The Boomer's Guide to Travel Sites in Hyde Park

Evver since I was young I have been fascinated by two places that I wanted to see. First, was the home of Franklin Delano Roosevelt, the longest serving President of the United States, in Hyde Park, New York.  Second, waas The United States Military Academy or as it is more commonly refered to, West Point.  This summer, we were privileged to have the opportunity to tour both places.

Hyde Park, New York, is located about  an hour and a half from New York City. and three hours from Philadelphia  Train service is available on Amtrak and the Metro-North Railroad with stops in nearby Poughkeepsie. That is where our touring began.

We arrived at our hotel in the middle of a Sunday afternoon. Not  knowing what to expect in Poughkeepsie, my wife grabbed a stack of brochures from the hotel's front desk. We studied them in our room and saw that there were at least two places in Poughkeepsie we should see, Vassar College and Locust Grove, the former home of Samuel F.B. Morse, the inventor of the telegraph and a well-known portrait and landscape painter of the Hudson River Valley School.

Locust Grove is located at 2683 South Road on Route 9 or the Albany-Post Road as it has been called for hundreds of years. It is a 40 room Italianate mansion which is available for guided tours only. Because the Morse family had sold it near the turn of the last century, most of the furniture and paintings in the house are from the subsequent owners, the Youngs. It is an interesting mix of Victorian and older antiques and paintings. The views from the estate's gardens are of the Hudson River Valley and are fantastic..

There is a small museum on the grounds which houses some of the artwork of Samuel Morse as well as some of his telegraphic inventions.  It is well worth a visit.  There is also a small gift shop. One of the staff members recommended we try the Shadows on the Hudson for dinner that night.

Just a few short blocks away, Shadows on the Hudson has magnificent views of the Hudson River Valley. The food matches the view.  I had the Lobster bake and it was excellent, with a one and a quarter pound lobster, andoiuille sausage, redskin potatoes and corn on the cob. You felt like you were right on the beach. www.shdadowsonthehudson.com, 176 Rinaldi Blvd., Poughkeepsie, NY.

The next day we visited Vassar College in Poughkeepsie.  More about that in our next post.

The Baby Boomer's Guide to the Best Places to Visit and Things to Do in America

I have not written in a while because---what else---we were traveling. This time we were visiting Hyde Park, New York and Spring Lake, New Jersey.  Before I discuss those trips in later posts, I just wanted to acknowledge my gratitude to Patricia Schultz, the author of 1,000 Places to See Before You Die.. The book is a rich source of information concerning places to visit not only in the United States but also throughout the world.  In reading the book, it occurred to me that my wife and I had already visited a number of the places she has written about.  As an example, my most recent post dealt with Shipshewana, the Amish community in Northern Indiana. Although we had been there many times over the last decade, it was interesting to see it listed in the 1,000 Places book.

This got me thinking:  why not see how many of the 1000 places can we visit and also write about. So, that we are going to try to do.  We may not cover them all and we will write about some places not on her list, but we will try to give you baby boomers a guide to what we think are the best and most fun places to visit and things to do.  While the book is a starting point in some instances, the opinions expressed are our own and the observations are ours also.

I hope you will enjoy our Baby Boomer's Guide to the Best Places to Visit and Things to Do!

Shipshewana: A Unique Visit for the Boomer

If you, like me, are a boomer looking for an other-worldly place to visit, I have just the place for you.  It is Shipshewana, Indiana in Northern Indiana.  You probably never heard of it. Neither did we until we stumbled upon it one Friday afternoon as we were on our way to South Bend, Indiana for a Notre Dame football game. We have visited Shipshewana on several occasions since our first visit some 7 or 8 years ago. Each time we find something new that interests and enchants us. Shipshewana, which is named for a Potawatami native American chief, was listed in Patricia Schultz's "1,000 Places to See Before You Die."

