Turning 50...Looking for ideas!

[KathiCville]

Hi.......I'm hitting the big 50 next month (April 23). I had been planning to take my darling canine on a multi-week cross-country trip to celebrate, but have had to put it off for an assortment of reasons. So I'm now casting about for a great week-long outing for myself to mark the big day. I turned 40 in Paris (greeaaat fun!), but am so behindhand in planning for my 50th that I think I'll limit myself to "domestic" options here in the U.S.

I've started poking around online looking for supported bike trips, fly fishing camps, spas, creative retreats of one stripe or another. But have not been coming up with much. Late April seems to be "off-season" for a lot of things........I hike and bike, do a bit of yoga, love being outdoors, love to garden (and see 'em, too). Would like to be somewhere beautiful doing something interesting and life-affirming. I live in Virginia, so would prefer to 'get outta town' and head elsewhere.......Thoughts? Maybe tours (and tour companies) you've enjoyed? Retreats? Schools? Special places? Memorable (domestic) adventures? Other ideas? Thanks!

[tulip]

I turned 40 last fall and did a week long trip in Vermont with Bike Vermont. It was a great way to celebrate.

Personally, though, I'd vote for Paris again!

[mimitabby]

Sounds like you're ready for a bike tour!

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

I think it's a great idea to turn 50....definitely go for it!


(I'm turning 54 on April 26!)

[SlowButSteady]

My 50th will be in November.

I'm going to try to do what I call the Okefenokee Challenge. Starting at the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge in Folkston, GA, I want to kayak or canoe across the swamp to Stephen Foster State Park outside of Fargo, GA.

Then I will ride back to Folkston by road bike, a distance of 96 miles.

I hope. Depends on whether or not there's any water in the swamp, fires, etc that will choke off part of the canoe trails.

Georgia's been mighty dry for a long time and fires last year effectively closed off some of the area to paddling, or so I hear.

[Starfish]

Go arctic! I didn't get to do this (below), but I did get to go to AK for the first time for my birthday in January...Fairbanks. I am dying to go back...there is an enormous system of trails with cabins there that you can Xcountry ski into. But, check out the site below. It looks really intriguing.

http://www.alaskaultrasport.com/tours_trips/Trips.html

Or, for something completely different (you mentioned schools):

http://www.thecoaches.com/coactive.html

I don't know your background, but this introductory coaching course is a weekend thing, and works as a stand alone course that, in my opinion, will enhance just about anything you're doing, and stretch you a bit in the process. Some folks would be challenged more than others, depending on personality and background, but this is a neat course. They have them all over the place, so you could travel to one and incorporate other things into your birthday trip, too.

Whatever you do, have a great time, and good for you for celebrating your own birthday!

[Brandi]

Congrats on turning 50! My dh is turning 50 this month (aarp stuff already showing up in the mail).
We are celebrating by having a 3 day camping weekend with any of our friends who want to join us. It should be great fun! It is my dh's favorite thing to do so it seemed only right to do it for he's big 50.
I hope whatever you do it is awesome! Enjoy and I will raise a glass to you!

[OakLeaf]

I had a wonderful time on a Women's Quest retreat a couple of years ago. It's what got me back into cycling, actually, besides being just really, really good for the soul.

[KathiCville]

Wow, thanks for the good wishes and ideas! Keep 'em coming! I'm planning to spend part of this (rainy) weekend digging around online to explore my options more.....

[Aint Doody]

I recommend checking out Bicycle Adventures. They really pamper you and yet you do some great rides. The rides are mostly in the Pacific NW & CA. I've done 2 of their rides and plan to do another one when I retire--if that ever happens!!

[SouthernBelle]

Have you checked adventure cycling or woman tours? I notice one of adventure cycling's supported tours for
April is a 7 day trek in Virginia, right in your neck of the woods.

[Melalvai]

A 50-mile bike ride, at least.

[Starfish]

Are you definitely wanting to do this on the actual date...in April? Or, is there any possibility of a delayed thing...like this summer?

[KathiCville]

Hi Starfish........Yeah, I really want to be out and about doing something special that day/week. I had such a blast being away for a whole week celebrating my 40th, that I've long promised myself to do the same for the 50th. (Champagne at The Ritz in Paris on my 40th birthday was cheesy, cliche and utterly, utterly divine, lol! ).... But by all means share any ideas for summertime, too!

My only tentative plan so far for the summer is to *try* to reschedule a three-week coast-to-coast trip with my dog that I had been hoping to do for the Big 5-0. But that trip will be mostly hiking, rather than biking---and low-key, at that, because my nine-year old furry baby has arthritis.

Thanks, Starfish!

[IFjane]

Kathi - I am afraid I can't offer much in the way of suggestions other than to tell you what I would love to do if I were as old as you! *lol* (ok, ok....I'm OLDER than Kathi but hey, let me dream!)

On my birthdays I have generally been around here (October 28) and ridden the miles of my birthday, but this last year Michael and I spent the weekend at Chincoteague Island on the Eastern Shore of VA - it's FLAT! And we rode a mile for every year of my life (54). The headwinds make up for the hills over there, though.

I only wish you a wonderful adventure on your 50th! If you are willing to wait a couple months, I can definitely suggest some great mid-summer adventures.

See you soon, Kathi!