of the Senate Square is the stage of national and academic festive services and one of the most popular tourist sights.
Lonely Planet notes that Helsinki is a “quirky adventure”, the capital of a country with watery geography, that “entwines so spectacularly with the Baltic’s bays, inlets and islands”. TripAdvisor suggests seniors check out the Fortress of Suomenlinna, the Rock Church, and the Seurassari Island and Open-Air Museum.
While Helsinki can seem a younger sibling to the Scandinavian capitals, it’s the one that went to art school, scorns pop music and works in a cutting-edge studio. Despite being a capital and a popular tourist destination, Helsinki is considered to be a safe city.
So visit with your travel agent and make plans to visit this exciting city way up north. -jeb
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