Seniors Visit York, England

Rick Steves. my travel hero, notes that York and Bath are his two favorite cities outside of London in the UK. Having paid a visit to Bath with my family, senior travelers, get your coffee and let’s go explore York together.

York , rich in ancient history, romantic ambience and fun activities makes the perfect holiday destination for senior travelers. Renowned for its exquisite architecture and tangle of quaint cobbled streets, York is a flourishing city, just two hours by train from London.

York lies in the Vale of York, a flat area of fertile arable land bordered by the Pennines, the North York Moors and the Yorkshire Wolds. The city was built at the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Foss on a terminal moraine left by the last Ice Age.

Seniors Seek Out The Shambles

The first mention of York by this name is dated to circa 95–104 AD as an address on a wooden stylus tablet from the Roman fortress of Vindolanda in Northumberland. The medieval city walls are a highlight for visitors, along with York Minster, the cathedral of York.

Seniors will enjoy the National Railroad Museum, the York Castle Museum, and The Shambles, York’s most famous street that is lined with timber-framed buildings housing a range of touristy shops, some dating back as far as the fourteenth century.

It was once known as The Great Flesh Shambles, probably from the Anglo-Saxon Fleshammels (literally ‘flesh-shelves’), the word for the shelves that butchers used to display their meat. As recently as 1872 twenty-five butchers’ shops were located along the street, but now none remain.

Seniors Find Historic Walled City

York is a historic walled city at the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. The municipality is the traditional county town of Yorkshire to which it gives its name. The city has a rich heritage and has provided the backdrop to major political events in England throughout much of its two millennia of existence.

The city offers a wealth of historic attractions, of which York Minster is the most prominent, and a variety of cultural and sporting activities making it a popular tourist destination.

The city was founded by the Romans as Eboracum in 71 AD. It became the capital of the Roman province of Britannia Inferior, and later of the kingdoms of Northumbria and Jórvík. In the Middle Ages, York grew as a major wool trading centre and became the capital of the northern ecclesiastical province of the Church of England, a role it has retained.

TripAdvisor notes nearly 200 things for seniors to see and do in York. You will not be disappointed in the least as it is one of the top tourist cities in the UK along with London and Bath. -jeb

Seniors Discover An Historic Adventure In York

York , seniors learn, is a walled city in northeast England that was founded by the ancient Romans. Its huge 13th-century Gothic cathedral, York Minster, has medieval stained glass and 2 functioning bell towers.

The city walls form a walkway on both sides of the River Ouse. The Monk Bar gate houses an exhibition tracing the life of 15th-century Plantagenet King Richard III.

Rich in ancient history, romantic ambience and fun activities, York is the perfect holiday destination for senior travelers. So get your coffee and let’s explore York this morning. Renowned for its exquisite architecture, tangle of quaint cobbled streets, iconic York Minster and wealth of visitor attractions, York is a flourishing city, just two hours by train from London.

Search out The Shambles, a medieval street in York as well as the Mansion House that is home to the Lord Mayor of York. It is historic and beautiful.

The city was founded by the Romans as Eboracum in 71 AD. It became the capital of the Roman province of Britannia Inferior, and later of the kingdoms of Northumbria and Jórvík.

Seniors Awed By Beautiful Gothic Cathedral

LonelyPlanet notes that seniors will discover history at every turn and nowhere in northern England says ‘medieval’ quite like York, a city of extraordinary cultural and historical wealth that has lost little of its pre-industrial lustre.

A magnificent circuit of 13th-century walls enclose a medieval spider’s web of narrow streets. At its heart lies the immense, awe-inspiring York Minster, one of the most beautiful Gothic cathedrals in the world.

In the Middle Ages, York grew as a major wool trading center. Archaeological evidence suggests that Mesolithic people settled in the region of York between 8000 and 7000 BC. By the time of the Roman conquest of Britain, the area was occupied by a tribe known to the Romans as the Brigantes.

Seniors Awed Even By Train Station

York lies at the confluence of the rivers Ouse and Foss in town. If you arrive by train, you will discover that even the station in York is awesome. The University of York has a building unlike any other you have ever seen. I know that my wife and I would enjoy an evening at York’s Grand Opera House.

