One of the things people most look forward to when they retire is the chance to travel. With all the time in the world, you don’t have to pack in every sight in just a week or two. You can spend some real time wherever you go, getting to know the area and not just the usual tourist highlights. Best of all, you don’t have to worry about needing another vacation just to recover from your vacation. You’ve got a vacation-style resort at hand when you live in the Lake Ashton retirement community in Florida. So here are four trips, domestic and international, that are perfect for starting off your retirement.
If you want to start your travels a bit closer to home, the Blue Ridge Parkway is an ideal trip. Connecting the Great Smoky Mountain National Park in North Carolina to the Shenandoah National Park in Virginia, the scenery all along the way is breathtaking. Although this trip is particularly stunning during the fall season when the leaves are changing, it’s still beautiful during the summer, as well. There are plenty of roadside pullover areas where you can stop and take in the views, but you’ll be entranced by the views throughout the drive. Plus, there are plenty of places to stay, from campgrounds to charming upscale log cabins. Don’t miss the picturesque towns along the way with great food, music, historic sites, shopping, and more. Include a trip to Biltmore Estate in Asheville, NC, for a grand tour of George Vanderbilt’s mansion and gardens.
If you don’t feel like driving, head up to our neighbors to the north and enjoy a scenic train trip on the Rocky Mountaineer in Canada. With glass-domed rail cars, you will take in amazing views of the Canadian Rockies. There are special travel trips available, including a 12-day trip from Seattle to Vancouver. You’ll ride the Rocky Mountaineer train, with stops along the way at Banff National Park, Lake Louise, Jasper National Park, Lake Louise, and Yoho National Park, before heading back to Vancouver. There are plenty of activities along the trip, as well as easy sightseeing. If you want to extend your vacation, you could always add in a luxurious Alaskan cruise.
If you moved to Florida for the fun and sun, but want a more exotic experience, head to Costa Rica. The concept of pura vida is everywhere in Costa Rica where the goal is to enjoy life and be happy. Much of the country is made of of national wildlife preserves, so there are plenty of opportunities to see fantastic wildlife in its natural habitat, including sloths, wildcats, monkeys, sea turtles and even whales. With both Caribbean and Pacific coastlines, pristine beaches, hot springs, rainforests, and volcanoes, you’ll want plenty of time to take it all in and soak up the experience. Go hiking, play some golf, relax on a beach, or even try surfing and then at the end of an amazing day, there are plenty of upscale resorts and hotels where you can relax in style.
Finally, if you chose the Lake Ashton retirement community because they have homes with garages specifically made for RVs, then you’ll probably want to take a coast-to-coast trip at some point. Whether you take a southern route or head further up north to take the classic Route 66, there’s no shortage of roads to take you across the country, stopping to enjoy historic sites, natural wonders, and a few fun and kitschy roadside attractions.
With a retirement community in Florida, like Lake Ashton, you can head out for as long as you want and know your home will be safe and ready for you when you eventually return from your travels. Soon enough, you’ll be planning trips further afield, maybe even to Asia and Australia!
