Vacation With Road Scholar

Age is not a consideration when seeking companionship and a place to enjoy meeting new people in new locations. We all like to mingle and socialize whether it be with old friends or new acquaintances. Active people tend to be healthier and happier and that is true at whatever age one may be.

Perhaps you have heard of Elderhostel? Elderhostel is now known as Road Scholar and offers a tremendous selection of opportunities throughout the world. If you are a traveler at heart, this could be the program for you.

Elderhostel is one of the oldest and well established program in the country. This is a not for profit organization which was established in 1975 that offers educational and travel programs in United States and the world. They have 8,000 unique programs that are being offered to almost 50 US states and 150 countries. For now, it was noted that there is almost 5,000 people who want to enjoy and get the most of experience that signed up for Elderhostel’s trips.

Elderhostel is now known as the Road Scholar. They originally put forward a short lodging for their seniors at cheap rates. This was established and founded by Martin Knowlton, a social activist and David Bianco, a university administrator. The accommodation and courses were initially instituted in 1975 summer at five universities and colleges in the New Hampshire. The participants went from 220 up to 20,000 for the following five years.

Expansion followed in US and into the province of Canada. In 1981, the organization programs expanded to Scandinavia, Great Britain, and Mexico with cultural excursion, course related tours, and also, extracurricular activities which focuses on countries culture were in they were currently located.

Now, Road Scholar includes almost 5,500 programs which being divided into categories of discoveries into independent city, adventure afloat, service learning, outdoor adventures, inter generational and theme based. Scholarship opportunities for those necessary to participate. Over $250,000 has been made available to assist in North America.

Road Scholar supports research into aging and life long learning. A few of their research articles include titles such as “Mental Stimulation and Lifelong Learning Activities in the 55+ Population” and “What will Baby Boomers wants from Educational Travel”.

The cost of trips varies widely according to which program is chosen to participate. One day programs are $50 and higher; longer trips vary in length at varying prices. One does not need to part of a couple to participate. Solo rooms and rates are available or if one prefers, Road Scholar will match you with a roommate.

Special programs are unique to Road Scholar which offer a wonderful family journey such a the Intergenerational program for grandparents and grandchildren. This program offers adventures throughout the continents to destinations such as Quebec, South Africa, Italy and the grand winter adventure in Minnesota. Whether is be a safari or ski trip, Road Scholar offers all.

Trips are usually all inclusive and include instructors to help guide you along the way. The instructors are life long learners themselves who provide a catalyst for exploration as well as the practicalities involved with the trip and its’ activities.

The Road Scholar website is very user friendly and trips can be sorted by interest, location, budget or activity level. Visit the website at http://www.roadscholar.org/default.asp and check out the offerings. Your new friends and adventure awaits.