Blog – Page 14 – THE TRAVELING SENIORS

July 30, 2018

IN ARIZONA, TAKE THE MOUNT LEMMON SCENIC BYWAY

Take a backroads trip up Mount Lemmon Scenic Byway near Tucson, Arizona. Our drive up one of the most scenic drives in southeast Arizona made for a perfect day. After several days in Tucson in over 100 degree heat in May, we really needed a break. MOUNT LEMMON Mount Lemmon has a summit elevation of 9,156 feet and is the highest point in the Santa Catalina Mountains, located in the Coronado National Forest north of Tucson. The 27-mile Byway is the biological equivalent of driving from the deserts of Mexico to the forests of Canada! Just imagine! As gardeners, Stu and I were fascinated by the changes in plant life! …

written by Barb Bradley - Posted in 2018, Arizona, Blog, Road Trips, Video

July 26, 2018

TAKE A NOSTALGIC BACKROADS TRIP: ROUTE 66 IN KANSAS

Take a nostalgic backroads trip on Route 66 in Kansas! U.S. Route 66 is also known as the Will Rogers Highway, the Main Street of America and the Mother Road (so dubbed by John Steinbeck in his 1939 book, “The Grapes of Wrath”) and is a visual and historic treat! Route 66 is one of the original highways of the U. S. Highway System and was established on November 11, 1926. Route 66 is the most famous highway in the United States and originally ran from Chicago, Illinois, through Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico and Arizona before ending in Santa Monica, California. The original Route 66 covered a total of…

written by Stuart - Posted in 2018, Blog, Kansas, Road Trips, Video

July 23, 2018

VISUAL MAGIC IN ARIZONA’S SLOT CANYONS

See visual magic in Arizona’s Slot Canyons! When Navajo guides throw dirt into the sun’s rays, an ethereal stream of fireworks erupts! We had seen photos of the famous Antelope Canyon, but knew nothing else about the Slot Canyons in Arizona. Slot Canyons are enchanting, unforgettable natural wonders! Our slot canyon experiences are among our very favorites in America. Slot Canyons are narrow canyons, formed by water rushing through rock. Slot canyons are deeper than they are wide. These canyons are mostly found within the Colorado Plateau of northern Arizona and southern Utah. Slot Canyons near Page, Arizona Most Slot Canyons are…

written by Stuart - Posted in 2018, Arizona, Blog, Trip Planning, Video

July 19, 2018

8 RULES FOR CHOOSING LODGING AS A SENIOR

We have additional lodging considerations as seniors. Here are our 8 Rules for Choosing Lodging as a Senior. Rule 1: Research before you leave home. Trip Advisor and Expedia are our go-to resources for lodging research. We are not fancy people. However, Stu is definitely not into camping. Hostels and low budget hotels are out. We feel that since we are retired, there is a purpose for the money we saved and one use is to be comfortable! Stu is a member of AAA and often asks his local office for lodging recommendations. Keep in mind, however, that AAA gets a kick-back from hotels and may not…

written by Barb Bradley - Posted in Blog, Trip Planning

July 16, 2018

TAKE A BACKROADS TRIP: FORT OSAGE, MISSOURI NATIONAL LANDMARK

What is better on a beautiful summer’s day than to take a backroads trip to Fort Osage, Missouri National Landmark? This fort is a surprise. There are decades of U.S. history represented here. Let’s face it. We grew up watching “cowboys and Indians” on television. Although a lot of those shows bent the truth, I’d like to think they instilled a love of history-especially history of the frontier-in our generation. As you explore America’s midwest, there are many forts to visit, but none has so many layers of American history. Fort Osage is also an inexpensive educational stop to make if you are traveling with grandchildren, school children or…

written by Barb Bradley - Posted in 2018, Blog, Missouri

July 12, 2018

ESSENTIAL ROAD TRIP HACKS FOR SENIORS

Using Essential Road Trip Hacks for Seniors will make your next road trip an easy backroads vacation. There is never enough room in a car on a roadtrip. Never! And if you are like The Traveling Seniors, road trips can be lengthy, covering more than one season or climate. That means clothes, jackets, gear and guides can be hard to keep organized. Road Trip Hacks for Seniors Stay Connected Stu uses multi-USB ports in the front and backseats of the car. Every time we get into the car, we plug in our phones in the front seat ports. We also charge camera batteries while we…

written by Barb Bradley - Posted in Blog, Trip Planning

July 5, 2018

VISIT OLD LUXURY: HISTORIC HACIENDA DEL SOL GUEST RANCH RESORT

Visit the historic Hacienda Del Sol Guest Ranch Resort and find old world charm and casual luxury for travelers of any age. We were invited to meet one of the Hacienda’s owners over dinner while we visited Tucson, Arizona. The Resort overlooks Tucson from the Catalina Foothills. It is included in the National Registry of Historic Places In Arizona and is a member of Historic Hotels of America. The Tucson area is home to a number of world-famous spas and ranches where Oprah Winfrey and other celebrities find rejuvenation. Even in our wildest dreams, Stu and I never expected to be hosted by one of the Hacienda’s owners and…

written by Barb Bradley - Posted in 2018, Arizona, Blog

June 27, 2018

MEET STU & BARB, THE TRAVELING SENIORS

Hi and Welcome! Explore America with us on backroads. We’re Stu and Barb, The Traveling Seniors. Thank you for checking us out! We graduated high school together 50 years ago (that can’t be true)! We lost touch for 30 years but suddenly we’re exploring America together! And, yes, senior travel is thrilling! We photograph, giggle and blog our way down backroads exploring America. Think local food, colorful people and surprises everywhere. Long live mom & pop establishments and backroads! Follow The Traveling Seniors and find inspiration to travel, learn travel tips, find resources, see the most up-to-date senior travel discounts, and share our backroads trips! The Traveling Seniors are also on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube. Please pin our…

written by Stuart - Posted in Blog

June 25, 2018

TAKE A BACKROADS TRIP: GEORGE WASHINGTON CARVER BIRTHPLACE

Take an educational backroads trip! We didn’t know when we drove southern Missouri backroads, we would find the birthplace of George Washington Carver. I always root for underdogs. In my mind, they reinforce my own prospects in life. Those who leave the world a legacy are inspirational to me. The George Washington Carver birthplace is a place that traces the gifts, inspiration and obstacles faced by one of the most famous of America’s underdogs. The Ranger’s stories about Carver’s life left me in awe of the man. Carver National Monument The Park Service established the George Washington Carver National Monument in 1943. The monument is…

written by Barb Bradley - Posted in 2018, Blog, Missouri, Video

June 15, 2018

REVIEW OF THE TUCSON DESERT MUSEUM: MANTA RAYS IN THE DESERT?

Tucson Desert Museum Rattlesnakes and lizards were expected at the Tucson Desert Museum but Manta Rays in the desert? The Museum was founded in 1952 and is dedicated to interpreting the bi-national Sonoran Desert region. The Desert Museum came highly recommended to us, but, truthfully, we were disappointed. Now, children would love this place with live animal shows, raptors, gems, fossils, paleontology exhibits and more. Cons We thought the entrance fee ($19.95 per senior) was very high-even with a military discount of $17.95. We visited for the Hummingbird Aviary but there weren’t many birds there the day we went. When we visited, temperatures were…

written by Barb Bradley - Posted in 2018, Arizona, Blog, Video