Yes and no. I like to travel to places that I have never been to. Repeat trips to me are boring, most of the time. I would like to go back to San Francisco and maybe Hawaii one more time. Europe would be nice, but I would need plenty of time to be able to travel most of it.
If you have retired, do you still enjoy traveling?
- Thread starter oldman
- Start date
Happyflowerlady
Vagabond Flowerchild
- Location
- Northern Alabama
I would dearly love to be able to travel ! I have moved around the United States some over the years, but I have never really been anywhere outside of the US. The best trips that I have taken have been when I am visiting with my daughter, Robin. We have been to historic Williamsburg together, toured the Jamestown settlement re-creation, and just enjoyed seeing some of the interesting places together.
When we lived out west, we went down the Washington/Oregon coastline, and then into California and to Disneyland together.
She is the best traveling partner that anyone could ever ask for.
Now she travels a lot for her job. She has posted pictures from Dubai, Germany, Czech Republic, and other places that they send her to.
One of these days, we would maybe go to Graceland together. I always have been an Elvis fan (are you reading this, Ralphy ? )
and Graceland is not that far away from us here, so we could actually drive to Memphis and visit Graceland if she has time, now that my heart is doing so much better, and I can walk around and see things again.
When we lived out west, we went down the Washington/Oregon coastline, and then into California and to Disneyland together.
She is the best traveling partner that anyone could ever ask for.
Now she travels a lot for her job. She has posted pictures from Dubai, Germany, Czech Republic, and other places that they send her to.
One of these days, we would maybe go to Graceland together. I always have been an Elvis fan (are you reading this, Ralphy ? )
and Graceland is not that far away from us here, so we could actually drive to Memphis and visit Graceland if she has time, now that my heart is doing so much better, and I can walk around and see things again.
GeorgiaXplant
Well-known Member
- Location
- Georgia
We moved around so much while married to Whatsisname, the Father of My Children, and then traveled so much for work, that I really don't give a rip whether I ever go anywhere again. The only thing that made work travel bearable was that somebody gave me a tip early on to take my own pillow. I did. At least I slept well!
Bullie76
Member
- Location
- Mississippi
Haven't done a lot of traveling to this point. My first few years in retirement was spent looking after my mom and aunt. My aunt died in 2009 and my mother last year. Since then I bought a condo on the gulf coast and have spent a lot of time getting established there. Enjoy going back and forth but that's not all the traveling I want to do. There are lots of places in the States I haven't seen so want to get in my car and explore. I have a cousin in Santa Fe, NM and one in Las Vegas so those will be 2 good stopping off points for me. But as far as traveling the world, that's not really my bag. Maybe its because I'm single. If I were married, traveling overseas would probably be more fun. Perhaps someday I will go with a group of friends, but most are still working today.
The world is HUGE and there is so much to see and so many cultures. I've been to Morocco but nowhere else in North Africa. I lived in Uganda for two years, and also visited South Africa. Despite the big inconveniences in Uganda, I still miss it sometimes. Africa gets in your blood. I love (photo) safaris!
Agree about package deals! They just show you the touristy stuff, not the real country and its people.
Kath
Senior Member
- Location
- Mount Joy, PA
I love to travel but now that my spouse is much too ill to travel, I'm somewhat nervous at the prospect of traveling alone. Most people recommend that I go on a guided tour or take a cruise. Are these my only options? I'm especially interested in England, Scotland, and Ireland. I have been to England but didn't get to see everything I wanted to see as the trip was only for two weeks. Any suggestions would be very much appreciated!
The UK is wonderful for visiting by yourself. My first trip abroad was to Ireland - by myself. And I rented a car.
How long a trip would you take? England, Scotland and Ireland only look small on a map. Once you travel around you'll see they aren't. Would you be willing to drive? Public transport is very good, but without a car you'll miss a lot of areas.
Kath
Senior Member
- Location
- Mount Joy, PA
I would probably be pretty shaky about driving a car on the left hand side of the road - I remember the roundabouts in many of the towns I saw in England and I was Sure glad that I wasn't at the wheel. Took one train excursion from London to Coventry and the train was super! I would love to take my daughter on such a trip but she's afraid to fly, even if someone else pays for it. Hope to find another willing relative who loves to drive.
Driving on the left doesn't take very long to get used to. You're sitting on the other side so on a two lane road it feels natural since you as driver are next to the centre line. The first time you do a right turn or overtake feels weird.
Roundabouts aren't bad if you know the rules first. And you'd need to understand the road signs.
Trains are great! Love them. But if you like exploring back roads you'd need a car. In my county, Argyll, which is the second largest in Scotland, the only train goes to Oban from Glasgow. So most of my county is bus or car. Almost all two lane roads. Easy driving.
Kath
Senior Member
- Location
- Mount Joy, PA
Thanks, Ameriscot. My dream trip is to see as much as I can of the North part of England and then go to Scotland and see as much of it as possible. Don't know how long a trip to make it as I still have to find out all the costs involved. I'm hoping I can go for 3 weeks or more. Like 30 zillion other folks, I've gotten to be a huge fan of Outlander (the series) and the Scottish scenery filmed is perhaps the very best part of that series. So really want to see Inverness and surroundings.
jujube
SF VIP
Package tours are a great way to "introduce" you to a country. Then you know what you want to see more of the next time you come back on your own. I took a 10-day tour to Ecuador this spring and got to see some places I would have probably not found on my own. Now I can't wait to go back and see more. What a great place Ecuador is! I'd love to go live there for a few years.
