By Patricia Lee

For the senior traveler Elderhostel provides an inroad to any community in which the program is held and at very affordable prices considering the average cost of hotel/motel stays, meals in restaurants, and entertainment. Elderhostel won’t get you there. You still need car, bus, train, or plane to arrive at the chosen destination but once there everything...room, meals, education and entertainment is provided for one fee.I really should not be writing this because it makes me want to pack my bag, get in the car and take off and head back down to Chincoteague Island to do some more exploring.

Where do I begin? First, for any who do not already know about Elderhostel, it’s a non-profit organization which organizes programs for seniors age 55 and older. Program lengths can vary from 3 nights to 5 or 6 nights and longer. The programs are held throughout the United States, Canada and all over the world.

As mentioned above, the one fee covers everything unless otherwise noted. Entertainment consists of lectures and field trips. One of the most interesting aspects is getting to know local folks and having a real inside look through their eyes, experiences, and stories about the local culture. My experience is that you leave knowing people and places you would not experience on the average vacation trip. And equally fun and interesting is getting to meet and know your fellow hostelers who come from far and wide.

If you are a single person who can’t talk a friend into joining you on an Elderhostel adventure, there is no need for you to stay at home. You can stay in your own room for a singles fee or I think that they will do what they can to hook you up with a roommate if you would like to do that. In my experience, there are always single folks in an Elderhostel group. I cannot think of a more inviting, entertaining and safe vacation for a single senior. There are folks to talk with, enjoy meals with and relax with.

The programs I attended ranged from 20 to 40 people making it easy to meet folks with whom you share common interests. I’ve been a pen pal for over nine years with one wonderful woman I met at my first Elderhostel in Maine. She and I were voted as having the heartiest laughter. She definitely deserved the title. Her friendship has been a blessing. And, speaking of laughter, it abounds at Elderhostel programs.

Our last Elderhostel on Chincoteague Island was what they call a Snapshot, 3 nights. The cost was $306 each (double occupancy) which included our motel room, a wine and cheese welcome, 9 meals at the restaurant next door, lectures by local folks (Captain Barry Frishman whose middle name just has to be “Resourceful.” Great life story. Waterman, Randy Birch....honestly their work has to be among the hardest. Retired Biologist, Jan Nichols...fun speaker and she hates being retired. Decoy Carver, Roe Terry...exceedingly talented and extremely interesting. Artist and field guide, Jenny Sommers...interesting, fun, knowledgeable are a few adjectives that come to mind. In addition to the lectures that were held in the motel meeting room, we went by school bus on three field trips, with running commentary by Captain Barry, to The Oyster & Maritime Museum, The Assateague Light House, a Behind the Dunes field trip to an area of the refuge closed to the public where we were so very fortunate to see not only the beautiful ponies but all manner of wildlife which created much excitement and last but not least, a beach walk. In all of my 70+ years, I have never been entertained so much, done so much in that short a period of time.

Here are links to Elderhostel and some of the folks mentioned above. Roe Terry does not have a website but I’m sure just about any local person could point you in the direction of the workshop beside his home where he carves beautiful decoys. I could go on and on but that would make me like one of those folks who pulls out endless photos of their last trip trying to force you to hear the story behind every one. What would be best is to try one of these events for yourself. There is something for every interest. Just go to www.elderhostel.org to see what they have to offer. And, if you don’t already know these folks you can visit their websites. You can visit Captain Barry at www.captainbarry.bigstep.com/homepage.html, Jenny Sommers at www.chincoteaguebaysidearts.com (her site may still be under construction but you can see some of her beautiful work). And last but not least the Oyster & Maritime Museum webpage which mentions Elderhostel at the bottom of the page, www.chincoteague.com/omm.html. This is a very interesting place to visit.