retirement travel – THE TRAVELING SENIORS

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….

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…

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

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….

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…

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…

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

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: …

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

January 31, 2019

9 BATTLE STARS: THE BATTLESHIP USS ALABAMA

Though it was a sunny day, our minds drifted to the battleship before us having sailed through the fog of war. It is a humbling experience. We felt a certain reverence as we boarded the Battleship USS (BB-60) Alabama in Mobile, Alabama. Senior Travelers will relate since we grew up with stories about WWII from our parents. The USS Alabama was commissioned in 1942 and served in the Atlantic and Pacific theaters of World War II. Decommissioned in 1947, the battleship was placed in the reserve fleet in Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton, Washington. In 1964, Alabama was towed to Mobile Bay and opened as a museum the…

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

January 7, 2019

BARGAIN TRAVEL: TOP TRAVEL DISCOUNTS FOR SENIORS IN 2019

If you are like us, pennies count while traveling. We want to go everywhere and see everything! We all know there are compromises on a retirement income but stretching your dollars can make the difference between heading out for an exciting trip and not going. For bargain travel, we need to know the top travel discounts for seniors. This year, our friends at The Senior List® (www.theseniorlist.com) have once again published The 2019 Best Travel Discounts for Seniors. Their list contains verified senior discounts. While discount policies can change during the year, we use this list when planning our journeys. *Please note: Some of the discounts you’ll see below are offered…

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