Seniors can enjoy a High Tea at Betty’s Cafe Tea Rooms. TripAdvisor has over 300 things for you to see and do in York. Explore their site as you will also find lodging, restaurants and even vacation rentals.

The city offers a wealth of historic attractions , of which York Minster is the most prominent, and a variety of cultural and sporting activities making it a popular tourist destination for millions.

You will find York England to be an adventure.  Enjoy all that this historic city has to offer. -jeb

Seniors Enjoy Time In Worcester

Worcester is the historic county seat of Worcester County, Massachusetts. Senior travelers will find Worcester in central Massachusetts, about an hour drive southwest from Boston.

Worcester has transformed itself into a progressive and vibrant city with an active diverse culture, multi-billion dollar public/private investment, a robust healthcare and biotechnology industry and nationally recognized colleges and universities.

Worcester, a continually up and coming city, is a five-time recipient of the All-American City Award. One is hard pressed to find another city of comparable size with a greater concentration of world-class colleges and universities.

Seniors Enjoy City Of Higher Education

Worcester, with its population of 181,045, is home to 9 colleges and universities (a half-dozen more in neighboring communities), including the University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, College of the Holy Cross, Clark University, MCPHS University and Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine. Worcester is also home to one Fortune 1000 corporate headquarters.

Senior sports enthusiasts, Worcester’s central location gives residents and visitors easy access to numerous professional sporting teams. Worcester provides a good assortment of arts and cultural offerings.

Known as the “Heart of the Commonwealth” , a heart is the official symbol of the city. However, the heart symbol may also have its provenance in lore that Valentine’s Day cards were invented in the city.

Seniors Enjoy The Student Cultural Contribution

TripAdvisor suggests that seniors visit the Worcester Art Museum and Hanover Theater for the Performing Arts. Elm Park is a favorite site for a stroll as is Newton Hill and Green Hill.

Over 30,000 students contribute to the cultural vibrancy of the city, which features world-renowned museums and concert halls, theaters, galleries, as well as a wealth of performing groups, ethnic festivals, and artists of every discipline. For you gourmands, dine at one of the city’s many and varied restaurants.

Music and theater flourish at Mechanics Hall and The Hanover Theatre for Performing Arts. The Worcester Art Museum, Worcester Historical Museum and EcoTarium regularly schedule special exhibitions.

Bancroft Tower, a 56-foot-high (17 m) natural stone and granite tower, looks like a miniature feudal castle in Salisbury Park. It’s hard to miss and is listed on the National Register of Historical Places. The Salisbury Mansion and Store is an historic house museum built in 1772 by Stephen Salisbury.

Senior visitors, Welcome to Worcester , The Creative City named after Worcester, England. -jeb

Seniors Check Out Historic Abingdon, Virginia

Abingdon , with its brick sidewalks is a designated Virginia Historic Landmark. Senior travelers will find this historic town of around 9,000, 133 miles southwest of Roanoke.

Senior visitors can enjoy Abingdon’s festivals, concerts and special events. One of the best known is the Virginia Highlands Festival, which takes place each summer. The Abingdon Music Experience hosts performances and jams throughout the year.

In addition, The historic Barter Theatre is just one of the many reasons why Garden and Gun Magazine named Abingdon a Best Performing Arts Town. Barter Theatre alumni include Gregory Peck, Ernest Borgnine and Patricia Neal.

Seniors Hike The Virginia Creeper Trail

Also in downtown Abingdon is the luxurious four-star Martha Washington Inn & Spa with 63 rooms and suites each of which feature their own unique character and personality.

The Virginia Creeper Trail begins in Abingdon, offering seniors outstanding biking, hiking and horseback riding. The Virginia Creeper Trail was just inducted into the Rail-to-Trail Hall of Fame. This former railroad bed begins in Abingdon, and winds its way over 34 miles.

Located at the Virginia Creeper Trailhead on Green Springs Road, Abingdon’s Old Mollie Steam Engine is the same type of engine that pulled the Virginia Creeper Railroad for many years.

