Take a break from babysitting the grandchildren and check out these five favorite vacation destinations.
For many of us, our golden years present a good opportunity to travel. The kids are grown, we don't have to worry about going to work every day, and perhaps for the first time in our lives, we can go where we want and do what we want - please just ourselves. Here are five of my favorite vacation destinations, favorites because as a mid-fifties baby boomer with a disability, I find these tourist areas to be relatively accessible to my limited mobility. They also possess a pleasant combination of activity and serenity to accommodate however I'm feeling on any particular day. As such, they make excellent vacation choices for senior citizens. Four of them are along the east coast, and one (Frankenmuth, Michigan) is more centrally located near the Great Lakes.
At the top of my list for a quiet, inexpensive getaway is Natural Bridge, Virginia. Located not far off of I-81, between the Blue Ridge and Allegheny Mountain ranges, this often-overlooked treasure is an ideal spot in the Southern Shenandoah Valley to rest and renew the spirit. Accommodations include a first-class hotel, fully appointed cabins in a village setting, or a campground. If you're there on a Friday night, be sure not to miss the seafood buffet at the hotel. Sporting initials carved into it by George Washington in 1750, the bridge is 215 feet high, ninety feet wide, over a million years old, and a truly spectacular sight. A peaceful, mile-long walkway guides you down Cascade Creek, under the bridge, and ends at Lace Falls. If you time your visit to avoid drought conditions, you'll get more enjoyment from the small cascades along the fifty-foot drop of Lace Falls. An excellent wax museum lies to the left of the largest gift shop in Virginia, and Natural Bridge Caverns are just a short drive away. With the exception of the caverns, everything is within walking distance, so don't forget to bring comfortable shoes.
Every few years in July, the tall ships sail into Newport, Rhode Island, and it is to accommodate their height that the Newport Bridge was built so high. Sailing isn't the only pleasure to be experienced in Newport, though. Bellevue Avenue hosts an array of what most of us would call mansions but that the wealthy built as summer cottages. Many of these luxurious homes are owned by the Preservation Society of Newport County and are open for public tours. One of the most famous (and a personal favorite), Rosecliff, was used in the filming of THE GREAT GATSBY. Sweeping front lawns stretch to the ocean on most of the properties, and there are few more delightful ways to spend an hour or so than strolling about the grounds and admiring the view after one of these tours. Other privately owned stately homes, like Belmont Castle (the family is still residing in part of this one) and Hammersmith Farm (childhood home of Jackie Kennedy and used as a summer White House from 1961-1963), are also open to tours. The Cliff Walk, a large part of which runs between the Newport mansions and the Atlantic Ocean, is an excellent way to get some exercise and to enjoy a panoramic view of the coast, ocean, and mansion properties. After a delicious seafood dinner at one of the many fine restaurants in town, an evening excursion along Ocean Drive is a relaxing way to enjoy the beauty of a sunset while winding down from the day.
Less than two hours to the west of Newport, Rhode Island, is Mystic, Connecticut. A mecca for shoppers, Mystic has a quaint little village of shops. Landscaped to resemble a seaside town, the streets and walkways are cobbled or brick; and each shop has its own theme. Mystic Marine Life Aquarium is small enough to be enjoyed by those of us who are a bit past our physical prime but still large enough to provide an entertaining look at sea life. An outdoor walkway winds over fish ponds and past sea lion enclosures. If you get there early, you might get to see the keepers feeding the fish. One summer we were there for this event, and the fish were so enthusiastic about their breakfast that they knocked the ducks over when they lunged to the surface of the water to eat. My daughter giggled over that mental image for months after we came home. Floating museums (ships) abound in the Mystic area, but for a real seaside town experience, don't miss going to the Seaport. An admission fee is charged, but once you're in, you can spend the day exploring working boat repair shops and anchored boats. Several restaurants populate Mystic, and we didn't have any complaints about any of the food that we ate. Seafood is most popular, of course, but you can get a variety of other fare as well, including cheesesteaks and burgers and fries. Our favorite restaurant is Jamm's - generous amounts of delicious seafood, wonderful fried scallops. Mystic is an idyllic weekend getaway.
Just south of the area where the thumb meets the rest of the glove on the map that is Michigan, Frankenmuth rests along the Cass River. The sister city of Gunzenhausen, Germany, and known as Michigan's "Little Bavaria," Frankenmuth was founded by Lutheran pioneers from Germany. The name means "courage of the Franconians," Franken meaning Province of Franconia in the Kingdom of Bavaria and Muth meaning courage. Awash in Bavarian architecture and favoring German food, this charming site has much to offer. Two Zwiebel Towers (Onion Towers) grace the skyline; one of them is the largest known Onion Tower in North America. Thirty themed shops and attractions line River Place, a European-style village. A 238-foot covered bridge connects the village and the Bavarian Inn Lodge, a seven-acre resort with twelve German-themed restaurants under one roof with Main Street, where you'll find another seventy-five shops. Shops sell mostly - you guessed it - merchandise with a German touch, and have names like Cheese Haus and Bronner's Christmas Wonderland, the world's largest Christmas store. After you've worn yourself out from sightseeing and shopping, enjoy a restful ride down the Cass River on the seventy-ton Bavarian Belle Riverboat, which is fully ramped and handicapped accessible. Frankenmuth hosts a variety of annual festivals, and it isn't hard to find one to suit your taste. Zhnder's Snowfest, in January, showcases snow sculpting and ice carving. In May, the World Expo of Beer and the Lumberjack Festival provide entertainment. Summer entertains a minimum of three events - the Bavarian Festival, the Farm Fest, and the Summer Music Fest, with Oktoberfest (complete with wooden dance floor) marking the transition from summer to fall in September. A clam and lobster fest add flavor to October, and November ushers in the holiday season with the Holiday Celebration and Candlewalk. There's always something "doing" in Frankenmuth; don't miss a chance to explore this mid-western gem.
You might think that my final choice is a bit unusual as a recommended vacation destination for senior citizens; but if you can afford to stay in one of the quieter hotels and not in one of the "value resorts," Florida's Walt Disney World can be a beautiful spot for an adult respite. When we visited, we noticed that the happiest people there were those without tired, cranky, crying kids. Don't go when summer's heat and humidity are at their worst (and school's out), but rather in the spring or fall. Winter can get downright cold, so I wouldn't recommend going in the winter, either. Early November is a near-perfect time - low rainfall and fewer crowds. Take time to enjoy each other, the beautiful scenery, and a few of the finer restaurants that Disney World offers. Lose yourself for just a little while in the 1950s world of white picket fences.
Wherever you decide to go, check with AAA before leaving to be sure that you know the current driving laws of the area. And don't forget to bring little gifts back for the grandkids.