I'm an Outlander fan as well. They didn't do any filming in Inverness itself though. But there are Outlander tour companies you can find online. They've been around for years for fans of the books.
http://sleigh.co.uk/2014/09/outlander-filming-locations/#.VGd1WvmsWSp
Northern England is nice - Hadrian's Wall, Northumbria, Cumbria, Lindisfarne. And of course Scotland is gorgeous!
Kath
Senior Member
- Location
- Mount Joy, PA
Gosh, I've been meeting Outlander fans everywhere! I have a new neighbor 2 blocks away who is from Glasgow - she thought I was so funny because I just recently discovered Outlander! I've bought all of Diane Gabaldon's and have just finished the first one. The Outlander tours sound great though I'm not sure if a tour is how I want to go. I went on a bus tour of Italy and felt I missed some of the things I'd hoped to see, and the tour guides kind of rushed everyone along in order to keep to the schedule. I saw most of the big important things (Vatican, Forum, etc. in Rome - then Venice, Florence, Milan, Siena,etc.). Wasn't any time to see smaller towns and far-off scenery. I've turned 72 and probably tours are what I should do but my brain always wants to do things the way I did them before. Go figure!
Kath
Senior Member
- Location
- Mount Joy, PA
Thanks for your message, jujube! While tours are on my list of things to look into, I'm not too sure of them as the ones I've taken have been so run by the clock which made me feel like I might have missed some things. Ecuador sounds really fun and interesting - I hope you get to return there soon! I dream all the time of living in the UK - my wonderful grandparents were from Bedfordshire and they never stopped telling lovely stories of England! When I finally visited there, everything they had said was true! I'd love to live there.
The Outlander tour would be separate from the rest of your trip. Probably takes a couple of days.
Is your Glasgow friend complaining that we still do NOT have the Outlander tv series on tv in the UK?!!!! About 40 countries have it, but not us. And it was filmed here. The VisitScotland website even uses the tv series to promote tourism here. I saw the first 5 episodes on a visit to the US in Sept.
I didn't start reading Outlander until 2008. Just finished the last book soon after it was released in June. I've read all the books at least twice, maybe 3 times. And also listened to them on audio.
The only coach tour I have done was in 2010 with hubby and sister. We wanted to see the Vatican so took the lazy way and booked a tour. Saw Pompeii, Florence, Rome, Switzerland, etc. It wasn't as bad as I thought. I actually enjoyed it.
I've only lived here in Scotland for 14 years. Married a Scot and moved from the US! Love it!!
Kath
Senior Member
- Location
- Mount Joy, PA
That friend I talked about absolutely did not tell me that the series wasn't on TV in the UK! I'm really surprised and if I were a UK Outlander fan, I'd be hugely disappointed! Many of the fans here are moaning because the remainder of Book 1 won't be on TV until April. I'm glad you got to see the first 5 episodes. If you ever find yourself over here again, come to our little town here in Pennsylvania and see the episodes you didn't get to see! I recorded all of the episodes so far and I can keep these recordings until June. I'm thinking that the Outlander marketing folks will have some DVDs out by then. (Fingers, toes, and eyes crossed!)
I'm in awe that you've read the Outlander books over and over again. The books are huge and require quite a bit of focus to gather up all the intricacies and subplots involved. I think I'd like to try at least one of the books on audio.
Your Italy tour sounds like it was so enjoyable - I was not able to see Pompeii but maybe next time. I really loved the Lake District (saw Lago di Garda) and would love to go there again!
I'm in awe that you've read the Outlander books over and over again. The books are huge and require quite a bit of focus to gather up all the intricacies and subplots involved. I think I'd like to try at least one of the books on audio.
Your Italy tour sounds like it was so enjoyable - I was not able to see Pompeii but maybe next time. I really loved the Lake District (saw Lago di Garda) and would love to go there again!
The books are great on audio - has all the accents!
There is a group of more than 1,000 of us on a Facebook group called Outlandish UK who are anxious to get the series here! We keep hearing there are negotiations going on. My son and his wife watch it and have recorded it, so I'll watch the rest on next year's visit. I visit for a month every summer - grandkids! I've got my name on the list on Amazon to get notification when the DVD's are available.
Kath
Senior Member
- Location
- Mount Joy, PA
There's a list on Amazon to get notified when DVDs are available. Wow, I should know that because I'm on Amazon a lot, too much because it's way too handy! How many grandkids do you have? I've got 2 kids (one of each) and 5 grandkids (3 girls and 2 boys). Love them all to bits! Is there any sort of petition one can sign to push the Outlander honchos to release the series to the UK? I would sure sign it if there is one.
All kinds of pressure has been put on the tv/satellite companies, but they just keep saying they are negotiating. Lots of petitions, emails, etc etc. Even the author and some of the actors are doing what they can. It will get here, the question is when.
I've got 2 sons. 2 granddaughters - 9 and 4 in Michigan. A stepgrandson - 18 (their brother), and a 2 year old stepgrandson here in Scotland.
My sister has me beat. She's got 3 kids and 5 grandkids, the oldest is 5! So one right after the other between the 3 kids.
I have driven across country and back three times and been to almost everywhere I want to go, except Africa, which is now out of the question. I liked the Scandinavian countries the best. Never been to Ireland or Scotland. That might be nice. I hear Ireland is as green as green can be and Scotland has plenty of golf courses, or is that just a bunch of bunk?
Kath
Senior Member
- Location
- Mount Joy, PA
Congrats on driving across the country 3 times - I'd really love to do it but so far I've only made that trip via airline. Never been to Scandinavia either but I would go if I got the opportunity. I didn't have enough time to travel a lot until retirement as any time off was usually spent seeing relatives who are kind of scattered about the country. Have gotten to see UK, Italy, Switzerland, and Portugal. I heard Ireland is very green and also heard that Scotland is too.