Historically, the settlement was known as Black’s Fort and in 1776 (remember that year?) the community of Black’s Fort was made the county seat of the newly formed Washington county. And two years later was incorporated as Abingdon.

Seniors Enjoy Historic Abingdon

The town is quite historic with the Abingdon Historic District and a number of buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places. When you stroll down Main Street Abingdon, you think about the Civil War soldiers involved in nearby battles who were treated by nurses on the grounds of what is now the elegant Martha Washington Hotel.

Abingdon, Virginia is a unique town lying in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia — rich in history, culture, outdoor recreation and old-fashioned hospitality.

The William King Museum of Art (WKMA) is the region’s premier visual arts facility. Visit the Abingdon Muster Grounds and you’ll be able to imagine citizen militia gathering to fight the British for American independence. At Fairview, a living history museum,  seniors can experience the story of the Hagy family, from their migration to America and Washington County, Virginia. In addition, there is the Abingdon Vineyard and Winery.

The Tavern Restaurant is in Abingdon’s oldest building from 1779. If that does not do it, grab a locally made craft beer and see more art plus live music at Wolf Hills Brewing Co. located in Abingdon’s Old Ice House.

I’d want my dinner at Bonefire Smokehouse, located inside the historic 1914 Withers Hardware building that includes a choice of barbecue smoked on-site and a choice of southern side-dishes .

So there it is…enjoy historic Abingdon  -jeb

Seniors Check Out Historic Chelmsford

Senior travelers find Chelmsford, Massachusetts to have a vibrant and contemporary arts, culture & dining scene. And this city of 33,000 is only 22 miles northwest of Boston.

Originally Chelmsford also included parts of Carlisle and Tyngsboro, the neighboring town of Westford as well as a large part of what is present-day Lowell. The town of Chelmsford celebrated its 350th anniversary in 2005. Chelmsford has a nice variety of historic buildings as well as scenic parks and older homes.

The town was named after Chelmsford, England and was incorporated in May 1655 by an act of the Massachusetts General Court. When Chelmsford was incorporated, its local economy was fueled by lumber mills, limestone quarries and kilns.

Seniors Find City With American Revolution History

The Chelmsford militia played a role in the American Revolution at the Battle of Lexington and Concord and the Battle of Bunker Hill. Chelmsford was the birthplace of the Chelmsford Spring Co. in 1901, which later became the Chelmsford Ginger Ale Company, acquired by Canada Dry in 1928.

Senior visitors will find eight historic places to check out: the Old Chelmsford Garrison House, a beautiful old brown clapboard home. The house was one of 19 British garrisons in Chelmsford in 1691.  The house has been designated as a National Historical Place and is a practically unspoiled museum piece awaiting your visit.

North Town Hall is another historic must see building. Then there is a variety of older homes that are well kept. The Garrison House barn is filled with an extensive display that this “farmer at heart” would enjoy seeing.

Interested seniors can enjoy their collection of wooden pitchforks, shovels, long-handled pitchforks, flails, plows, winnowing baskets, scythes, a corn sheller, cider press, and ice cutting tools which were used to “harvest” ice from frozen ponds.

Seniors Like The Historic Millstream

Senior visitors drop by The Historic Millstream to relax next to flowing water and shoot a few photos of the War Memorial. Then there is the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail where seniors can enjoy a good hike and Mrs. Nelson’s Candy House, a great stop after that hike.

At the Barrett-Byam Homestead, home of the Chelmsford Historical Society, seniors can learn about Chelmsford’s rich history and culture. Their mission is to collect, preserve, exhibit and interpret documents and artifacts reflecting the life of Chelmsford and its people from the 17th century to the present.

Seniors, put Chelmsford on your travel list when you are in the Boston area and enjoy all that this historic town has to offer. Hope to you see you there.-jeb

Seniors Enjoy A Stop In Newton

Newton is a vibrant community of 85,000 is desirable as a place to live and work due to its proximity to Boston. Senior visitors will find attractive neighborhoods, a well-run municipal government, and a strong, nationally-recognized school system in Newton. Settled in 1630 and incorporated in 1688, Newton was originally part of Cambridge, then renamed Newtowne in 1691, and finally Newton in 1766.

