Many senior adults enjoy traveling, but with the vast array of concerns to consider — including safety, companionship and arrangements — they often choose to stay at home.
A senior adult ministry that includes a travel program helps seniors overcome the difficulties associated with travel and helps meet their need for adventure and socialization.
Local trips are simple and easy to plan. Seniors love to go as a group to a local restaurant, a movie, a play, a park, a concert or museum.
Many places even offer discounts to senior adults, making these outings very affordable. However, there are many other options for travel that enrich the lives of those who participate.
In his article “Planning Recreation for Senior Adults,” Bill Highsmith, director of recreation, activities and senior adults at Tusculum Hills Baptist Church in Nashville writes that “trips designed for fun, relaxation and entertainment, with pre-arranged transportation, hotels and meals, offer opportunities to singles, widows or widowers who would not otherwise travel alone.”
Highsmith divides trips into four categories: one-day trips, two- and three-day trips, one week or longer trips and missions trips.
If you are coordinating trips for your senior adult group or if you would like your group to start a travel ministry, here are a few ideas that may help.
Conferences are one of the most popular two- or three-day getaways, but there are always sites within a four- or five-hour drive that provide an opportunity for sightseeing and shopping.
Popular sites for longer trips include Branson, Mo., Alaskan and Caribbean cruises, Myrtle Beach/Charleston, S.C., and western national parks.
Missions trips that involve senior adults in construction projects, Vacation Bible School, revivals and other missions activities can be conducted almost anywhere your group is willing to go.
One-day trips are perhaps the easiest to plan and are popular with seniors of all ages.
There are many places in Alabama that are accessible to senior adults and that appeal to their interests. A few are listed below, but a more extensive list can be found on the Internet at www.touralabama.org.
Alabama day trip ideas:
–Aldridge Gardens in Hoover has a nature trail, lake and several gardens with trails.
–The Audubon Bird Sanctuary, Dauphin Island, is one of the top birding locations in the nation.
–The Birmingham Botanical Gardens is the oldest municipally owned garden in Alabama.
–Lake Guntersville State Park, Guntersville, is the winter home to the American bald eagle and holds special programs in January.
–DeSoto Caverns Park in Childersburg is a 12-story cavern with a laser light and sound show.
–The Anniston Museum of Natural History and the Berman Museum of World History (Anniston) offer visitors the opportunity to see fossils, Egyptian mummies, and art and weapons from around the world.
–Arlington Antebellum Home and Gardens (Birmingham) highlights 19th-century furniture, textiles, silver, paintings and architecture.
–Southern Progress Corporation in Birmingham offers scheduled tours of their facility on Tuesday and Thursday mornings at 10 a.m. by advanced reservation only. Southern Progress publishes Southern Living, Southern Accents, Progressive Farmer and Cooking Light magazines and Oxmoor House Books.
For more information visit http://corp.southernprogress.com/spc/hqtours.html.
–The Blue Bell Creamery in Sylacauga offers guided plant tours weekdays throughout the year. Groups of 15 or more should make reservations. For more information visit http://www.bluebell.com/
about_visiting.htm
–The Golden Flake Potato Chip Factory in Birmingham offers guided tours of their plant Monday through Thursday. Groups of more than 10 should make an appointment. Call 1-800-239-2447 for more information or visit www.goldenflake.com/tour.htm.
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