Seniors Stop In Burlington

Senior travelers will find Burlington nestled in the heart of North Carolina in an area known as the Piedmont. The population runs just over 50,000. Burlington is located only a few hours drive from the picturesque Blue Ridge and Great Smoky Mountains to the west and the scenic coastal beaches to the east.

Senior visitors can enjoy Burlington’s open spaces and several parks as well as these popular sites: Alamance County Historical Museum, Alamance Battleground State Historic Site, and Glencoe Mill Village. Perhaps do a little shopping at Edgewood Village Shopping Center or Holly Hill Mall, both popular with the locals.

Burlington, North Carolina can trace its beginnings to the 1850s when the North Carolina Railroad selected this area to be the site of its repair facilities. Soon after the railroad moved to the area, it became known as “Town of Company Shops” and was chartered under this name in 1866.

Then the railroad moved its repair facilities to Spencer, North Carolina. With the departure of the railroad, Company Shops residents felt the need for a more appropriate name and they selected Burlington and made it official in 1893 when the City was chartered and incorporated.

Senior Gourmands Enjoy Burlington

Facilities for higher education are provided at several colleges and universities including Elon College, Guilford Technical Community College, and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

For you gourmet folks, Burlington is known to have the most restaurants per capita (322) in the state of North Carolina.

TripAdvisor suggests a visit to the Alamance County Historical Museum, a Museum of Victorian American Life, located at a National Register Historic Site where seniors can enjoy an American country home built by Michael Holt III in 1790.  The many original furnishings, provides a relaxed atmosphere enjoyed by hundreds of visitors each year.

 Seniors Visit A Winery

Having been a tour group leader in France for a dozen Elderhostel programs called Food and Wine of France, I would make it a point to visit the GlenMarie Winery.

I discovered that they use over 23 different types of grapes to make wines. Their Tasting Room costs $2.00 a person which includes a nice souvenir wine glass.

I had no idea that they had vineyards in North Carolina. Actually, the state has three major wine growing regions, the Mountain Region, the Piedmont Region, and the Sandhill-Coastal Region.

 Wine is fine, but how about blueberries? Enjoy eating blueberries, like me? Then plan a visit to Buttermilk Creek Farm on Gwyn Road, a family-owned, pick-your-own fruit farm growing blueberries, blackberries and peaches located just  north of Burlington.

 Burlington has something to offer senior visitors in all seasons.  -jeb