The city is comprised of 13 “villages”, each with its own distinct character and many containing their own small downtown areas. One of these, Chestnut Hill, is home to Boston College. In addition to Boston, Newton is also bordered by Wellesley (to the west), Needham (to the southwest), Waltham (to the north), and Brookline (to the east).

Newton is rich in arts and culture, featuring two symphony orchestras, a large state-of-the-art public library, resident theatre groups and many artistic treasures. The Newton History Museum at the Jackson Homestead, built in 1809 as a farmhouse, served for a period of time as a stop on the Underground Railroad and is now a museum filled with paintings, manuscripts, photographs, maps and numerous historical artifacts.

Seniors Enjoy Newton’s Parks

Newton has well maintained parks, bicycle and fitness trails, golf courses, a public pool and lake for senior visitors to enjoy . Back in 2010 Money Magazine ranked Newton as #3 among small cities in America. Newton is known as the Garden City .

The establishment of Boston and Worcester Railroad depots in 1834 fostered Newton’s growth as a suburb of Boston. Incorporated as a city in 1873, Newton today is known as a regional education center. In addition to Boston College, the city is also home to Andover Newton Theological School, Mount Ida College, and Pine Manor College.

Major industries in the city include publishing, computer technology, and manufacturing of precision instruments and chemicals. Newton is the birthplace of this senior’s favorite bar, the Fig Newton.

Seniors Enjoy Historic Homes

Note the Downtown and Mansions button at the top of this screen and take a look at all the mansions and Newton’s downtown.  My wife and I would enjoy a visit to the Mary Baker Eddy Historic House in nearby Chestnut Hill. Another home worth a visit would be The Charles D. Elliott House, a 2.5 story historic wood frame house built in the 1860s.

The Jackson Homestead and Museum, built in 1809, shares the history of Newton, Massachusetts, and the Underground Railroad. The Homestead is home to the archives of historic Newton.

Being a Master Gardener myself, I thought it significant that Newton has been designated one of three cities nationwide to participate in a pilot tree bank program and has planted over 6,800 seedlings throughout the community.

Senior travelers, bring along a healthy appetite as Newton is famed for its great restaurants with a wide variety of menus and tastes. -jeb

Seniors Stop In Newberg

Senior travelers descending into the green Chehalem Valley from Portland, find that Newberg is the first stop on their tour of Oregon wine country. Newberg with a population of around 22,000 is loaded with interesting history.

Newberg was named by its first postmaster, Sebastian Brutscher, for his former hometown of Neuberg, German y. Senior visitors will discover that one of the current streets, Brutscher Street, is named after him. The Willamette River flows through Newberg adding to its scenic array along with Chehalem Creek and the surrounding Chehalem Mountains.

TripAdvisor suggests a hot air balloon ride. For years I have been trying to get brave enough to take a balloon ride. I can imagine just floating high over Yamhill County’s beautiful wine country.

Seniors Find A Dynamic Small City

And a plethora of wineries abound all around Newberg…for you oenophiles , check out the various wine tours with a tasting room. Nearby in St. Paul, Oregon is the famed Champoeg State Heritage Area, a long-gone pioneer town now home to a museum, campsites, cabins, yurts and pet-friendly hiking trails.

Senior visitors will also find that the Heritage Area includes a visitor center, an 1860s-style garden, the Newell House Museum – Robert Newell’s restored 1852 house – and the Pioneer Mothers Memorial Cabin Museum.

Newberg is known as…“A Place To Grow,” and for good reason… in the last 50 years Newberg has become one of Oregon’s most dynamic small cities. It is said to  be Yamhill County’s Most Interesting City.

Seniors Enjoy Fine Art, Fine Wine And Fine Dining

Travel Oregon notes that Newberg is where artisan vintners craft complex Pinots and creative chefs use the region’s bounty as their palette for innovative menus so Newberg is the great destination for fine dining. Senior visitors will find fine art and fine wine in Historic Downtown Newberg .

President Herbert Hoover moved to the city as a child in 1885, to live with his uncle and aunt after the death of his parents, and was one of the first students to attend his uncle’s Pacific Academy.  The home has been turned into the Hoover-Minthorn House museum.

