If you’re outdoorsy enough to live in the mountainous beauty of upper-central Utah, chances are good you love to go on road trips and far-away vacations. In fact, according to AARP’s 2017 survey, 83% of Baby Boomers listed “travel” at the top of their bucket lists. And why not? As a retiree, you have more time and a lot of the world to see.
Whether you want to relax on a beach, trek across mountain peaks, or trek to national parks, we have a few ideas with enough range to get you started on planning your next big trip.
Nevis Island
With a choice between numerous islands in the Caribbean for an escape to the ultimate tropical getaway, how do you pick just one? Nevis, which is directly east of the U.S. Virgin Islands, is a lush, breathtakingly beautiful island with uncrowded white sand beaches. It’s a peaceful, quiet destination — no rambunctious casinos or loud celebrations here. Nevis is also a foodie paradise, with influences from Africa, Europe, and America, along with local fruit like mangoes and tamarind.
Canadian Rockies
While the mountains of Utah are quite awe-inspiring, our neighbor up north has pretty spectacular scenery — which can all be viewed from the comfort of a glass-domed railway car. The Rocky Mountaineer takes travelers through Jasper National Park, Lake Louise, Yoho National Park, and Banff National Park before heading across snow-capped peaks to Vancouver.
Yosemite National Park
If you’re 55 and better, it’s a rite of passage to take at least one recreational vehicle trip. So why not pack up an RV and head to the most popular RV destination around? Yosemite offers 1,200 square miles of giant sequoia trees, numerous waterfalls, and majestic views. Camping is possible at the park, but since it’s a natural environment, electrical, water, and sewer hook-ups are not available. Luckily, you’ll find campgrounds outside Yosemite that offer more amenities and put you within commuting distance to the park.
Douro River Cruise
Looking to jet around the world to roads (or rivers) less traveled? Then put this spectacular river cruise on your agenda. River cruises, in general, have become a very popular mode of travel lately — they take less time to plan and you get a different view out of your window every day. This river cruise begins in the picturesque city of Porto and meanders through narrow stretches of the Douro River, where you’ll see terraced vineyards, ancient castles, baroque mansions, and historic monasteries.
Australia
Because of the long flight time to the continent, you’ll definitely want to plan a long stay there. Of course, you’ll want to stay in Sydney and tour their iconic opera house. But be sure to take a short ferry ride to Kangaroo Island Nature Reserve and hang out with Australia natives like koalas, wallabies, kangaroos, seals, penguins, and kookaburras. If you love being around water, be sure to travel along the coast to see the Great Barrier Reef and Melbourne’s Great Ocean Road.
Are you planning your dream trip? Are there places you return to every year? We love hearing travel suggestions, so let us know if we left any destinations off this list. And feel free to share your favorite vacation photos with us on Facebook.