Located off of the Indiana Toll Road, Interstates 80/ 90, at Exits 107 and 121, it is an Amish community that is quite unexpected in the middle of the cornfields which surround it. By the way, after leaving the Toll Road, you will pass the Howe School. If you have the time be sure to stop and see the school's chapel. The chapel was built in 1903 and is listed on the Register of Historic Places.  You will note the hand-carved pews and the collegiate style seating.

Amish, which is an offshoot of the Mennonite religion, is not just a religion but a way of life. The Amish reject many of today's modern conveniences, including automobiles. They prefer horse-drawn buggies, which march alongside the road.  Their life is simple, emphasizing the family and community. The Amish are friendly but ask that you respect their traditions and privacy. For example, they request that you not take their photograph.

Shipshewana is home to numerous shops where you can buy antiques, furniture, baked goods and quilts. There are also several dining options available. In addition, Shipshewana is host to the Midwest's largest flea market,  It is held every Tuesday and Wednesday from May 1 through the end of October. It is said to be a Hoosier tradition not to be missed.

If you are interested in furniture that will last a lifetime and beyond, we recommend you stop by the Riegsecker Marketplace Shops located at 105 E. Middlebury St.  We bought our kitchen table and chairs there and they are as solid as any you will find anywhere.

For dining,we recommend the Blue Gate Restaurant. The food consists of typical Amish fare and is available either from the menu or family style.  The homemade pies are delicious. Each meal is served with bread and homemade peanut butter.  Wonderful! The restaurant is located directly in front of the Riegsecker shops. www.BlueGateRestaurant.com.

How to Make Flying Easier: Tips for Baby Boomers

Are you a baby boomer who does not fly very often?  If so,  every experience at the airport and on the airplane can seem  like the first time. Here are some tips that might help ease your way. Most of them are just common sense but it pays to be reminded of them.

One of the first recommendations I have is that you put all your travel papers in a folder that you take with you to the airport. For just a few dollars, you can buy a cardboard folder at Office Max or Office Depot.  If you prefer, you can also get one in leather or vinyl depending upon your style and budget. I prefer the ones that are self-closing.

As you are getting ready for your trip, put all of the papers you will need for the trip in the folder.  This will include your boarding pass, itinerary, hotel and rental car confirmations and if you are leaving the country, your passport and any othere papers you may need during your trip.  By the way, you need to remember that you now need a passport to enter into Canada. Having all these papers in one place will save a lot of aggravation and time at the airport and on your trip.

The day of your trip, you may also want to add to the folder your driver's license or other picture ID that you will need to go through security at the airport. One important point about the travel folder: keep the folder with you at all times.  It does you no good if it is in your checked baggage or in your carry on bag if you have to surrender it at the door of the plane if it is too large or there is no room in the overhead bins.

I also recommend you take as little additional clothing on the plane with you.  Overcoats, hats, scarves, etc, either become lost or crushed by someone's luggage in the overhead bin.  I always try to put those items either in my checked bag or carry-on. Speaking of carryons I happen to think the Delsey carryons are the most useful.  They fit a lot of clothing, but are lightweight and easy to put in the overhead.

I find it useful to wear slip-on shoes when traveling by plane. Not only is it easy to take them off on the plane, which is particularly important on long flights where you want to get comfortable, you will spend less time at the security gate since you will not have to unlace and lace up tie shoes.When you are seated, I recommend doing some basic stretches, particularly on long flights.  Just raising your arms in the air or leaning forward in your seat and touching the floor with your hands can do wonders for your circulation.  Compression stockings also may make sense on long flights. These cost about $10 and you can get them at Dick's Sporting Goods stores.

As the title of this post states, these little tips can make your flight just a little easier.

For information on some cool destinations, please take a look at my earlier posts and those yet to come.

Pittsburgh on $100 a Day

Hey Pittsburgh, you have just been named one of the "10 Best Places to Live on $100 A Day"  by AARP Magazine.  That works out to $36,500 a year.  The survey was based on the purchase price for a median priced home, the climate, the availability of cultural opportunities and, not surprisingly, access to topnotch medical facilities and services. Another factor that was considered was the local economy.  Pittsburgh, while hit by the recession like everywhere else, has not seen the foreclosure rate seen elsewhere.