Newberg was “dry”, meaning no alcohol could be sold within the city limits, for a good part of its early history. By the 1880s, the Newberg area had become heavily influenced by the Friends (Quaker) Church. Today Newberg holds the world record for the most churches per capita.

Newberg has a number of sites listed on the National Register of Historic Places; enjoys a nationally ranked university, George Fox University; and is part of the region in Oregon where one finds the oldest and most innovative wine producers.

Stop in Newberg and enjoy all that the town has to offer. -jeb

Seniors Pass Through Great Bend

Great Bend, the Heart of Kansas , is named for its location at the point where the course of the Arkansas River bends east then southeast. The population today runs right at 16,000. Senior travelers learn that Great Bend was located on the National Old Trails Road, also known as the Ocean-to-Ocean Highway, that was established in 1912. The famed Santa Fe Trail ran right through present-day Courthouse Square.

In 1541 Coronado, and the Spanish Conquistadors, passed through present day Great Bend, searching for the fabled 7 Cities of Cibola (Gold). Coronado thus established the white-man tradition of “passing through Great Bend”.

Coronado never found the 7 Cities of Gold, but he did discover the great bend on the Arkansas River. Indians, of course, already knew about a great bend on the Arkansas River (pronounced “ar-KAN-sas”). All of this happened while the Pilgrims were still in Europe.

Seniors Enjoy The History

Prior to settlement of the area, the site of Great Bend was located in the northern reaches of Kiowa territory. Claimed first by France as part of Louisiana and later acquired by the United States with the Louisiana Purchase in 1803, it laid within the area organized by the U.S. as Kansas Territory in 1854.

Kansas became a state in 1861, and the state government delineated the surrounding area as Barton County in 1867. The first settlers of the area arrived in 1870, living in sod houses and dugouts. They worked as buffalo hunters since trampling by bison herds precluded crop farming.

Agriculture is the predominant industry in Great Bend, and its huge grain elevators are visible from miles away. The oil industry flourished from about 1930-1960.

And get this…there was even an oil well located in the city park. But the oil industry has been on the decline for several years. Cattle is an important source of income for many people living in and around Great Bend.

Seniors Find Great Bend Peaceful

“It’s in our nature to play” is often heard in and around Great Bend. In a word, seniors find the place “peaceful.” Senior visitors will see colorful murals scattered all over town. I’d want to visit the Raptor Center. Then I’d tour the Wildlife National Scenic Byway.

TripAdvisor suggests checking out Cheyenne Bottoms, a wetland in the central Great Plains of North America. Occupying approximately 41,000 acres in central Kansas, it is the largest wetland in the interior United States and easily accessible from Great Bend.

Senior visitors can venture out to the vast wetlands that bookend the town, Cheyenne Bottoms and Quivira National Wildlife Refuge. Visit downtown Great Bend and stroll along the Birdhouse Art Walk and the Kansas Quilt Walk.

Great Bend offers senior visitors the broadest selection of food and lodging choices in the region and  a plethora of historic buildings.  Enjoy your stay. -jeb

Seniors Wheel Into Wheeling

Wheeling, “The Friendly City,” a city in Marshall and Ohio counties in West Virginia, is located almost entirely in Ohio County. Senior travelers will find the city along the Ohio River in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, with a population of just under 30,000.

Wheeling , originally a settlement in the British colony of Virginia and later an important city in the Commonwealth of Virginia, was the first state capital of West Virginia. Thanks to its location along major transportation routes, including the Ohio River, National Road, and the B&O Railroad, Wheeling became a major manufacturing center in the late nineteenth century.

Wheeling experienced the closing of factories and substantial population loss following World War II. Today Wheeling’s major industries include healthcare, education, law and legal services, entertainment and tourism, and energy.

Seniors Discover History And Beauty Surrounding Wheeling

The area had been inhabited by Native Americans for thousands of years. Originally explored by the French, Wheeling still has a lead plate remnant buried by the explorer Céloron de Blainville in 1749 at the mouth of Wheeling Creek to mark their claim and the city was later founded in 1769.

