ON THE ROAD AGAIN
Some local seniors returned to traveling this summer ... and loved every second of it.
After a long period of sticking close to home, people of all ages are anxious to get moving.
The travel platform Tripadvisor reported in April that twothirds of Americans of all ages were planning vacations for between June 1 and Aug. 31. Hotel searches had risen 65 percent since January, and searches for experiences such as visiting an attraction or scheduling a tour had increased by 78 percent. Of those polled, 24 percent said their travel plans included visiting family.
Although the vast majority of those surveyed said they intended to stay in the United States instead of traveling internationally and many reported they would be driving instead of flying, it’s clear that travel is making a comeback.
The increase in travel plans is largely attributed to the COVID-19 vaccine, which has increased confidence among travelers that it is safe to go. In Pennsylvania, more than 90 percent of residents between the ages of 65 and 80 have had a least one dose of the vaccine, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Health.
Residents of Brittany Pointe Estates in Landsdale were among those hitting the road this summer, and several of them agreed to share their stories.
Hank and Martha Weed
Their 17-foot travel trailer was a blessing to them last summer before they were vaccinated and feeling comfortable being around other people, but this summer the hybrid camper has taken Hank and Martha Reed on some relaxing, interesting trips during which they were able to spend time with family and friends.
The couple spent part of the summer camping in Delaware and sites near Harrisburg, Lancaster and Allentown. They were able to spend quality time with their kids and grandkids, meet some locals, check out some interesting local sites and just kick back in scenic settings.
“We’ve been able to spend some nice, relaxing time with our kids and grandkids while camping right along a creek in the Allentown area,” Hank explained. “It’s been really nice to be able to get away and be together with our family and close friends.”
Hank and Martha choose locations for their camper trips that are fairly close to home — within about three or four hours. They pack everything they’ll need for a long weekend of camping but seek out campgrounds where they are able to hook up to electricity and water.
“We don’t do boondocking, which is when you live off your battery and bring your water in with you,” Martha said. “There are a lot of nice campgrounds and places to stay that aren’t too far to get to, and it’s just nice to get away and be in a different setting for a few days.”
For longer trips — like a visit earlier this summer to visit longtime friends on Cape Cod — they leave the camper at home and stay in hotels, as necessary.
An advantage of the travel trailer is that they can unhitch it and go exploring in their car, Hank related. Both are interested in history, and they enjoy visiting historical sites and local attractions. They particularly enjoyed a visit to Antietam National Battlefield in northwestern Maryland, where Martha’s great-great uncle — a 13-year-old drummer boy — was killed during the Civil War. They’ve also enjoyed a visit and tour of the Yuengling Brewery in Pottsville and a recent trip to the National Watch and Clock Museum in Columbia, Lancaster County.
“We’re not always looking for big things, just short trips where we’ll see something interesting and do something different,” Martha said. “It’s always good to learn something new.”
Jeanne Myers
Jeanne Myers’ summer was made complete by a trip to the Adirondack Mountains of upstate New York, where she and two of her grandchildren joined some friends and others for a week at CAMP-of-theWOODS, a Christian resort and conference center. The trip, she said, exceeded expectations on many levels.
“I felt like I was renewed spiritually,” Jeanne said. “And I also got a lot of physical exercise, had the social
experience of being with friends and made some new friends, too. It was great.”
Jeanne explained she hadn’t had a vacation since her husband, John, passed away in 2019. When friends invited her to join them at the camp they visit every other summer, she felt it was time to get away.
“I thought it was time to try my wings,” she said.
She and her grandchildren, Owen, 12, and Aubrey, 15, who live in Delaware, were unsure what to expect when they arrived
at the camp with Jeanne’s friends and others — including a set of 2-year-old triplets. But everyone got along just fine, helping one another and sharing experiences such as mini-golf, concerts, a hymn sing, daily chapel time, hiking and visits to the beach.
“There were a lot of different activities you could do, or you could sit on the beach all day if you wanted,” Jeanne said. “My friends took me on a hike off-campus one day, and that was a lot of fun. I’m not much of
a hiker, but my friends were very supportive and helped me out. We all helped each other when we could.”
The camp offers cabins where you can do your own cooking, but Jeanne and her fellow travelers stayed in a hotel-like building and had their meals in a dining hall. The camp was beautiful, with many activities available.
“It was the perfect place for me to be this summer,” Jeanne said. “I’m grateful to my friends who invited us.”
Barbara and Ken Green
After more than a year of postponed travel plans, Barbara and Ken Green were more than ready this summer to make up for lost time.
“We tried to plan something for each month, so we’d always have something to look forward to,” Barbara said. “This summer was all about spending quality time with our family and friends.”
In May the couple drove to North Carolina to visit their grandson, who is in his mid-20s, and then continued on to see Barbara’s
brother and his wife, who live near their grandson.
“The four of us drove to Williamsburg,” Barbara said. “We hadn’t seen them since the pandemic, so it was great to be together. It was catching-up time.”
Their June trip was with their other two grandsons to Orange Lake Resort in Kissimmee, Fla., where Ken and Barbara have a timeshare property.
In July they joined up with some Brittany Pointe friends to visit another couple, who also resides at Brittany Pointe, at their vacation house in Sea Isle City on the Jersey shore. Also in July they went with Ken’s brother and sister-in-law to Vermont, where they enjoyed a lunch cruise on Lake Champlain, visited the Simon Pearce glassblowing
location, toured the King Arthur Baking Co. and shopped at the Vermont Country Store.
“We drove up together and spent four days in Vermont,” Barbara said. “It was quite interesting and very fun.”
The highlight of August was a family birthday celebration for Ken, held at a lake in the Pocono Mountains.
“Every night we had a bonfire and made s’mores,” Barbara said. “We did things I hadn’t done for years.”
The couple hopes to head down to Myrtle Beach, S.C., near the end of September and have plans to meet friends in Las Vegas later this year.
“We’ll have to see how things go as far as COVID and the variant and all,”
Barbara said. “But it’s been a great summer for us. The trips we took weren’t big trips, but they were all important because we got to catch up with a lot of friends and family. To us, that’s what counts.”
Jill Kohles
Having missed celebrating Christmas with her six children and their families, Jill Kohles decided to treat everyone to a long weekend of camping in the summer instead.
“Because of COVID we weren’t able to be together,” Jill said. “So, I gave everyone this trip and told them we’d celebrate in August.”
Jill couldn’t say enough about the recently concluded trip, which included more than 20 family members.
“We had this wonderful, wonderful time in Acadia,” she said. “All of us being together was such fun.”
Family members traveled to Under Canvas Acadia, a luxury camping site located near Acadia National Park. They arrived at different times, but everyone was there to spend a long weekend together that included kayaking under the stars, hiking up Cadillac Mountain, relaxing on the beach, stargazing and an evening sunset cruise. There also — of course — was lobster.
“For Friday night we had a great big lobster dinner,” Jill said. “That was one of the high points for me.”
A visit to Maine had been on Jill’s to-do list for a long time, and she is grateful she got to accomplish that goal with so many family
members. Each family had its own tent, equipped with king-sized beds, private bathrooms, decks, and other amenities.
“I can’t tell you how marvelous Under Canvas is,” Jill said. “They do everything for you, and everything you could need is provided. I can’t recommend it enough.”
Under Canvass has 10 locations, each located near a national park.
Jill is settled back in at Brittany Pointe Estates for now, but the memories of her summer trip will long remain.
“I just can’t imagine a better time, especially because we hadn’t been able to all be together for so long,” she said. “It was a vacation that was truly spectacular.”