The Senior Scene

And what is on your Christmas list this year? A little fun adventure? An escape from the cold? Time to pamper yourself?
At our age, we have been taking care of others for so many years that we often forget there should be time for us. Perhaps there is money in the bank because “we have to leave something for the children” or “I’m saving it for a rainy day.” Well, we aren’t getting any younger, and the day may come when we really can’t get out and have some fun escapes for ourselves. We do need to take advantage of what we have now. Senior Adventures is all about still being able to do things even if you can’t do them on your own. Our tours are escorted, and we even help you find a roommate if you need one to help share the expenses.
Here we are at the end of another year. What new memories did you add? Did you find a new special place that you loved? Did you make some new friends? Did you learn something about a new culture? Did you do something you have always dreamed of doing but didn’t have the time, the money or anyone to do it with?
Senior Adventures is there for you. We have day trips, short overnights and exciting longer trips which might include a cruise or an amazing land tour. We visit far away exotic places and those within reach by lunch time.
Plans are now being made for many exciting things in the new year: A cruise to Belize and Roatan; a couple of weeks in Maui; spring in Washington, D.C; an exploration of Portugal with a river cruise on the Duro; Normandy and Paris for Memorials of the War. We will see the tulips in LaConnor, maybe iris in Oregon or lilacs in Woodland; we will travel to the ocean and the mountains; dinners may take us to the Seattle waterfront, Hood Canal, Olympia or points beyond; stay close to home and go to the theater for “Lion King.”
Do something for yourself. Give yourself permission to have fun. Contact me at 253-927-8207 or linda.finch@gmail.com

Here we are nearing the end of the year again. It has been a very busy year with exciting things to do and places to go. It is sometimes hard to try to decide what to do next. We are always looking for suggestions.
There might still be some space on the Cuba trip Dec. 1 for those who can’t make up their minds until the last minute. We might even still be able to find space on Princess cruises for anyone who would like to that that wonderful 15 day cruise out of San Francisco to Hawaii and back. There have been some very good fares listed for that one.
Now is also the time to be thinking of our cruise out of Galveston to Roatan and Belize on March 9. A nice seven-day cruise to get you out of the weather and start you thinking about spring.
And then there is our annual two-week trip to Hawaii. This year it will be Maui. Come along and see every inch of the island. The price tag includes lots of day trips, plenty of meals and a great deal of fun, sun and relaxation.
Further into the spring is Washington, D.C. for the cherry blossoms. Think about perhaps staying in the country and seeing those things which have been so important to us – the Jefferson, the Lincoln, Vietnam and Korean War memorials. The Smithsonian. Visit Mt. Vernon, Alexandria, Arlington, and even tour Annapolis.
Want something a little more exotic? Then how about Portugal, Spain and a river cruise through the Duro Valley? Everything is included on this one, with no extras for shore excursions or even cocktails.
For further information on these and many other trips (don’t forget all the dinner dates and mystery trips, the MOHI and the theater), call me at 253 927 8207 or get on the e-mail list at linda.finch@gmail.com.

Sweet tea, Dr. Pepper, crawfish, barbecue, oysters on the half sheet, popcorn shrimp, grits … all pictures of the South. What a wonderful area of the United States, and someplace we in the North need to know more about.  We hear about Katrina, Issac and so many other horrible storms, but have no real feeling about it because we are so unfamiliar with the area.

A group of us flew into Atlanta, Ga. and immediately traveled deeper into the south for a night in Montgomery, the state capitol. After a good night’s sleep, we really started the trip. Our first stop was the Rosa Parks Museum. This courageous lady basically started the civil rights movement.  We up north have no idea what is was like to have separate white and black facilities. How humiliating it was to have to give up your seat on the bus just because a person of another color was “better” than you. Rosa was tired of it all and held her spot even though it was against the rules. The bus boycott caught on and thus began a new revolution.

Lunch took us to Mobile and the Dew Drop Inn, the oldest continuously working eating establishment in the area.  Opened in 1857 and famous for its hot dogs, this is the restaurant where Jimmy Buffet wrote “Cheeseburger In Paradise.”

