Senior Vacations and Travel – Part II

Stay In Someone Else’s Home on Your Next Vacation…
Seniors Home Exchange is a home exchange program designed exclusively for adults 50 years old and older. You can save hundreds of dollars on hotels and meals by using the home exchange philosophy. You open your home to visitors and in exchange can stay in their home for free. Currently Seniors Home Exchange offers a listing of 1761 homes in over 40 countries. There is a membership fee of $79 for three years or $100 for a lifetime membership. You can check out the listings at www.seniorhomeexchange.com.

Museums for Less…
Many museums give discounts to seniors. Here are a few examples of some that are available. The Cleveland Museum of Natural History gives seniors 60 and older a $2 savings. You can save a $1 if you are 55 and older at the Cherokee Heritage Center in Oklahoma. Don’t forget that many of the museums in Washington, D.C. are free to all including the Smithsonian. Make sure that you carefully check out the price list or ask if a discount is available.

Pretend You Are Tom Sawyer For A Day
Have you ever dreamed of traveling down the Mississippi for the day? Enjoy the sights and sounds of stepping back in time on a riverboat. The Memphis Queen offers discounts on their Day Cruise and Sightseeing Cruise for seniors with identification. To make a reservation contact Memphis Queen Riverboats, P.O. Box, Memphis, TN 38173-0188; 800-221-6197, 901-527-BOAT; www.memphisqueen.com.

Play Softball Around the World…
If you are 50 years old or older, love softball and travel this is the place for you! They offer several trips each year that focus on shopping, sightseeing and softball. All skill levels are welcome to play with people form other cultures around the world. You can even bring your non-playing spouse, friend or family member to cheer you on at the games. For additional information contact Senior Softball-USA, 2701 K Street, Suite 101A, Sacramento, CA 95816; 916-326-5303; www.seniorsoftball.com/internationaltours.php.

Take the Grandkids with You…
Grandtravel is all about family, especially the grandparent/grandchild relationship. They consider school curricula to extend the educational experience for the students. Most trips are scheduled in the summer months when school is out. To get going on this exciting program contact Grandtravel, Abroad, Inc., 1920 N Street, NW, Suite 200, Washington, DC 20036-1601; 800-247-7651; www.grandtrvl.com.

Travel Tips on the Internet…
Senior-site.com is dedicated to adults 50 and older. Their travel section has an array of topics to help you organize all of your plans including: security on the road, tour and travel packages, travel bulletins, airline safety and much more. Check out all of these at Seniors-site.com, 5443 Stag Mt. Road, Weed, CA 96094; 530-938-3163; http://seniors-site.com/travel.

Take a Kid to Camp (You Can Stay Too)…
Grandkidsandme can bring you and your grandchildren many memories. They offer weekend camps in Wisconsin to enjoy the outdoors together. Camps are designed for grandkids between 4 and 12 years old. Activities include canoeing, hoe-downs, crafts, hiking and many others. To get information contact Grandkidsandme Inc., 1764 Hampshire Avenue, St. Paul MN 55116; 651-695-1988; www.grandkidsandme.com.

Discounts to Ski (Maybe Even Free)…
There are many seniors that are not relaxing in their easy chairs after retirement but rather hitting the slopes for fun. Many of the ski resorts offer discounts to senior citizens. Discounts vary from resort to resort so you have to ask. Some offer free skiing to skiers 70 years old and older. There are even clubs just for older skiers:

• The Over the Hill Gang is open to ski-loving seniors 50 and older and their spouses. Memberships range from $50 to $760 depending in the type of membership you desire. Membership benefits range from discounts to special outings. Contact Over the Hill Gang, International, 1820 W. Colorado Avenue, Colorado Springs, CO 80904; 719-389-0022; www.othgi.com.
• GO50-Global Over 50 Ski Club offers older skiers 50 and older discounts at many ski resorts in North America. Memberships are $50 a year. Contact them at Global Over 50 Ski Club, P.O. Box 352, South Hadley, MA 01075; 866-TRY-GO50; www.go50.org.
• 70 + Ski Club was established in 1977 and is still going strong with several hundred members in their 90’s. They offer ski trips Memberships are $10/single and $15/couple per year. Contact President Richard Lambert, 70+ Ski Club, 1633 Albany Street, Schenectady, NY 12304; 518-346-5505; www.skiinghistory.org/70PLUS.html.

World Senior Games Vacation…
Every October St. George, Utah hosts the World Senior Games. You can spend some time there competing in a number of events including: biking, bowling, bridge, golf, horseshoes and many more. Participants must be 50 years old or older. When you are not competing, you can take part in social activities and area attractions. Find out more about this program at www.hwsg.com.

If You Still Want a New Bike for Your Birthday…
If you still love biking like you did as a kid, Senior Cycling can keep you busy. They offer trip for seniors that are beginners, intermediate or advanced riders. For a complete listing of tours contact Senior Cycling, Inc., 37419 Branch River Road, Loudoun Heights, VA 20132; 540-668-6307; www.seniorcycling.com.

Myrtle Beach Senior Discounts…
Senior citizens are welcome at this resort and earn a 10% discount on weekly and monthly rates for condominiums. Guests must be 55 years old and older to qualify for this discount. For information on these sunny vacations, contact Myrtle Beach Resort Vacations Services, P.O. Box 3936, Myrtle Beach, SC 29578; 888-627-3767, 843-238-1559; www.myrtle-beach-resort.com.

Enjoy Wine Country for Less…
San Francisco Tours offers a discount to adults 60 years and older for their Wine Country Tour. The nine-hour tour starts across the Golden Gate Bridge through the wine region of Northern California and back across the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge. For additional information contact them by phone at 415-899-0060 or online at www.sftour.com.

Save As You Step Back in Time…
See the bus that Rosa Parks rode to help change history or walk into the Wright Cycle Shop. Enjoy these and many other parts of history at The Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village. Seniors 62 years old and older will find discounts for both venues. For additional information or to purchase tickets contact The Henry Ford Museum, 20900 Oakwood Boulevard, Dearborn, MI 48124-4088; 313-271-1620, 313-982-6001; www.hfmgv.org.

Golf Away Your Retirement…
If you enjoy spending your time on the green, there are many savings opportunities out there for you. Many public and private golf courses offer senior discounts on green fees. There may be certain restrictions such as days of week or time of day that these discounts apply.

• Senior Golfers Association of America is open to women and men who love the game of golf. Members must be at least 50 years old and be able to play a round of golf in less than 4 hours. They sponsor a number of tournaments throughout the country so you can travel all over. Contact them at The Senior Golfers Association of America, 3013 Church Street, Myrtle Beach, SC 29577; 843-626-8100; www.seniorgolfersamerica.com.
• National Senior Golf Association offers senior citizens discounted travel events to new courses around the world. Golfers of any age are invited to play although awards are only for those 50 years old and older. Annual memberships are $35 per year per family. For additional information on these golf outings contact National Senior Golf Association, 3673 Nottingham Way, Hamilton Square, NJ 08690; 609-631-8145; www.nsgatour.com.

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