Blog – Page 5 – THE TRAVELING SENIORS

December 23, 2019

APPALACHIAN TRAIL HIKERS, RAFTERS & PADDLERS LOVE TINY HOT SPRINGS, North Carolina

Nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains, the Pisgah National Forest and fronting the French Broad River lies tiny Hot Springs, North Carolina. The first time we came across Hot Springs, it was by happenstance. We were exploring the area around Asheville, NC by driving Highways 208 and 209, both scenic byways in North Carolina. Hot Springs is easy to miss, if you don’t know its rich history or current day importance to nature lovers and hikers. There are, after all, only 500 residents. The second time we visited Hot Springs, it was on purpose. What a cool 2-block town! Certainly, not impressive architecturally, the quirky combination of…

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

December 16, 2019

HOW TO EXPLORE PENSACOLA, FLORIDA

updated 12/19 Explore Pensacola! White sugar sand beaches, emerald water and the architectural feel of a tiny New Orleans. Add them together (plus restaurants that would send foodies to heaven), and you have Pensacola, Florida! Who knew? Pensacola is one of those towns where people make you feel like family, the arts and deep sea fishing combine with sandy feet and a laid-back vibe. You have to visit!! Park your car downtown and walk! There isn’t heavy traffic and this city is made for strolling! The wrought iron details on the buildings and covered sidewalks beckon you past bakeries, restaurants and unique boutiques….

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

December 2, 2019

BEST GUIDE TO VISITING ZION NATIONAL PARK via SPRINGDALE, UTAH

updated 12/19 Zion National Park is perfect for senior travel and is my personal favorite of all the national parks. It doesn’t matter if you are in hiking shape or not! Seniors, put Zion on your travel list! We have put together a guide to visiting Zion for those who stay in Springdale, Utah. We stayed in Springdale to visit Zion National Park for 4 days. We wanted to stay even longer and cannot wait to go back! HOW TO GET THERE Utah’s Zion National Park is close to the Arizona and Nevada borders. COMING FROM Las Vegas: Take Interstate 15 north…

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

November 25, 2019

SLOT CANYONS AND HORSESHOE BEND: THE BEST GUIDE TO PAGE, ARIZONA

updated 11/19 Only an hour and a half from both The Grand Canyon and Zion National Park is Page, Arizona. Yet, most people bypass Page and some of the most incredible national wonders in America! SPECIAL UPDATE December 24, 2019 According to azcental.com, traffic jams have led slot canyon tour operators to discontinue the popular photography-only tours of the slot canyon on the Navajo Reservation near Page in northern Arizona as of Dec. 20, 2019. You can still take photos with your phone or camera on regular tours, but no tripods will be allowed. As the number of visitors increased, tour operators found it increasingly difficult to carve…

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

November 18, 2019

A COMPLETE GUIDE TO THE ALAMO IN San Antonio, TEXAS

updated 10/19 WHY WE WANTED TO GO Neither Stu nor I had been to The Alamo for decades. It is easy to overlook how significant a role The Alamo plays in America’s history. Our generation grew up with Davy Crockett, Jim Bowie and Jim Travis. These men were our heroes. We were excited to see The Alamo! We looked forward to the moral lessons and action-packed episodes from those television shows coming back to us as we arrived. Instead, as adults, the sacrifice and bravery of the men who fought at the Alamo made us reverent and reflective. We have put together the history of the…

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

November 11, 2019

THINGS TO SEE IN OCONEE COUNTY, South Carolina: the “LAND BESIDE WATER”

“How did they do that?” When we visit a place, a theme or question about the place usually pops into my mind. I know, weird. In Oconee County, South Carolina, the question was, “how did they do that?” Oconee County is the westernmost county in South Carolina and couldn’t be more different from how you picture the coastal areas in the state. The Cherokee word, “Ae-quo-nee,” means “land beside water.” Here, three huge man-made lakes (Keowee, Jocassee, and Lake Hartwell) dot the hills. Oconee County is also home to 67 summits, ridges, ranges and mountain trails. Picture 90,000 acres of protected forests, historical sites, hikes, fishing and small southern towns….

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

November 4, 2019

TOP THINGS TO DO IN VICTORIAN EUREKA SPRINGS, ARKANSAS

Updated 11/19 A Victorian enclave in the midst of the Ozarks? YES! And it is a visual stunner! The entire town is on the National Register of Historic Places! The history of this charming town began with tribes who spoke of a “Great Healing Spring” in the vicinity.* Indeed, in the middle of town, you’ll still find Basin Springs Park. By the 1870s, people were coming to the springs to heal various ailments.The power of the healing waters became famous and Eureka Springs was born in 1879. HISTORY According to Eurekasprings.com, a white man by the name of Alvah Jackson found the Basin Spring in 1856. When the…

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

October 28, 2019

ALABAMA’S FORT MORGAN

Damn the torpedos, full speed ahead” –Admiral David Farragut Stu surprised me with a trip to Alabama, a place where he lived for many years. I’d never visited Alabama and am now a big fan! The quote above is something we heard a lot growing up and in war movies, but do you know where that phrase originated? Union Admiral David Farragut was leading ships into Mobile Bay in Alabama in an effort to capture Fort Morgan during the Civil War when he yelled to his naval comrades, “Damn the torpedos, full speed ahead!” The Battle of Mobile Bay began on August 5, 1864 and lasted two-weeks. The battle ended with the Fort’s…

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

October 21, 2019

THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO N.C.’S BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY

Can you picture 469 miles of natural splendor? Splendor that runs from Virginia through North Carolina and connects the Shenandoah National Park with the Great Smoky Mountains National Park? If you can, chances are you have explored the Blue Ridge Parkway! Stunning long-range views and more than 100 trails comprise “America’s Favorite Drive.” The Parkway is more than a visual treasure! There are campgrounds, biking, musical events, arts and crafts (the Folk Art Center), hiking, historic as well as interpretive sites (including Revolutionary War sites and the Museum of North Carolina Minerals). What is the best part? The Blue Ridge Parkway is free and open all year, depending on winter weather. In North…

written by Barb Bradley - Posted in 2019, Blog, North Carolina, Road Trips

October 14, 2019

SUNRISES/SUNSETS OF NW FLORIDA

Do you enjoy watching a gorgeous setting sun? Well, here in NW Florida along the Gulf Coast, it’s just about an everyday day opportunity. We have some of the most beautiful sunsets you will ever see. Even though I enjoy traveling around the country, I hate to miss an opportunity to photograph the sunsets here in NW Florida. Depending on which way I head, in most cases it’s only a five minute drive or less for me to be able to capture that setting sun. Many times I will head to the beach, either Navarre Beach or over to Pensacola Beach. Sometimes I will even head out the Point which…

written by Stuart - Posted in Blog, Florida, NW Florida, Sunset