It wasn’t far from the Dew Drop to the Carnival Museum. What a fascinating place. Here was the birth of Mardi Gras in the U.S. Depictions of floats from the early 1900s until today, lavish costumes weighted down with amazing bead work, and music that made the body want to move.

A quick drive then took us to Biloxi, Miss. We were now in the heart of where there has been so much hurricane devastation. A beach area where there had been 15 casinos now has five. Building is in progress and things are coming back. The cleanup has been done, but you can tell where there must have been beautiful homes and many trees. It is unbelievable how resilient these people are. Miles of beautiful beach will help them grow the tourist economy once again.

Beauvoir, the Jefferson Davis Home and Presidential Library (former president of the Confederacy), was built in 1852 and was purchased in 1878 by Davis. Despite hurricane damage and lucrative offers to purchase the estate, it remained with the family until 1903 when it was sold to the Mississippi Division of the United Sons of the Confederate Veterans under the condition that it remain a memorial toDavis.  The Jefferson Davis Soldiers Home was opened the same year. It is now a marvelous museum carefully restored to its original grandeur.

A stop at The Shed in Gulfport (seen on the Food Channel) gave us all a perfect taste of southern barbecue. Huge portions covered in flavorful sauce meant we probably wouldn’t want dinner, but then, we were headed to New Orleans. And how can you not eat in New Orleans?

There isn’t enough room in this column to tell you all the wonders this city has to offer. Our hotel was just off Bourbon Street with its music, restaurants and theatrics. A place that jumps long into the night and early morning with some of the most interesting people, food and shopping. We toured the city and the cemeteries (there are so many and they are so interesting), visited the garden district and the Superdome, even took in the Sculpture Garden. It is so hard to believe that these areas were under eight feet of water during Hurricane Katrina. Hard work and devotion has given this beautiful city back to the people. There is much more to be done, but the people will never give up.

Plans are underway for a November cruise to Hawaii; a March cruise out of Galveston to Belieze and Roratan; April for two weeks in Hawaii; Portugal and the Duro River Valley in June; Normandy and Paris in October. For further information, contact me at 253-927-8207 or linda.finch@gmail.com.

It’s hard to think that summer may be coming to a close, but we still have memories of those fun trips to play in the sun. 

The end of July, we did a trip to Ross Dam and Lake Diablo for a boat ride on the lake. The day started out a bit rainy, but by the time we reached the North Cascades, the rain had stopped and we were ready to go. The Cascade Institute provided a lunch, and then we were off on the boat around the lake.  We even had the rare pleasure of being able to stop at the dam itself for a tour inside. In today’s society, these things are generally not open to the public, so we felt very special.

August gave us a theater trip to Leavenworth.  It is always great to see “Sound of Music” up on the ski hill. Things were a little different this year with a revamping of the stage, but the music was as wonderful as always. And then there was “Footloose” in the indoor theater and “Joseph” at the fish hatchery theater. The weather was beautiful for outdoor theater, and we weren’t bothered by the fires in the Wenatchee area.

Now we are beginning to think about what to do over those colder winter months.  How do we get away and find a bit of sun? Here are a few suggestions:

• November: Hawaii cruise round-trip from San Francisco, 15 days, from $1,897 per person plus airfare.

• December: Cuba, nine days, from $3,999 per person, including airfare from Seattle.

• March: Eastern Caribbean with Royal Caribbean to Jamaica, Grand Cayman and Cozumel, starting at $1,200 for inside, $1,400 for balcony per person, including air from Seattle.

* April: Two weeks on Maui in a private home with sightseeing and most meals, from $2,400 per person

* June: Portugal, Spain and the Duro River Valley. Riverboat cruising with Uniworld, including three days in Lisbon, all inclusive with meals, sightseeing, tips and all beverages. Cost begins at $4,139 per person plus airfare.

* October: Memorial of War, Normandy and Paris, nine days including Paris, Normandy, the beaches of D-Day, Memorial Peace Museum and much, much more. Cost is $3,999, including air from Seattle and many meals

For further information and reservations, call me at 253-927-8207 or e-mail me at linda.finch@gmail.com