Seniors ready to hit the road again

After a year spent at home due to the pandemic, Paula Vandenburg is looking forward to traveling again. The Findlay woman and her friends have already booked a trip with 50 North, and will be traveling to Cape Cod in September. "Last year, we got refunds on trips we'd planned to take. They gave us refunds. I said I didn't want the refund. I wanted to go," she said. Vandenburg isn't alone. According to Michelle Gibbs, the new travel and adventure coordinator at 50 North, many seniors are ready to hit the road again. "We really need to laugh. We really need the adventure. We need to get out. We need to see something new," she said. Besides being fun, Gibbs said travel provides both physical and mental perks as well. "We can just list benefit after benefit," she said "There's the cognitive benefits and support that happen just by being in a new environment and problem solving and meeting new people. Learning something keeps that brain health moving forward rather than declining." 50 North has long offered travel opportunities to its members, through both day excursions and longer trips. And the senior center tries its best to make things as easy as possible, which the travelers appreciate. Gloria Teets, who also travels with friends, said it's nice having someone else do the work. "You don't have to worry about your luggage. They take care of that for you," she said. "And I have never stayed anywhere on their trips that was uncomfortable. It's always been comfortable and safe. Those are things I look for, are clean and safe." Gibbs added that many seniors don't want to travel alone, so these trips are a great option. "One of the gals said, 'After all these years and everything I've done, I'm entitled to this.' And I thought, good for her. Let us throw out the red carpet," she said. 'Sign up and show up' 50 North has four trips scheduled this year: a Mississippi River cruise, Aug. 16-19; a tour of Cape Cod, Sept. 19-26; a bus trip to Agawa Canyon and Northern Michigan, Oct. 9-12; and a Opryland County Christmas, Nov. 28 through Dec. 1. A trip to Germany is in the works for 2022. Joyce Benjamin has signed up for three of this year's upcoming trips. "Actually, I'm ready to go before September," she said with a laugh. Benjamin started traveling after she retired from Ohio Bell in 1994. "My husband does not like to travel. It's a good thing I have some friends who do," she said. Benjamin, Waneta Beck, Mary Colburn and Jo Ann Martin became travel buddies after having played bridge together. One of the first trips they took together was to Cuba in 2017. "I like that I just sign up and then show up. Someone else takes care of all of the arrangements. I love that," Benjamin said. Teets also travels with girlfriends, including Vandenburg, Amy Johns and Deanna Creeger. All four had been registered nurses at Blanchard Valley Hospital and became friends. Later, they began taking trips together. Some of their past destinations have included Alaska and the southern Caribbean. "We have a lot of fun together. We travel well together," Teets said. "Sometimes we'll do things together. Other times we'll do things separately, depending on what's going on. Sometimes, like on the Caribbean one, we just went to the inside pool and read. It was so peaceful and quiet." Gibbs said the ease of traveling with 50 North appeals to many of the seniors. Everyone who travels with 50 North is required to be a member; there is no cost to join. They strive to make trips senior friendly, she added. "One of the companies we work with has a role focused on senior travel, because there's a difference," said Gibbs. "They want it to be fun for everyone. It's fun for all ages, but you don't want to hike up anything." Although she's new to the position at 50 North, Gibbs said she's already heard many compliments about the travel program. "Providing a high-quality experience is, I think, the reason they're coming back or they've always wanted to do it," she said. "It shows the importance of it." Martin, who retired from Findlay High School where she worked in the office, said 50 North does a good job putting trips together. Because of medical issues, she's not able to plan a big trip herself or do the driving. "I like it because when I go like this, they make all the plans. They'll drop us off at the door. They make the arrangements for motels. We just pay a fee and go," she said. Tailored toward seniors The agency sends along a trained host and a 50 North employee on each trip. Gibbs said the tour company also provides a guide who is familiar and knowledgeable about the destination. "And that gives those opportunities for things that can't be planned, that can't be written in a schedule," she said. When a trip involves a longer bus ride, special activities are planned. "We have things that we provide that just the regular family is not going to provide or you're not going to be able to do it if you're with your buddy in your car and worried about directions. There's no stress or anxiety about detours. And there's activities and fun and the socialization that happens when there's just that downtime," said Gibbs. Vandenburg described the program as "really top-notch." "You meet there, the coach picks you up there," she said. And they have a system for the badges, our luggage, everything works out. It goes off without a hitch. They pay attention to the details. They dot all the 'i's' and cross all the 't's.'" She also likes being able to pick and choose activities: "If you don't want to be with the rest of the group, you don't have to be, and that's OK. And then you can come together with everyone when you want." The price is also right, said Gibbs. "It's affordable, especially when you look at the food and the travel and the tickets and the parking," she said. Vandenburg said she hasn't seen any big differences between the cost of 50 North trips and those offered by other travel agencies. "And they specialize in older people, so you felt like they were aware of some of your limitations. And if you had a wheelchair or a walker or whatever, you didn't feel like you were a bother," she said. Gibbs said for now, the senior center is holding off on day trips a bit longer. 50 North is in touch with the local health department, and keeps up on guidance from the state. "The protocol here is so high. And working with our tour companies, we're all on the same page," said Gibbs. "We want to make sure that we can keep this going and don't have to reverse anything." Benjamin said she would encourage other seniors to take advantage of the program. "I would not have been able to go without going with 50 North," she said. "Basically, we're all old people so it's not a bunch of younger people. So no one is like, 'hurry up, hurry up, hurry up'. I can take my time and enjoy it." Wolf: 419-427-8419