Interestingly enough, Morgantown, West Virginia, which is located about 90 miles South of Pittsburgh also made the list.

If you are thinking about a move in retirement, consider Pittsburgh!

Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix

Myron Cope  was the well-known, high-pitched radio commentator for the Pittsburgh Steelers.  Known for creating the "Terrible Towel," the black and gold towel seen being waved at every Steeler game, whether home or away, Cope was also one of the foundesr of the Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix. Estatblished in 1983 as a fund raiser for the Allegheny Valley School and later the Autism Society of Pittsburgh, it is now one of the most popular races of its kind. Nearby are two great universities, Carnegie-Mellon and the University of Pittsburgh.Pictured above is the University of Pittsburgh's Cathedral of Learning.

Each year, generally during the third weekend of July, drivers of vintage race cars and fans of sports cars gather in the Oakland section of Pittsurgh in Scheleny Park to watch the only vintage car race run on city streets.. The course is 2.33 miles  long and has over 20 turns. About 250,000 people attend the time trials, the international car shows and the races.

Each year, one car is selected as the marque for the car show.  This year it was the MG and the spotlight car was the Lotus. In addition, German cars were highlighted. Porches, Audis, BMWs and Volkswagens filled the Bob O'Connor golf course where the car shows were held on this past Saturday. I even saw a Beetle that resembled my old 1970 Bug. Because of the German theme, there was even a Biergarten, where your favorite German brew was available under a large tent.

While the car shows are going on, so too are the qualifying races. The Crown Royal Featured Races took place on Sunday. The racers include classics such as Bugatti, Aston-Martin and Alfa-Romeo.

Be sure to mark your calendar for next year's event.

Alternatives to Immediate Annuities:in Retirement 101

As we come closer to retirement, we all start thinking about how we can supplement our social security and other sources of income such as pensions or IRAs.  One of the investment vehicles being touted today is the immediate single premium annuity The immediate annuity works like this in its simplest form:. You take a lump sum of money, say $100,000, and give it to the insurance company when you reach age 65. Except in very limited circumstances, you no longer have access to the principal. In return, you will receive a monthly payment until you die. If you are lucky enough to have a long life, you will undoubtedly receive back your investment and more. On the other hand, if you were to die shortly after purchasing the annuity, your estate will lose the entire amount.  There is some variation of the immediate annuity that allows your spouse to continue receiving a reduced payment until his or her death. The question is: are there other investments that may produce  income without risking losing the entire amount and without those restrictions on access to your money?

Although none of these investments are guaranteed or without risk, I think that there are several alternatives which together may provide a reliable source of income.  As always, the key is to maintain diversity, i.e., spreading your investment money around several different classes of assets..  In that regard mutual funds are probably the better choices for most people rather than individual stocks and bonds. One type of fund to consider is the municipal bond fund. These generate tax-free income and if they contain municipal bonds from your state, the income(or some portion of it) may be free of state as well as Federal income tax.  A second type of fund to consider is the dividend growth fund.. These generally invest in high quality stocks that have paid dividends for many years and are regularly increasing the amount.The third leg of the stool is an investment grade corporate bond fund. These are designed to generate the highest levels of income consistent with the preservation of principal..  Of course ,unlike the immediate annuity, none of these mutual funds produce a guaranteed income and you could also lose your principal.  However, with any of these  alternatives, you do have access to your money and it may still be there for your heirs.

All of the major mutual fund companies offer these types of investments, Vanguard (www.vanguard.com), Fidelity (www.fidelity.com), T. Rowe Price (www.troweprice.com), etc. So which you choose is really a matter of personal preference.

DISCLOSURE:  The author has investments with each of the mutual fund families referred to in this post. The opinions expressed in this post are informational only and are not intended to provide investment advice.  You should consult with a professional advisor before investing your money.