I’ve thought about all the possibilities out there for travel and senior fun – in my circle of friends that means “age 50 and older,” and there probably isn’t anything new under the sun that hasn’t been seen or experienced by someone.   That being said however, if you are the one wanting to experience it – then it is NEW!  And that is why we keep seeking adventure and travel.

I ran across a book the other day,  1000 Places to See Before You Die,  by Patricia Schultz and printed by Workman.  This book is full of every kind of experience you’d dream about.  Places to see that are naturally occurring elements in our great nation of the United States and Canada, handmade elements, eateries, boutiques, antiquities, even observations made as to the architecture elements within the thousands of buildings visited. 

The book reads more like an encyclopedia unabridged.  I casually open the book toward the middle and immediately see “Museum of Appalachia” -  “John Rice Irwin” -  “Norris, Tennessee” -  “Dollywood” – “Dolly Parton” “Pigeon Forge, Tennessee” all of which I’ve seen, met, and visited.  Still, Patricia has wittingly put into each of these pages bits of information that I missed while in the areas. 

When I flip casually through the first 200 pages in the book, I visit Pennsylvania.  Here is a city you’ll definitely want to visit:  Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  The Swedish immigrants brought with them a raucous tradition of creating a cacophony of noise by hitting pots and pans to scare off the evil spirits.  With a little more creative mix and immigrants from other countries, this tradition took on the air of a masked parade complete with wild costumes and floats.  I thought the only masked parade like this, in the United States, other than Halloween each year,  would only be found in New Orleans,.  I was pleasantly surprised to know this information and now I’m making plans to travel to Pennsylvania.  It’s on my “Bucket list.” 

Patricia blends into her facts about each area, a writing style which brings the vignette to life.  For example, Prince Edward Island National Park:  “pastoral landscapes, prim farmsteads, antiques-décor,” phrases such as these help you the traveler,  picture the images in your mind.  On this particular page, the descriptions are of the storybook, Anne of Green Gables.  Perhaps you saw the film or series of  Avonlea  or read the eight books of  Anne.  I did and loved all of it.  This too would be a place I’d like to travel to, now that I have read about it and remember all the idyllic scenes in the films. 

As I write, there is a proposal which our United States legislature have before them regarding the preservation of polar bears.  How ironic it was to find listed in the back of Patricia’s book, a Polar Bear Safari.  Where?  Churchill, Manitoba Canada.  Noted as polar bear capitol of the world, pregnant polar bears come to Hudson Bay to devour seals and get ready for winter and birthing.  The Churchill denning area, one of the largest in the Arctic, was placed under the protection of Wapusk National Park in 1996.  Want to see a polar bear?  Churchill, Manitoba sounds like the place to be.  And if the bears don’t show, maybe a view of the northern lights or the sighting of one of the 200 plus species of birds will satisfy your wanderlust! 

 If you can dream it, you can do it.  So dream big when it comes to travels and pick up a copy of  1000 Places to See Before You Die.  Before you know it, you’ll have your itinerary planned and find yourself on your way there.  Happy Traveling to 1000 Places to See Before You Die!

Photos:   1.) Book by Patricia Schultz, Workman Publishing, 2.) Dollywood, 3.) Mummer by Pennsylvania,  4.)Avonlea,   5.) polar bear