There is scenic beauty in all directions in and around Wheeling . The Wheeling Suspension Bridge connects Wheeling with Wheeling Island that is the largest inhabited island on the Ohio River. It was the first bridge to span the Ohio River, built in 1849 with a length of 1,010 feet.

Senior visitors can check out Oglebay Park located on the outskirts of Wheeling. The Oglebay Institute Glass Museum features 3,000 examples of Wheeling glass and china made from 1820-1939, including the famous Sweeney Punch Bowl, the largest piece of cut glass in the world.

Seniors Find Wheeling’s Crown Jewel

Wheeling’s unique nightlife and extraordinary menus create a culinary scene that’s hard to beat. Oglebay Resort offers world class golf courses, pools, both indoor and out and a zoo with over 80 species of animals nestled in 30 acres of flowers, trees, hills and valleys.

The Schrader Environmental Education Center invites senior visitors to enjoy the Corson Wildflower and Butterfly Gardens. There are many beautiful Victorian homes in Wheeling  and the Eckhart House, 810 Main Street is known as Wheeling’s “Crown Jewel.”

The home is a restored 1892 three-story Queen Anne townhome with most of its original architectural features intact. The Woodridge is another that dates back to 1831. nota bene : Wheeling contains more Victorian architecture than any other city in the US,  much of it having undergone extensive restoration.

My wife and I would plan to enjoy an event at Capitol Theater, the largest theatre in West Virginia and a landmark building in the national historic district of downtown Wheeling .

Senior travelers, set your GPS for Wheeling and enjoy all the city has to offer.  -jeb

Seniors Seek Out Beacon

Senior travelers will find Beacon On The Hudson in Dutchess County, New York, part of the Poughkeepsie–Newburgh–Middletown, New York Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population runs nearly 16,000. It was named to commemorate the historic beacon fires that blazed forth from the summit of the Fishkill Mountains to alert the Continental Army about British troop movements.

The area was originally settled as the villages of Matteawan and Fishkill Landing in 1709. TripAdvisor has several attractions lined up for senior visitors to consider “Must See and Must Do.”

The waterfall of Fishkill Creek goes right through downtown Beacon along East Main Street. Streams add so much to any historical site.

Hudson Beach Glass is not only a retail storefront on Main Street, but also a busy studio where several local glass artists work and demonstrate the craft of glass blowing and sculpting. Waterfront Park would be a great place to unwind for a picnic.

Seniors Enjoy ‘Hippest City’

Erin Lindsey of Daytrippin,’ Weekender notes that…“When someone asks me where to go for a daytrip , I almost always tell them Beacon. And when someone else asks me where to spend a weekend off the MetroNorth, I almost always tell them Beacon. It’s solidified itself as the “hippest” city in the Hudson Valley , but besides being hip, I tell everyone about Beacon because there’s so much to do there. Shopping, dining, bar-hopping, hiking, museum-ing–this place has it all.”

The NY Times notes that carpets, baby carriages, shower doors, cookie cartons are among the many products made, at one point or another, in Beacon. Located 90 minutes north of New York City on the eastern shore of the Hudson River, Beacon is noted for its proximity to numerous historic sites and large cities. It is located minutes away from Bannerman’s Castle and West Point.

Beacon also sits with the famous Mount Beacon as its backdrop and the Hudson River as its front door. The city is located across the river from its larger sister city, Newburgh and is only 20 minutes south of the Hudson Valley Region Capital City, Poughkeepsie.

Seniors Find Popular Weekend Getaway

Condé Nast Traveler has ten things senior visitors  must see in Beacon. They note that over the past decade, the town has gone from sleepy working-class community to popular weekend getaway. Beacon’s Main Street thoroughfare has farm-to-table restaurants, world-class art, and even a Doctor Who-themed café, all within a leisurely afternoon’s walking distance.

Beacon, with an abundance of Victorian architecture, collectible shops, emerging art galleries, museums and fine dining has something for everyone.

Beacon sits on the Metro North commuter line offering senior visitors and residents an easy in and out of NYC.

So set your GPS for Beacon and dont miss the 100 year old Incline Railway trail goes up Mt. Beacon. I know that my wife would  visit the Madam Brett Homestead (1709)… she loves older homes. -jeb