Thursday, May 21, 2009
Senior Vacation Planning for Boomers and Pensioners
Vacation Planning
Vacation planning can be a challenge in these economic times. Instead of stressing, why not consider a “staycation”, the new buzz word for staying at home and having fun. While The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Backyard Adventures is aimed at families with young children, the ideas can easily be adapted to meet the needs and wants of all age groups. Here are a few examples to inspire you to create your own Backyard Adventure.
Picnic Under The Stars
Just need a change of venue without the expense of a night out? Plan a picnic under the stars. If you live in the city you may have been missing the stars because of all the surrounding lights. Or maybe you’ve just been too busy to notice. Before you venture far afield, check out the backyard for viewing. If that’s not going to work find a good clearing away from trees and bright lights. Now that you’ve settled on a place you can be surprised by what the night offers or you can check out the monthly stargazing almanac at StarDate Online.
Set the mood with your picnic plans – delivery pizza and beer (using your discount coupons) or make it an elegant feast complete with wine. To make it enjoyable don’t forget to bring a tarp to put under the quilt (in case the ground is damp). Enjoy a star-studded evening on the cheap!
Exploring Your Town
History buff? No need to wander far – there’s sure to be plenty of history to discover just outside your door. Drop by your tourism bureau or check out their web site for historical sites in your neighborhood. Most of these sites are open to the public and the ones that charge admission usually offer senior discounts. You may also want to spend an afternoon at the local library and read up on historical accounts associated with the locale. Plan a weekend or two around visiting the sites or revisit the Sunday afternoon drive, mapping out historical markers. You’ll find you don’t have to stray from home to experience a little history!
Just Chillin’
Skip those long hours sitting in an airport terminal or behind the wheel in bumper-to-bumper traffic. Save big on the cost of gasoline. Instead of paying a high price in time, energy and money for a weekend or weekday get-away, plan a staycation. Make reservations at a hotel across the street or across town, of course, using your senior discounts. Pack your bathing suit, a good book, and chill for a couple days away from home for whole lot less then traveling to some exotic resort. What a great time to check out a new restaurant or to explore shopping on the “other” side of town.
These ideas and more can be even more inexpensive by taking advantage of senior discounts. Enjoy your Backyard Adventure!
Resources:
The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Backyard Adventures,
Night Sky: A Guide to Field Identification, St Martin’s Press.
Picnics: Delicious Recipes for Outdoor Entertaining.
StarDate Online, http://www.stardate.org
National Trust for Historic Preservation, http://www.preservationnation.org/travel-and-sites/
Nancy Worrell is author of The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Backyard Adventures and contributed to The Unofficial Guide to the Southeast with Kids. Nancy recently moved to Tallahassee, Florida so she could explore her backyard with three adventurous granddaughters.
Nancy Worrell © 2009
Vacation planning can be a challenge in these economic times. Instead of stressing, why not consider a “staycation”, the new buzz word for staying at home and having fun. While The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Backyard Adventures is aimed at families with young children, the ideas can easily be adapted to meet the needs and wants of all age groups. Here are a few examples to inspire you to create your own Backyard Adventure.
Picnic Under The Stars
Just need a change of venue without the expense of a night out? Plan a picnic under the stars. If you live in the city you may have been missing the stars because of all the surrounding lights. Or maybe you’ve just been too busy to notice. Before you venture far afield, check out the backyard for viewing. If that’s not going to work find a good clearing away from trees and bright lights. Now that you’ve settled on a place you can be surprised by what the night offers or you can check out the monthly stargazing almanac at StarDate Online.
Set the mood with your picnic plans – delivery pizza and beer (using your discount coupons) or make it an elegant feast complete with wine. To make it enjoyable don’t forget to bring a tarp to put under the quilt (in case the ground is damp). Enjoy a star-studded evening on the cheap!
Exploring Your Town
History buff? No need to wander far – there’s sure to be plenty of history to discover just outside your door. Drop by your tourism bureau or check out their web site for historical sites in your neighborhood. Most of these sites are open to the public and the ones that charge admission usually offer senior discounts. You may also want to spend an afternoon at the local library and read up on historical accounts associated with the locale. Plan a weekend or two around visiting the sites or revisit the Sunday afternoon drive, mapping out historical markers. You’ll find you don’t have to stray from home to experience a little history!
Just Chillin’
Skip those long hours sitting in an airport terminal or behind the wheel in bumper-to-bumper traffic. Save big on the cost of gasoline. Instead of paying a high price in time, energy and money for a weekend or weekday get-away, plan a staycation. Make reservations at a hotel across the street or across town, of course, using your senior discounts. Pack your bathing suit, a good book, and chill for a couple days away from home for whole lot less then traveling to some exotic resort. What a great time to check out a new restaurant or to explore shopping on the “other” side of town.
These ideas and more can be even more inexpensive by taking advantage of senior discounts. Enjoy your Backyard Adventure!
Resources:
The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Backyard Adventures,
Night Sky: A Guide to Field Identification, St Martin’s Press.
Picnics: Delicious Recipes for Outdoor Entertaining.
StarDate Online, http://www.stardate.org
National Trust for Historic Preservation, http://www.preservationnation.org/travel-and-sites/
Nancy Worrell is author of The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Backyard Adventures and contributed to The Unofficial Guide to the Southeast with Kids. Nancy recently moved to Tallahassee, Florida so she could explore her backyard with three adventurous granddaughters.
Nancy Worrell © 2009
Labels: Boomer Discount Travel, Senior Travel, Seniors Tours, Vacation planning
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