At the top of many retirement bucket lists is one word – travel. Now that there is time to hit the road without having to worry about what’s going on at work, really looking at the possibilities can be downright breathtaking. To make the most of travel in retirement, here’s a look at several fun and enlightening possibilities.
Top destinations for travel in retirement
Ancestral destinations
The advent of DNA testing has opened a whole new world of travel in retirement to places where families originated. Not surprisingly, there are now family heritage tour companies that will take your DNA results and craft a travel adventure to visit places where ancestors once lived, or still do. For some this may be the lush hills and historic cities of the United Kingdom, the sun-swept beaches of Greece, the lost empires of Eastern Europe or Central and South America, or one of the ancient places throughout the Far East, Middle East and Africa. Everyone is from somewhere so why not actually make travel in retirement an odyssey into the roots of family? For a look at family heritage tour providers check out the familyhistorydaily.com article, “Family Heritage Tours are Taking Off: These 14 Companies Will Help You Walk in Your Ancestors’ Footsteps.”
Last-chance places to see
Our planet is changing dramatically and that means time is running out to visit places that are enduring the most radical transformations. If the sight of a glacier inspires awe, head to Alaska, Oregon, California, Montana or Greenland, where the age of glacial ice ranges from 30,000 to 100,000 years, or take the ultimate trip to Antarctica where glacial ice is thought to be nearly 1 million years old.
With rising water levels, retirement travel plans could include places like Venice, Italy, Osaka, Japan and Jakarta, India which are all on the list of most threatened places, but there are also many cities right here in the United States including New York City, New Orleans and coastal cities in Florida which are all potentially facing similar outcomes in the not-too-distant future.
Also changing are places like rain forests throughout the world, oceanic coral reefs, and lakes and rivers that are impacted by deforestation, rising ocean temperatures and drought. If experiencing some of the natural and manmade wonders of the world is a dream, the cntraveler.com article “18 Destinations Impacted By Climate Change” looks at some of the most endangered.
Educational adventures
When the desire to learn combines with wanderlust, travel in retirement can be the chance of a lifetime to expand personal knowledge of the world. Along those lines several travel options have evolved to serve the curious as well those who want to immerse themselves in culture and history with help from experts. Among the best are the tours offered by the Archaeological Institute of America which span the globe and include everything from prehistoric cave art in Spain and France to the Silk Road to ancient Peru, and even ongoing archaeological excavations. To pique interest, AIA also offers online options like interactive digs and online tours.
Another option for travel in retirement is with Smithsonian Journeys which also offers diverse trips to amazing destinations guided by experts who know the top spots as well as the little-known wonders.
Perhaps the best-known tour provider for travel in retirement is Road Scholar which is geared to lifelong experiential learning for adults and boast hundreds of trips and tours in the U.S. and around the world with active retirees in mind. Whether an extended adventure is preferred or just a few days is best, Roads Scholar probably has a variety of choices to fit.
Culinary tours
Seniors and great food go hand in hand but for some it’s more than just eating, it’s about the culture and even the cooking that makes it complete. Travel in retirement for foodies has never been better and travel experts like The International Kitchen offer tours to top spots in Europe, South America, Mexico, Greece and more, embracing local culture, cuisine and hands-on cooking with professionals.
For those who want to improve their knowledge of wine as well as food, the choices are equally diverse. For a closer look at some of the possibilities the tourradar.com article “Food & Drink Tours” compares and reviews more than 250 food and drink vacation packages.
Before deciding when and where to travel in retirement, take a moment to consider a move to a senior living community like Sonrisa Senior Living where you can leave and return as you like with peace of mind. To learn more, download our “Active Adult Decision Guide” then contact us today find out all we have to offer!
