Your backpacking-through-Europe days may be over, but there is no reason to down-shift your wanderlust if you’re over 50. Whether well into your career or retired, you can afford the finer things of travel. At the same time, safety and walkability are factors older travelers need to consider.
Here are 15 destinations that should be on your bucket list.
Buoyed by a strong dollar and pent-up travel desire created by COVID-19 shutdowns, American tourists swarmed over Portugal’s capital this year. Visitors took advantage of the city’s charming cobblestoned streets, abundant tram and bus service, and spectacular vistas from sites like St. George Castle. Foodies can enjoy culinary delights in Lisbon such as bacalhau (cod), pastel de nata (custard tart), and the pastry ovos moles.
Savannah is America’s first planned city, built on the riverfront high on a bluff, by James Oglethorpe beginning in 1733. That planning included graceful squares, ornate church spires, and trees dripping with Spanish moss. The city has a distinctly haunting quality, and the ghost tours are not to be missed. Foodies can get their fill of genuine southern cooking, but Savannah has a very sophisticated food scene.
Expat-magnet Costa Rica draws visitors because of its affordability, warm climate, spectacular beaches, and ecotourism excursions. Costa Rica’s cuisine is a combination of Spanish and African influences. Some of the country’s signature dishes include sopa negra (black bean soup) and gallo pinto, a flavorful rice and beans dish that often accompanies eggs, fried plantains, and fresh fruit for a traditional Costa Rican breakfast.
Canada’s easternmost province, famed for its hospitality, features St. John’s, the oldest capital city in North America. St. John’s is home to galleries, museums, and pubs hosting live music every night of the week. At the picturesque coastal town of Trinity, one can view icebergs floating past in the spring and humpback whales in the summer.
The travel source InsureMyTrip — which grades cities for criteria such as number of senior tours, public transport, and ease of walking — rates the Eternal City highly in quality of things to do and walkability. Among the sites are the Coliseum and Vatican City. As for can’t-miss food in Rome, travelers should sample the traditional Roman pasta dishes such as cacio e pepe and carbonara.
Sedona, less than a two-hour drive from Phoenix, is a feast for the eyes for amateur geologists. Its multi-colored rock formations offer a kaleidoscope of visual experiences throughout the day. There are abundant hiking opportunities and jeep junkets, though it’s best to be aware of the heat. Visitors to the town will find spas and a vibrant art scene. New Agey shops offer alternative cures.
Turkey’s most populous city is the world’s only urban metropolis that exists astride two continents. Among Istanbul’s attractions is the Hagia Sophia Mosque, built in the 15th century and once the biggest cathedral in the world. Rivaling this mosque is the 17th-century Blue Mosque. Another must-see is the Grand Bazaar. These sites are about a half-mile from the city center.
Many older travelers have booked cruises to America’s last frontier and enjoyed stunning waterfalls and magnificent glaciers, as well as polar bears gamboling on ice floes, otters splashing about in the sea, and bald eagles soaring above the landscape. Alaska’s parks are unmatched, including Denali National Park and Preserve, home to the tallest peak in North America.
Estonia’s capital is becoming more well-known as a tourist destination. It has one of the best-preserved old towns, a UNESCO World Heritage site, where medieval buildings and streets date from the 13th century. Various museums, guild halls, and lively public squares are highlights of the Baltic city’s old town.
Among the stunningly beautiful spots in California, Morro Bay, a beach town on the central California coast, is among them. The town’s restaurants are known for their fresh seafood, shops, uncrowded beaches, and vineyard tours. Marine life includes whales and sea otters. Morro Bay draws picnickers, hikers, and birdwatchers.
Since the breakup of Yugoslavia, Croatia has emerged as an attractive tourist destination because it is affordable, scenic, and pedestrian-friendly. Dubrovnik, a medieval seaside city, and Split, another Adriatic destination, are ideal walking-tour urban escapes. Ferry service is available to island spots Hvar and Korčula. Black and veal risottos and the savory seafood stew brodet are among the country’s traditional foods.
Much of the Caribbean is populated with casinos and people partying hard. Nevis is not one of those destinations. It is one of the Caribbean’s greenest islands, with lush scenery and mostly uncrowded beaches. Golfers can enjoy one of the planet’s most scenic courses at the Four Seasons Resort. On the menu in Nevis are salt fish and dumplings, conch fritters, and goat meat stew.
Bali has held a mystique for travelers for decades. Little wonder why: temples, stunning beaches, lush greenery, and waterfalls. The Pacific paradise is known for its spa treatments such as a Balinese massage with traditional herbs and spices. Traveling by scooter is a great way to see the island and check out attractions such as the Ubud Palace and Sacred Monkey Forest.
Few U.S. states can offer the variety of travel options like Florida. In the north, St. Augustine is the oldest city in North America. The west coast is populated with booming cities Sarasota, Tampa, and St. Petersburg. The east coast features the Space Coast, home to the Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. Miami has become a world-class destination. To its north is the Everglades National Park, a natural wonder unlike any other.
Lyon is an affordable gastronomic destination for foodies, claiming to be among France’s highest concentrations of top restaurants. Besides food, the city is famous for its silk industry and was the silk-manufacturing capital of Europe. Lyon boastsUNESCO World Heritage sites such as Vieux-Lyon, Notre-Dame de Fourviere Basilica, St. Jean Cathedral, and courtyards and passageways. Lyon’s Musée des Beaux-Arts is France’s largest museum after the Louvre.