Travels with Charley
Boomer Vacations
When it comes to vacations, baby boomers are looking for freedom and flexibility. Gone are the days of backpacks and whirlwind tours on ten dollars a day. Comfort and taking it slow are premiums. Boomers are ready to explore and find something surprising. Wine, golf, and road trips are still popular, but boomers are looking for new twists on the old themes. Here are some great getaways for this restless generation.
Wine Country Tours? Northern California, Napa, and Sonoma have well-earned reputations, but why not consider Central California? Why not visit Paso Robles? There are almost 200 wineries in the area. Farm-to-table restaurants abound. A tourist can taste in town and then explore the countryside for new-found foods and libations. Paso Robles also has mud baths and a hot springs.
Oregon's Willamette Valley has lots of backcountry roads, Dundee, Newberg, and a plethora of visual artists. Trisaetum, just outside of Newberg, has some of the region's best Pinot Noirs and a 1,500 square foot gallery.
Grand Valley, Colorado was once considered a yawn between Glenwood Canyon and the Utah border. But boomers are discovering the area's vineyards, culture, and natural beauty. There are more than a dozen wineries between the three valley cities. Grand Junction's night life hops, and the nearby Colorado National Monument is full of red rock mesas, switchbacks, and stunning scenery.
Into Golf? Try Kauai, Hawaii. There are ten golf courses on this 562-square mile island. Some of these courses were designed by PGA legends and are still haunted by those legends. Princeville has an 18-hole and 27-hole course. Poipu Bay is the former home of the PGA grand slam. All courses are framed by extraordinary seascape and scenery.
For an authentic golf experience, the Scottish Highlands can't be beat. Players here have been seeking par for more than six hundred years. There are more than 500 courses in this tiny country. St. Andrews' Old Course hosts the British Open, Inverness and Aberdeen feature some of the world's best greens. The country is riddled with hidden gems like Machrihanish Dunes, Pitlochry, and Stranraer.
Road Trip? The US is the home of the highway. There are is an incredible list of roadways to explore. Route 66 still snakes from Chicago to LA.
What about the Pacific Coast Highway? It spans much of California's coastline and passes through Monterey and Carmel. It threads through Big Sur and the redwood forests, and it stretches from the Golden Gate Bridge to Ventura Country. It hugs cliffs and passes by the Hearst Castle.
For roads less traveled and less populated, consider the Blue Ridge Parkway, Colorado's Trail Ridge Road, and the Going-to-the-Sun Road in Montana's Glacier National Park. The Going-to-the-Sun Road cuts the park in half and traverses the Continental Divide. Jackson Glacier, the Weeping Wall, and St. Mary's Mary Lake are all stopping places along the way.
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