Plan a trip with your mom with these senior travel ideas in Texas.
Senior travel can be a great way to reconnect with your parents, especially if they live far away. Whether you’re planning a trip with your parents or want to know what to expect, here are some tips for ensuring your family travels go as smoothly as possible. Whether you want to go now or wait until the holidays are over – here are popular senior travel ideas in Texas.
Senior Travel Ideas
We can’t forget our aging parents or grandparents. If I know one thing, our elderly parents don’t need any more trinkets, blankets, or pictures on the wall (unless it’s of their children or grandchildren). They need somewhere to travel to – and somewhere fun and amusing. I’ve come up with several places to take elderly parents and some things you all can do together.
It’s never too late to take those trips you’ve always wanted to go on.
My Mom
My mom is 84, and I take her on trips whenever possible. Sometimes, I take her on my partnering trips in Texas, and sometimes, we get up and go, like when we headed northeast to Broken Bow, OK.
We have done different activities together on our trips, such as making a project from wood, painting on canvas (which is very popular among seniors), and making a craft from clay. We also love antiquing wherever we are. She loves looking for dishes that match those her sister left for her, and I love looking for antique containers and old door knobs.
My mom, bless her heart, has so much “stuff” that I’m beginning to think she’s a hoarder. We are going through all of it to see what she needs/wants and what we can donate to Goodwill. So, the gift I can give her is to take her on trips.
Some of the ideas below can be taken any time of year, so grab your girlfriend, mom, spouse, grandmother, or whoever is dear to your heart and start planning some fun!
Senior Travel Ideas To Take In Texas
I ran across an article talking about trending activities seniors will most likely travel to do activities, and all of them can be found in Texas. Of course, some of these ideas I’ve listed below will be offered close to home, but what’s the fun in that? Traveling is the takeaway to enjoy time away from home and perhaps in a place you’ve never been.
Here are a few fun ideas and where to find them in Texas. It’s hard to believe that I also fall into the category of “senior travel,” however, my mom and I are young at heart, and we love doing all things possible. Of course, more for me than her.
• Take Pickleball Lessons
Pickleball moves your whole body. I recently took a short lesson when I visited Dripping Springs. Yep, this is me – all 62 years. I had no idea how fun and popular this sport was. And it’s for everyone – young and old. It’s easy to learn & play, and you get tons of exercise.
Pickleball can be played indoors or out. I don’t know any place that offers it other than the place I went to last year. Dreamland is an indoor-outdoor sporting facility on 86 acres in beautiful Dripping Springs. Not only do they have an outstanding pickleball outdoor court, but they also offer live music, art, games, and food, and an adult-only bar that has beer, wine, and spirits. Dripping Springs is located near Austin in the scenic Texas Hill Country.
Be sure to look up pickleball wherever you go.
• Go To Festivals
2023 is full of festivals in Texas; whether it’s antique, live music, film, or any other kind of festival, it is a great way to get outdoors and enjoy the sunshine.
- Antique Festivals In Texas
- Music Festivals In Texas
- Family Festivals & Events In Texas
- Texas Wine Festivals
• Sign Up For A Canvas Painting Class
Painting on canvas is fun, and yes, it will test your skills, but the instructions are simple, and the instructor usually has lots of patience! The above picture is of my mom and me and our wonderful art – right? I do remember having to help my mom, but for the most part, she was able to follow directions, and as you can see, her painting turned out as good as mine!
Wine tasting at Fiesta Winery – Lamesa, TX
• Go On Wine-Tasting Adventures
We like to travel to the Texas Hill Country for wine tasting. Don’t worry if wine isn’t your thing. All you need is at least one person who likes it; the others can enjoy the outdoors and the friendships. Quite a few wineries are pet-friendly and kid-friendly if the grandkids are coming along. Even though the hill country is a great area to visit, other wineries exist in Texas. But wine tasting, to me, is a treat, and maybe it can be for you, too. Look for wineries that offer food. That way, the ones that don’t drink wine can fill their tummies!
• Pick Your Own Berries
Whether you have to go out of town or down the road, go pick berries together – there are plenty of pick-your-own berry farms in Texas that you can travel to. It’s fun, and you’ll have something to bring home. Next, bake a pie with your gatherings.
• Service Volunteering
Of course, this can be done where you live, and it’s needed worldwide – more than ever. Senior volunteering is in that article I ran across. You don’t have to travel to volunteer as I’m sure somewhere near you need volunteers too. But wouldn’t it be cool if you and your senior mom traveled somewhere to volunteer at a festival?
• Book Longer Stays
My first thought on booking longer stays (more than just a weekend) was at Camp Lucy or Madrone Springs Ranch, both in the hill country. These two places are spectacular places to enjoy the outside and nature at its finest. If it’s within your budget, a weeklong stay is possible here. So much – you may never want to leave.
However, anywhere you go, why not stay longer?
Ideas for longer stays with seniors:
- beach vacation
- Camping in a cabin full of amenities (that’s me)
- visit one of our National Parks
- small towns in East Texas
- visit family (longer)
- travel by RV
- and more!
Camping in East Texas
• Choose Soft Adventures
Outdoor adventures continue to be popular, and National Parks seem to be returning to pre-pandemic levels.
Entry-level hiking, walking through a National Park, or along the River Walk in San Antonio are considered “soft adventures” that just about anyone can do! Even camping in a cabin is what we were doing in the above photo. And she got to bring her Lilly!
Set your sights on these popular senior travel ideas in Texas and make 2023 the year of travel!
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