senior travel – THE TRAVELING SENIORS

December 30, 2019

HOW TO PHOTOGRAPH SLOT CANYONS: THE PERMIT PROCESS AND RECOMMENDED NAVAJO TOUR COMPANIES IN PAGE, ARIZONA

SPECIAL UPDATE December 24, 2019 According to https://tinyurl.com/wxab7m4 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 out the extra time professional photographers need to get that perfect shot. Tour operators thus voted to cancel photo-only tours, Antelope Canyon Tours posted on its website. Head to Page, Arizona! Numerous Slot Canyons and Horseshoe Bend near Page are…

written by Stuart - Posted in 2019, Arizona, Blog, Trip Planning

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 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…

written by Stuart - Posted in 2019, Arizona, Blog

January 21, 2019

VISIT THE MOUNTAIN TOWN OF HIGHLANDS, North Carolina

Where can you take a walk to get an early morning coffee downtown and possibly see a bear? Where can you rub elbows with people who have bought jewelry on Main Street worth tens of thousands of dollars? Where can you find more than 500 trails and countless waterfalls for those who want to spend as much time as possible in nature? Where can you attend an afternoon tea? Highlands, North Carolina! When you visit Highlands, North Carolina, you will be totally charmed. This mountain town is quaint and sophisticated. At an elevation of 4,117 feet, Highlands has everything! Highlands is a sleepy picturesque town until summertime. In summer, Highlands’…

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

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 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

June 3, 2018

TIPS FOR SAFE AND HAPPY BACKROADS TRAVEL

TIPS FOR SAFE AND HAPPY BACKROADS TRAVEL A little hesitant to travel these days? Don’t be! It is safe and easy to travel like we do! Honest! Still, you need to plan your trip so safety is not an issue. Just follow these tips for safe and happy travel. First, people. People we meet are universally polite, inspirational, knowledgeable and gracious about sharing information and stories. Stu talks to everybody! Before you know it, he’s made a fast friend. I am more shy. But get either of us in an interesting place with interesting people and watch out! Truthfully, the people on our journeys have been as richly rewarding…

written by Barb Bradley - Posted in Blog, Trip Planning