March 18, 2019

50 GREAT AMERICAN ROAD TRIPS: THE BEST BACK ROAD BY STATE

We hope spring makes you want to get on the road! To help you decide where to go, we have a treasure trove of backroads information for you. Just where are the best back roads, by state? You already know we take back roads on every trip we take. Check out our blog post, “Take Backroads to Explore America” at: http://thetravelingseniors.com/back-roads-forever/ In that post, we share some of our favorite backroads.  As our friend, Scott of the blog, Take Back Roads, says, “America is home to countless back roads, side roads, and country roads… scenic routes, historic routes, and tourist routes… National Byways and Historic Highways…. and more road trip possibilities than…

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written by Barb Bradley - Posted in 2019, Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Blog, Florida, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, New Mexico, North Carolina, Road Trips, Tennesse, Texas, Travel, Trip Planning, Utah

March 9, 2019

42nd Annual McGuire’s St. Patrick’s Day Prediction 5K Run

Saturday, March 9 was the 42nd  Annual McGuire’s St. Patrick’s Day Prediction 5K Run taking place in Pensacola Florida.  Over ten thousand runners and walkers took part in this annual event. This was a 5K (3.1 miles) that started and finished at McGuire’s Irish Pub in downtown Pensacola, Florida.  McGuire’s Bagpipers https://youtu.be/vhEwtRJtI-Ehttps://youtu.be/Xv4GpCEULBY Off They Go And They Keep Coming

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written by Stuart - Posted in 2019, Blog, Florida, Travel

March 7, 2019

HOW TO TRACK Davy Crockett IN TENNESSEE

As seniors, we all grew up with Davy Crockett! (well, Fess Parker) He was brave enough to fight bears,  courageous enough to tame the frontier and stood for always doing what is right. He was also a real American. This particular senior travel was meaningful to us because Davy is a childhood hero of ours. My brother and I actually had a Davy Crockett clubhouse in our backyard!   We decided to track Davy Crockett through Tennessee to learn more about the man who preferred to be called David Crockett!       HOW DO YOU TRACK Davy Crockett IN TENNESSEE?   We tracked Davy to four locations in the state….

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

March 4, 2019

2 of AMERICA’s BEST QUILT TRAILS

The Amish purposely include a mistake in their quilts because only God is perfect. During the Dust Bowl, worn-out clothing was re-purposed into quilts to keep families warm.   Like you, I have quilts made by my grandmothers, great aunts, and my mom. Growing up, I snuggled under the quilts, tracing the pattern and fabrics with my finger as I settled down for the night. One family quilt went to my daughter and son in-law as a wedding gift.    Quilts are family heirlooms; symbols of the creativity and strength of women. Quilting Circles find women (and some men) “solving” world problems and sharing the warmth of friendship while creating works…

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written by Barb Bradley - Posted in 2019, Blog, Kentucky, Road Trips, Tennessee

February 28, 2019

A ROADSIDE WONDER:a fabulous surprise from the road

One of the greatest thrills of taking back roads is when we happen upon something interesting and unusual completely by accident! We call these finds “roadside wonders.” They are not historically significant or tourist destinations. Sometimes, they are colorful, at times ugly, kitsch, and even hilarious. We love sharing some of our favorites with you!   We stopped at a drugstore while driving through Sylva, North Carolina and look at the colorful “roadside wonder” we found!   Hiding on a side street was CT Auto Service, Inc., a three-generation business that offers car repairs, towing and more. When we stopped, Anthony told us that his grandfather began covering the building with license…

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

February 25, 2019

HOW TO FOLLOW THE FOOTSTEPS OF SGT. ALVIN C. YORK IN PALL MALL, TENNESSEE

We just HAD to follow the footsteps of Sgt. Alvin C. York in Pall Mall, Tennessee! We wanted to learn more and pay homage to Sgt. York-one of the most decorated American heroes of WWI.   New generations of Americans became familiar with York through a 1940s biographical Hollywood movie, starring Gary Cooper. Gary Cooper won an Oscar for best actor for his portrayal of Sgt. York. York’s military service in WWI and the movie (made much later) made Alvin York a household name.  For we seniors, Sgt. York’s story has been a part of our growing up years.   So, who was Alvin C. York?     YORK’S BACKGROUND     Alvin C….

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

February 21, 2019

THE BIGGEST 3,000 Year-Old PETROGLYPHS IN North America: JUDACULLA ROCK IN North Carolina

There are times when we see a sign by the side of the road that leads to an American treasure! Judaculla Rock is just such a find!   We were driving 107 N in Jackson County, North Carolina when we noticed a silver road sign which said, “Judaculla Rock.” We had never heard of Judaculla Rock and were uncertain if the sign actually referred to a rock. Boy, does it ever!   Judaculla Rock is approximately 16 feet long by eleven feet wide and is a soapstone boulder covered with strange drawings that have been studied by researchers worldwide. Quarry tools were found nearby and scientists have speculated that Judaculla Rock…

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

February 18, 2019

WHITE SANDS NATIONAL MONUMENT IN New Mexico: A BUCKET LIST DESTINATION

Gypsum sands sparkle during sunset and the views are absolutely amazing!  The dunes of White Sands National Monument begin at the park road and go on like a sea of sand! White Sands National Monument turned out to be a spiritual stop in our travels and should be a true bucket list destination for retirement travel.   Huge dunes of gypsum extend over 275 square miles of desert in New Mexico. White Sands was established as a National Monument in 1933 and is said to be the largest gypsum dune field in the world. The gypsum is from 250 million years ago when the southwestern U.S. was covered by the…

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written by Barb Bradley - Posted in 2019, Blog, New Mexico

February 14, 2019

THE BEST OF ARIZONA: THE PETRIFIED FOREST AND PAINTED DESERT

  If you want to experience other-worldly terrain, take a backroads trip to the Petrified Forest and Painted Desert!   The Petrified Forest National Park’s headquarters are located about 26 miles east of Holbrook, Az along Interstate 40, which parallels the BNSF Railway’s Southern Transcon, the Puerto River, and historic Route 66.   In fact, the Petrified Forest National Park is the only national park site that contains a segment of the Historic Route 66 alignment. The northern portion of the park extends into the Painted Desert.     Teddy Roosevelt created the Petrified Forest National Monument in 1906. It has over 50,000 acres of designated wilderness.     We drove…

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written by Stuart - Posted in 2019, Arizona, Blog

February 11, 2019

SAIL AWAY at TALL SHIP FESTIVALS

    Are you a romantic? Do you love pirate tales and swashbuckling movies?  How about Oceanographic Research? Sail away at Tall Ship Festivals, Races, Regattas, Challenges and Celebrations!               Stu and I spent three days exploring Tall Ships in Pensacola, Florida at the Tall Ships Festival.     There are Tall Ship events in North America each year as well as races and celebrations around the globe. One source for finding a Tall Ship Event near you is the Tall Ships Network.  C’mon senior travelers!     In 2019 alone, you can see Tall Ships in such American cities as:        …

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