By Tracey Peckford
Have you ever stared out your window and realized your backyard just isn’t cutting it anymore? You feel ready to trade your winter boots and shovel for world travel but unsure where to start or how to find what feeds your soul. A travel advisor may be what you need! Over 50, young at heart, with time on your hands and places to see...you’ve officially earned the opportunity to explore. I may have a couple of ideas (a small glimpse) to get you thinking about what memories you could be proudly framing on your wall this winter season.
For all you empty nesters who promised themselves to see the Rocky Mountains “someday, today could be someday! Skip the exhausting ‘are we there yet’ road trips and experience the Rocky Mountains the way Mother Nature intended: where cars can’t travel, into quiet, untouched natural beauty and majestic wilderness.
There’s nothing like it! You’ll be cozy, comfy and best of all, treated like royalty. Sit back with some delicious, well-deserved wine or yummy wind-down tea and just close your eyes and relax. Imagine how nice it would be to experience routes intentionally designed to wow you with exceptional views. Rocky Mountaineer offers an earlier winter season for travel with hotel stays while touring, and VIA Rail offers an extended season for later winter travel with sleeper cabins. Which would you choose?
Maybe you are a history buff who never thought you could see it outside the pictures in literature. We all know pictures do not do justice to the culture felt and energy experienced when you stand where history took place. You’ve spent years reading about the ruins, researching the museums, and watching the documentaries. Now it’s time to close the books, pack a camera and finally experience Europe the way it should be experienced.
You don’t have to wing it; you can have every moment planned to ensure you hit every bucket-list landmark, uncover hidden local secrets, and finally stand face-to-face with the sights that captured your heart. Maybe you know every stop you would like to see, or maybe you need a bit of help. Itineraries can be perfect for you as a pre-built option, or custom ideas can be brought to life as well. Tour Operators like Globus or Trafalgar offer many different itinerary ideas that may fit exactly what you need, or Exotik can create something custom. What do your dreams look like?
It’s possible that you no longer have to work around husbands, kids, or strict work schedules, but the thought of doing anything without your BFF would be out of the question. They want a little adventure, and you crave relaxation. A cruise can be a great compromise!
Cruises offer the opportunity to see parts of the world without staying too long in one spot and getting “bored”. While your bestie is safely off exploring with offered group excursions—swimming with stingrays in Aruba, ziplining through the jungle in Jamaica, or diving the reef in Roatán—you can blissfully lounge on the beach all day instead, finally catching up on that novel you could never focus on long enough to finish at home because that basket of laundry kept taunting you. Once the day is done, retreat to the ship to share stories with new friends over delicious dining, test your luck at some onboard casino games, take in world-class evening shows or go to the piano bar to end the night, truly grateful to make memories with the one who helped you get to where you are today.
There are different cruise lines available to you that offer different routes, private islands or service levels. Celebrity is a client favourite that encourages multi-generational family travel, or Virgin offers the opportunity for an adults-only sailing. Who would you choose to make new memories with?
Whether you are just starting to think about travelling or have dreamed about it as long as you can remember, a good starting point is a travel advisor. Find one who matches your energy, listens to what you need and makes you feel excited to experience life a little more! Be honest about your expectations and take the time to build a relationship where you trust their knowledge and experience. The world is vast, beautiful and full of treasures to discover! Almost anything you want to see or do can become a reality. Over 50 does not mean you are “too wise” to do more life; it means you are only just starting! My grandma was ziplining at 70…you could too! ◼
Tracey Peckford
Tracey Peckford is an Alberta-raised Travel Advisor who has more than 10 years of experience in the industry. Her continuous education is backed by the Alberta-grown host agency Go Travel and the incredibly supportive consortia, Ensemble. Her professional energy stems from building strong relationships, providing proactive support, timely responses, and a deep gratitude for all who have become friends in the process. She is ready to hear your dreams and help your travel goals become your reality.