Great Wall of China, China

Betty Keener and her husband, Jack, traveled around the world for 58 years together. They explored Europe, South America, Asia and North America. Three years ago, Jack passed away.

Last fall, Betty traveled to New England. She wandered around the charming Rhode Island capital of Providence, saw the historic buildings in Boston, and gazed across the ocean at Cape Cod. It was her first big trip without her husband, but she was not alone.

“I learned that I can do a lot of things on my own,” said Keener, 82. “I still love to travel. It was nice to know that I can still travel, and that other people my age are still traveling.”

Group tours allow seniors to continue traveling, even with challenges of age and changing life situations. Seeing new sights, surprising oneself and widening perspectives are all part of the traveling experience. Guided tours provide easier access for seniors exploring this vast world. Plus, it’s just plain fun.

Keener booked her trip to New England through the Bend Senior Center. The center, run by Bend Parks & Recreation District, offers Central Oregon residents 50 years and older a host of activities, classes, and events – including a variety of travel opportunities.

Day trips are available to locations such as the Willamette Valley, the Painted Hills, a tulip festival in Silverton, and even theme-specific excursions around Bend. Keener recommends day trips as a great launching point into group travel, as it requires fewer preparations.

But group travel isn’t just about going on an adventure. It’s an opening for socialization with peers, and the chance to experience something different, said Sue Boettner, manager of the Bend Senior Center.

“It gives them cognitive stimulation,” Boettner said, “because they are thinking of new things, and learning new things, and remembering. I think that can improve health, too.”

Upcoming day-trips include an April adventure to Portland’s Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI), which will offer participants a chance to explore exhibits with scientific hands-on learning. Or, in May, groups will head to Fort Rock to see the geologic wonder, and then feast on a traditional western-style meal at Cowboy Dinner Tree.

The Bend Senior Center is also planning two rail trips this year, one to the Grand Canyon and the other to California. The tours are organized by Premier World Discovery, a company that Boettner chose for its customer service.

Travelers will fly into Phoenix in May, with a stay at a resort in Sedona, Ariz. The vintage train will wind along the cliffs of the Verde Canyon on its way to the Grand Canyon. Other activities include a trolley tour of Sedona, a visit to the Montezuma Castle National Monument, and a farewell dinner at Blazin’ M Ranch, complete with a western stage show.

In July, those traveling to California will explore San Francisco, tour the wine country on the Napa Valley Wine Train, and visit Sacramento, Virginia City, and Lake Tahoe. With a maximum of 30 participants on each trip, there’s ample opportunity to make new friends and experience new places.

Bend-resident Joanne Wildman, and her husband Mike, enjoy participating in tours. They traveled to the East Coast to witness the colorful fall leaves, voyaged on a European river cruise, and ventured to China with the company China Focus Travel.

While traveling in Beijing, Wildman was appreciative of sightseeing within a group. It added extra comfort in the midst of busy traffic and overwhelming movement of the capital. The city is enormous, Wildman explained, and it was helpful to be in a tour group to easily reach sites such as the Great Wall of China and Summer Palace.

“It’s a great place to meet seniors,” Wildman said about group touring, “and see a lot of different things you might not see on your own.”

Guides are often available to explain the history, geology and culture of different areas. It is a benefit not always available to solo travelers, according to Ryan Campbell, district sales manager of Premier World Discovery.

Many are cautious of tours being too structured, but Campbell said that travelers are not required to do anything they don’t want to do. It is important, though, to keep an open mind and go with the flow while navigating new experiences.

“The most important thing when you are traveling anywhere is to do your research and understand the basics of traveling before you go,” Campbell said. “If you travel with an open mind looking for new experiences, and you understand it could be new and great or it could not be what you were hoping for, as long as you have an open mind when you are traveling, you are going to see things in a better light.”

AAA Oregon/Idaho, with an office in Bend, books many group travel tours for seniors to both domestic and international locations. While the companies and trips are not senior specific, many of the tours attract adult travelers due to the itineraries and offerings.

The travel professionals at AAA are trained to book the best trip to fit each traveler’s needs, said Doreen Loofburrow, vice president of travel services in Oregon. Companies that often draw seniors include AAA Member Choice Vacations, Trafalgar, Insight Vacations, and Collette.

The Bend Chamber of Commerce gathers residents for an international trip each year. The trips are not designed specifically for seniors, but many Central Oregonians ages 50 and older participate.

Travelers may do as little or as much as they like, according to Sandy Stephenson, CFO of the Chamber. A group traveled to China in 2013, to Italy and Greece last year, and plans are made for Australia and Fiji this fall.

Participants of group tours may not know anyone at the start of the trip, or they might be traveling with companions, but the end result is a fun-filled adventure and a host of new friends to share the memories.

Following a European river cruise with Viking River Cruises, Wildman and her husband stayed additional days in Paris. They navigated the city and its subway lines with a handful of others whom they befriended from the tour. Wildman remembers standing atop the Eiffel Tower overlooking the beautiful city. It was a bucket list item completed.

Keener traveled to New England with a friend and with five others from Central Oregon. They met at the Portland airport and stuck together throughout the tour. The new friends still occasionally meet for lunch, recalling past experiences and memories together.

“It’s much more fun to be with other people and know you will have someone to travel with,” said Keener, “and not be wandering around towns alone and not be eating dinner alone, and know that someone will be picking up the pieces a little bit.”

Keener recommends to other seniors who may be nervous about traveling to simply go ahead and do it.

“For most of us who are older,” Keener said, “… the idea of heading out on your own for the first time is pretty intimidating. But, you just have to do it.”