Our mission with The Silver Traveler is simple: to inspire and empower the over-60 crowd to get out there and explore. We’ll share practical tips, honest reviews, and stories from the road to show that adventure doesn’t come with an age limit — just a good pair of walking shoes.
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The Real Deal on Flying Non-Rev: A Guide to Traveling on a Buddy Pass
How to do it right! There is nothing quite as thrilling — or as humbling — as flying on an airline employee’s buddy pass. One day you’re imagining champagne in first class at a fraction of the price. The next, you’re sitting at Gate B12 watching your carefully chosen flight push back without you. Welcome…
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Mastering Standby Flights: Strategies for Silver Travelers
Flying Standby We are budget travelers. And for many of us, traveling on a budget—especially in retirement—often means flying standby from time to time. Flying standby simply means there is no guaranteed seat. You may get on the flight you want… or the next one… or perhaps the one after that. There is also no…
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Packing Tips for Baking Without Disaster
Lesson Snippets A couple of years ago, we were on our annual family-and-friends ski trip to Whistler Mountain—snow, laughter, and high expectations for baked goods. I love to bake, but the timeshare kitchen? Tragically under-equipped. No proper bakeware, no decent bowls—basically a culinary crime scene. So, as I had done for years, I packed half…
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Havana in 10 Days
Cuba: Tricky, Soulful, and Entirely Worth It In the early 50’s my grandfather would fly to Havana regularly for business (He was a food broker) and he imparted his love of the country and its people to us. He had a coffee roaster in his home to roast the Cuban coffee beans and of course…
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Sunsets Warm & Fuzzy
There’s something quietly powerful about standing still while the day ends. I’ve seen sunsets all over the world, and somehow they never get old. No matter where I am, I feel it in my body first. My shoulders drop. My breathing slows. My blood pressure—yes, the stubbornly high one—seems to ease just a bit. I…
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Sintra
A Fairytale Day in Sintra, Portugal 🇵🇹 Sintra is one of those magical places that instantly captures your heart. Nestled in the lush, misty hills just outside Lisbon, it feels like stepping into a storybook filled with colorful palaces, ancient castles, and winding cobblestone streets. It’s no wonder Sintra is a UNESCO World Heritage site…
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Belize Barrier Reef Snorkeling: A Family Guide
Our ride for the day — a private off-season treat. A Rainy Start… but We’re from Seattle The day began draped in gray skies and a promise of morning rain. Our family had planned a full-day snorkeling trip off Ambergris Caye, exploring the Belize Barrier Reef and visiting Caye Caulker. When our guide, Erick, offered…
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Whistler Ski Days
Whistler: Our Winter Tradition of Skiing, Snowfall & Family Memories Another bluebird day on the slopes — Whistler never disappoints. Bill and I have always joked that our marriage works because we each get our own terrain. Bill is a true mountain soul — an avid lifelong skier who has taught countless kids and adults…
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A September Adventure: Chasing Trolls In the Pacific Northwest
A September Adventure: Chasing Trolls in the Pacific Northwest There’s something about September in the Pacific Northwest that always feels like an invitation—soft light, crisp mornings, and just enough sunshine to spark a little wanderlust. This year, instead of planning long flights or complicated itineraries, my husband and I chose something simpler: day trips close…