2019 – Page 2 – THE TRAVELING SENIORS

August 26, 2019

THE FIRST AFRICAN UNION BAPTIST CHURCH IN SAVANNAH, GA

Note: We were asked not to take photos in certain areas of the church without people in them. We were happy to comply. The pastor’s wife explained that they are discouraging photo piracy in this manner. I cried. The power of The First African Union Baptist Church in Savannah, Georgia is overwhelming. In all of Savannah, the tour I took here continues to mean the most to me. In fact, I believe this particular tour impacted me more than any other that I’ve taken in the U.S. Why? THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS CHURCH CANNOT BE OVER EMPHASIZED This church has played…

written by Barb Bradley - Posted in 2019, Blog, Georgia

August 19, 2019

Botany Bay PLANTATION on EDISTO ISLAND, South Carolina

He was shriveled, smiling and a 94-year-old volunteer. He sat on a stool by a makeshift information cart with maps of Botany Bay. He and his wife met at Valpariso and now he “catches the fish and she cooks them up.” I was alone. He told me, “This is too beautiful a place to not bring someone with you.” He was right-Botany Bay Plantation and Edisto Island ARE gorgeous and somewhat exotic. At the southernmost tip of Edisto Island, you will find the Botany Bay Plantation Heritage and Wildlife Management Area and the secluded Botany Bay Beach. The approach to Botany Bay Plantation is…

written by Barb Bradley - Posted in 2019, Blog, South Carolina

August 12, 2019

NEW REGULATIONS FOR TRAVEL: CHECK YOUR WALLET !

Heads up, seniors! There are new regulations coming for travel. PULL OUT YOUR WALLET and make certain you are ready. No, the new regulations won’t make money fly out of your wallet, but your wallet does contain the key to travel beginning in 2020. Look at your drivers’ license. Does it have a yellow star on it? If you don’t have a yellow star on your license, you need to obtain it by 2020! You MUST have a yellow star in the upper right hand corner of the card or you DON’T HAVE A “REAL ID.” YOU MUST SHOW A REAL ID TO TAKE ANY DOMESTIC COMMERCIAL FLIGHT…

written by Barb Bradley - Posted in 2019, Blog, Travel, Trip Planning

July 22, 2019

WALK THROUGH ROUGH AND TUMBLE SILVERTON, COLORADO

Dodge City. Tombstone. Durango. We’ve been to them all but the old west town that still remains the most authentic is rough and tumble Silverton, Colorado. At 9,000 feet, the mining town of Silverton was a magnet for miners, saloon keepers, and the few women who kept the men company. The frontier flavor of Silverton isn’t fake and recreated for tourists.The western free spirit remains today. That may be due to the fact that the town is still very remote in the San Juan Mountains. Getting to Silverton is an adventure in itself! This is the land of “the 14-ers”, the peaks in Colorado that are 14,000 feet or…

written by Barb Bradley - Posted in 2019, Blog, Colorado

July 15, 2019

MONUMENT VALLEY NAVAJO TRIBAL PARK IN UTAH

Reaching the park mid-day in late May was like opening the door into a fantasy-land. The scale and quiet strength of the place cannot be described adequately. The accurate name of the park is “Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park” and it will take your breath away! Who doesn’t have Monument Valley on their bucket list? This park is NOT a national park but is located in a part of a 25,000 square mile Navajo Nation Reservation. Therefore, Monument Valley is administered by the Navajo Nation. WHEN TO GO Monument Valley can be very hot in the summer months. We visited in late May and the weather…

written by Barb Bradley - Posted in 2019, Blog, Utah

July 8, 2019

ONE OF THE WORLD’S GREAT RAILROADS: DURANGO TO SILVERTON, COLORADO

All Aboard! Hop on a coal-fired, steam-powered train that still uses the 3-foot narrow gauge tracks that were constructed to haul silver and gold ore from the San Juan Mountains in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado! This trip is truly a thrill! You HAVE to take this ride! Frommers lists the 3-foot narrow gauge Durango-Silverton, Colorado Railroad one of America’s 10 most fun and this train trip has been called, “one of the best in the world.” The views are jaw dropping along the route of this “Old West” steam train! This train line is a designated National Historic Landmark. The 45-mile route takes approximately 10 hours roundtrip. We…

written by Barb Bradley - Posted in 2019, Blog, Colorado

July 1, 2019

THE NEEDLES DISTRICT OF CANYONLANDS NATIONAL PARK IN UTAH

Towering rock needles, arches and canyons ribbed with bright bands of red and white rock await you in the Needles District of Canyonlands! We explored the Needles District in the southeastern part of Canyonlands National Park. The “Needles” was named for the colored spires of Cedar Mesa Sandstone that dominate the landscape and may be considered the most “backcountry” of the Canyonlands districts. The landscape is indescribable and we found the experience one-of-a-kind! This district has a visitor center, ranger programs, a scenic drive and campgrounds, including the Squaw Flat Campground. There are four districts in Canyonlands: The Needles District The Sky District The…

written by Barb Bradley - Posted in 2019, Blog, Utah

June 24, 2019

AMERICA’S OLDEST CITY: THE CHARMS OF HISTORIC ST. AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA

Stu and I attended the 2019 Florida Birding and Photo Fest in St. Augustine, Florida and were totally captivated by the birds, the city, the food and the residents of America’s oldest city! The charms of historic St. Augustine, Florida will keep you enthralled, no matter what your interests! St. Augustine is America’s oldest city and has 400 years of history and culture to enjoy! This city dates from 1563! Of course, we had heard of Juan Ponce de Leon, Sir Francis Drake, Henry Flagler and the Timucua Indians. What we didn’t know is that all are a part of the history of the coastline between…

written by Barb Bradley - Posted in 2019, Blog, Florida

June 17, 2019

A “DON’T MISS” STATE PARK IN UTAH: DEADHORSE POINT STATE PARK

Don’t bypass our American state parks! The most awe-inspiring state park we have visited, to date, is the incredible 5,362 square acres of Deadhorse Point State Park in Utah! When you enter, Deadhorse Point State Park is a tease. It is so unassuming UNTIL you reach an overlook! This state park is a neighbor to Arches National Park and Canyonlands National Park. It rivals the national parks in every way! Driving the Deadhorse Point Mesa Scenic Byway (U-313) was spectacular! This road took us through miles of red rock canyon country. The Byway is 35 miles long and takes 2 hours to drive at the…

written by Barb Bradley - Posted in 2019, Blog, Utah

June 10, 2019

THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO PAT CONROY’S DAUFUSKIE ISLAND, South Carolina

If you know the books or movies entitled, “The Great Santini” and “The Prince of Tides,” you know of author Pat Conroy. After graduating from college at The Citadel, he took a job in 1969 teaching in a one-room schoolhouse on the isolated island of Daufuskie. Daufuskie is a small island about three miles off the South Carolina mainland and, to this day, there are no bridges to the island. It is the southernmost inhabited sea island in South Carolina. A young white man, Conroy was enraged by the substandard education being given the native children on the island. He spent a year teaching the students about the wider world…

written by Barb Bradley - Posted in 2019, Blog, South Carolina