Summer is the perfect time to pack up the family and head off on vacation. Awhile back, we published 5 Great Vacation Ideas for Seniors to share trips that go beyond the classic beach option. Between the four diverse trips and the curated tour of the East Coast, that should have kept you busy for at least one season.

With summer rolling around again, you may be looking for some new ideas. We won’t let you down! Here are five MORE vacation ideas, geared for seniors.

Lakeside Retreat

There’s a lot to be said for a trip to the beach. It’s easy, it’s relaxing, and you have your options of swimming in the water or lounging on the beach. But that’s a very common destination. Heading to a lake, either by renting a cabin or going to a resort, offers many of the benefits of the beach with a slight twist. Lake vacations allow you to swim, lounge, and relax by the water.

Heading to a lake, either by renting a cabin or going to a resort, offers many of the benefits of the beach with a slight twist.

One of the advantages of a lakeside vacation is the large variety of locations you have to choose from. Many lakes also allow you to rent boats for fishing or riding. Some are more secluded, giving you a chance to rest in privacy surrounded by nature. Whatever you’re in the mood for, there’s probably a lake trip tailor-made for you.

Another advantage is location, since there are beautiful lakes in every state. You don’t need to go to the coast to get to a lake. This is especially beneficial for Americans in the middle of the country, where the nearest beach is thousands of miles away. Ultimately, lakes are accessible and varied.

Enjoy Nature While Camping

If you like the sound of a lake trip, but a cabin sounds too modern, camping is the way to go. When it comes to camping, take the availability of a lake retreat, and multiply it by a million. You can camp almost anywhere, even in your backyard! Most national parks allow you to camp on the premises, as do many state parks. All you truly need, though, is a location you’re happy to set up camp at.

Camping can be fun and easy to do, as long as you do it safely.

Camping can be fun and easy to do, as long as you do it safely. Pick an area that you can escape in the case of an emergency. You should also research potential safety hazards, like dangerous animals or terrain. You wouldn’t swim in shark-infested waters; don’t camp where there are lots of bear sightings or poisonous snakes. Finally, be safe with fire and know how to correctly light and maintain one. Knowing camping safety ensures your outdoor adventure stays fun.

If you want camping, without the… camping, there’s a new trend called glamping. It stands for glamor camping. This is a high-end form of camping, with top-of-the-line equipment, facilities, and locations. Be warned, glamping isn’t cheap. But, if you’re looking to go that route, it’s camping with all the comforts of modern living.

Hide Away at a Spa

Sometimes, you just need some rest and relaxation. There’s no place better for that than a spa. Take a single night or an extended stay at one of the country’s spas and watch the stress melt away. You’ll return home with a spring in your step! A spa trip can even double as a bit of a destination vacation, traveling to some of the best spa resorts in the world. For a start, you could try an all-inclusive spa, like those offered by Club Med.

There are a lot of factors that can mean the difference between a great spa vacation and a terrible one.

While it’s tempting to say, “just book it,” it’s smart to research your trip first. There are a lot of factors that can mean the difference between a great spa vacation and a terrible one. A spa’s price is one of them. Don’t only check the price of a room, but also for individual services like massages or facials. Food can also be expensive, and these all add up.

You should also check reviews for the spa, to ensure that it’s clean and professionally run. This is truer for a spa than the other entries, since a dirty, incompetently-run spa can ruin your vacation.

See the Glitz and Glamor of Hollywood

The film industry and Hollywood are some of the United States’ greatest contributions to world culture. Whether it’s Casablanca or The Godfather, the U.S. has made of some of the best films ever. If you’re a film buff, a trip to Hollywood is a must. While filmmaking has spread out since the Golden Age of Hollywood, you can still view many of the most important sites in the history of film.

If you’re a film buff, a trip to Hollywood is a must.

While you can see Tinseltown yourself, a guided tour to Hollywood’s highlights can point you toward landmarks you may have missed. You shouldn’t leave Hollywood without going on a studio tour. Each studio runs its own tour, taking you behind the scenes to see how your favorite movies and shows are made. The Universal Studios tour is perhaps the highest rated, as the largest working movie studio. The Warner Bros. and Paramount studio tours shouldn’t be missed, either.

Explore with a Foodie Tour

The foodie movement is one of our favorites that’s captured the hearts and minds of Americans around the nation. Interesting or tasty food is being appreciated like never before. This has given rise to an entire industry of food tours. Much like a winery tour that you’d find in New York’s Finger Lakes or California’s Napa Valley, food tours introduce you to the best that area has to offer.

For one price, you can see the city, learn about its culinary history, and get a taste from some of the city’s best restaurants.

Most cities offer food tours, especially larger ones. New York City has many different food tours, from Little Italy excursions to a taste of Greenwich Village. New Orleans can also tour you around to give you a hot taste of its famous Cajun cuisine. For one price, you can see the city, learn about its culinary history, and get a taste from some of the city’s best restaurants. A quick Google search of “[the city you’re going to] food tours” should give you dozens of options, each with its own specialty that sets it apart from the others!

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Let’s be clear. There’s nothing wrong with having a traditional family vacation each year. Returning to a favorite location builds a familial connection with that place. That said, trying something new once in a while can give you new experiences and memories to last a lifetime!

Further Reading

The Shop & Enroll Blog — 5 Great Vacations for Seniors