Posted in Triplett & Carothers on January 1, 2026

There is nothing like travel to widen your world perspective, and there is no time like your retirement years to experience adventures. Tours that cater to the over-50 crowd have boomed in recent years. According to AARP, more baby boomers are seeing the world on bicycles and on expedition cruises than ever before. With time and resources, mature travelers are embracing the opportunity to see the world on their own terms.

The days of cookie-cutter travel are over, with many exciting options to choose from. There are small group tours that allow you to connect more with locals and beat the crowded touristy spots. If you are a grandparent, you might even consider multigeneration travel adventures with your family.

Your travel adventure can be customized to meet your comfort level, from relaxed and laid-back to challenging and daring.

Here are some travel tips to inspire you and send you packing right away:

• If prefer to travel with a group, look for reputable tour operators who have been in business for a while. You can take advantage of their experience creating carefully planned itineraries, which takes the guesswork out of what to see and where to stay.
• One such tour operator is the not-for-profit Road Scholar, which runs more than 4,000 adventures in more than 100 countries. The focus of this company is on active learning, meaning that participants will be learning from experts rather than just sightseeing. The organization runs trips for grandparents and their grandchildren, as well as for families and single people. Snorkeling through the coral reefs of Puerto Rico is an example of a grandparent and grandchild adventure. A walking tour from Bern to Lake Geneva is another offering geared to women travelers only.
• Wildlife safaris through the southern African national parks are a unique and memorable adventure experience. Smithsonian Journeys, an extension of the Smithsonian Institute, offers a variety of tours from leisurely river cruises to active hiking, biking and walking trips to tailor-made journeys. One of the active trips is a hike on the Inca trails in Peru. You can avoid the hike and take a train route. Smithsonian Journeys also offers trips for families and solo travelers alike. There are also special-interest tours such as a trip to Iceland in the winter to view the Northern Lights.
• The warm climate of Costa Rica offers spectacular rainforest and wildlife. Adventurous travelers will want to go aerial zip lining across the forest canopy with different levels of difficulty. The more challenging rides feature multiple cables and platforms. The popular Selvatura zip line offers a Tarzan swing and a ride covering more than 2 miles of forest.
• National Geographic Expeditions offers adventurers the chance to explore the other-worldly region of Antarctica. Here, you have the opportunity to discover the rich landscape of snow and ice inhabited by endless penguin colonies. Further exploration into the water is done by kayak or Zodiac with expert guides. Check the website for similar adventures to the Galapagos.

There are few things in life that can compare to the excitement and enrichment of travel. Seniors are taking advantage of their leisure years to satisfy their desire to see the world. It’s never too late to have an adventurous life, so pack your bags and explore your world.

Reach out to Roz Carothers and her team at Triplett & Carothers to learn more.

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