Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, June 17, 1990 TAG: 9006270181
SECTION: SENIOR STYLE PAGE: SS-11 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By KIM SUNDERLAND
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
Take a vacation and invest in traveling. It can be just what you need to put a spark in your life.
Day trips, month-long and even longer trips, are available through all kinds of groups, travel agencies and even through the private sector.
Catherine Edwards, for example, started organizing trips from Blacksburg in 1984 for seniors. Edwards, 80, felt there was a need in the community for older people to get together; they needed to get out and go.
"I'm not doing this to make money," said the retired kindergarten teacher. "It's just to have a good time."
She makes the arrangements and sends out itineraries for each trip to the 100 or so names on her list. She said she tries to schedule trips that people will enjoy, such as the overnight stay in Smithfield, or romps up to Cape Cod and the Poconos.
"We're just a bunch of friends who like to get together and see the sights," Edwards said.
Although people usually find out about the trips through word of mouth, and even though Edwards doesn't advertise, no one who wants to travel with the group is turned away.
Edwards doesn't use a travel agent. She works with the American Association of Retired Persons, individuals and companies such as Blacksburg Limousine Service to set up travel arrangements.
Costs average about $35 for a day trip to $325 for a three-night stay in Nags Head.
She's set up short trips to Burress Hall at Virginia Tech to take in a show and others to New York City to see musicals, including "My Fair Lady," "Big River" and "The Nutcracker."
She said the most popular trips are to Wolf Trap in Northern Virginia and to Washington, D.C.
Edwards and the travelers meet three or four times a year at the Blacksburg Marriott to discuss where they'd like to go next. From July 10-13, a group will travel to Nags Head. People are still needed for that trip.
In September, a trip is scheduled to Bellingrath Gardens in Alabama. That trip will include an overnight stay in Atlanta and a dinner-train trip from there to Stone Mountain in Georgia.
A December trip to Wilmington, Del., is also planned, with a visit to Longwood Gardens, the opera house for a performance and the Brandywine Museum, included.
"And there's always lots of shopping to do," said Edwards.
Smaller businesses, doing a big job, also cater to retired people.
All American Tours in Roanoke, a 10-year-old husband-and-wife operation, travels coast to coast by motorcoach. They love catering to senior citizens.
"There are so many nice people," said Anna Dale, a woman in her 50s who used to work for another travel agency in customer service. "The seniors are real appreciative of everything we do."
She and her husband, Dale, who worked for an insurance company and then as a truck driver, go all out to accommodate retired people because they constitute 95-percent of their business.
"It's probably the largest category of people who travel," said Anna Dale. "They have the time and the money to do it."
Dale does all the driving in their 1989 delux Centra motorcoach while Anna sets up the trips, gives the tours and acts as an escort.
In July, the Dales will make a 16-day tour of Colorado. Later, they will travel to the West Coast for 21 days. A nine-day trip to Michigan is slated for September.
All American Tours also hits New York City around Christmas to catch the Rockettes and ice-skaters at Rockefeller Center.
"It's hard work, but it's very rewarding," said Anna Dale.
Although not a full-service company, since no air fare is included, All American does provide meals and accommodations with its packages. Baggage handling is also included.
A complete emergency form must be filled out listing a family doctor and telephone number, medications, physical health problems and contacts.
"We just want to be able to take care of someone if something happens," explained Anna Dale. "And we do take care of them, from beginning to end."
The company also works with the Lewis-Gale Seniority program for transport. The only strict rules that must be adhered to is that smoking and alcohol are forbidden.
Depending on motel rates and whether dinner theaters are planned with the trip, prices range from $35 to $50 for a day trip and up to $1,295 for a 21-day trip.
"You couldn't do it this cheaply on your own," said Anna Dale.
Senior centers, like the Mountain View Senior Center, plan trips with competitive prices, such as a day trip to Shatley Springs, N.C., July 12 for $18. Or there's a trip to Wildwood, N.J., Sept. 24-28 for five days and four nights, which costs $225 and is sponsored by the Roanoke City Parks & Recreation Department.
Many senior centers get the travel bug and work out the best deals possible. And the more people that go, the cheaper it is for everyone.
All American has a trip to the Amish country in Ohio scheduled for June 19-22 and a day trip to the Barter Theatre, including a crafts festival, is planned for Aug. 1.
All American may be reached at 366-0836 in Roanoke.
Lastly, if you want to travel by air, rail, a cruise ship or steamship, make accommodations with a larger corporation, such as AAA. Ask about senior citizen discounts no matter who your travel agent may be. And companies like AAA, which offers $200,000 air-travel accident insurance at no extra charge, can afford to include some special amenities.
And have a safe and happy trip.
by CNB