On the Horizon
When you visit the East Coast of the United States, be prepared to experience history almost everywhere you go. That’s what the travelers with Shelby Senior Services were excited about on our recent trip to Virginia Beach. The City of Virginia Beach wasn’t officially incorporated until 1952, but it was a pivotal part of the military and cultural background of our country.
For me, the highlights of our journey were Williamsburg, the Mariners’ Museum, the Naval Base and the Battleship Wisconsin.
I have visited Williamsburg several times over the years. Our children were 6 and 7 years old the first time and were excited to see the costumed people and colonial toys. They were not impressed by the historical significance of Williamsburg. So, my husband and I visited on our own and loved the colonial guides who assumed the role of a colonial person of the time period.
Now I get to take travelers there so they can appreciate what I have grown to love over the years. The town is dynamic, alive and typical of early America. It is the largest living history museum, according to the brochure. It is 300 acres! Our first visit was a walking tour of the center of town with shops to compliment the visit. Now, “there are taverns, world-class art museums, and artisans practicing historic trades.” They even have a stage for live performances and educational lectures.
It was a very hot and humid day, but the fascinating tour led our travelers in and out of the air conditioned buildings. While impossible to see all of Williamsburg in just a few hours, it is worth going back to experience everything it has to offer about early colonial life.
The Mariners’ Museum caters to all ages. Founded in 1930, it is both an educational museum and a historical museum. It features the story of early exploration and ship building complete with hand made models, some in miniature, as well as the battles, slave trade, and a huge, life-size model of the USS Monitor Civil Warship’s outside protective iron covering. The Ironclad Revolution exhibition tells the story of the 1862 building of the USS Monitor and features a full-size replica of the revolving gun turret.
In another section of the multi-room museum called the International Small Craft Center, a life-sized model of the America’s Cup AC72 catamaran, which is 72 feet long, hangs overhead so the visitor can see every inch. The “foils” situated under the model enable the hull to rise out of the water to attain speeds about three times faster than the wind. It is an awesome craft.
You can tell I really enjoyed this outstanding museum.
Situated on the coast is the largest Naval Base in the world. We boarded the Victory Rover sightseeing boat and spent two hours sailing by the base. We were close to three enormous aircraft carriers, battleships and numerous shipyards with Navy ships being repaired in port. The narrator pointed out the many facets of the base, as well as the cargo ships which were being loaded and unloaded along the way.
The USS Battleship Wisconsin has been decommissioned and we were able to walk the decks, hear about its history and live vicariously through the eyes of the guides along the way through the adjoining museum. The military of the United States is awesome and these sights made me feel secure.
The 2024 trips schedule is available now at the senior center. We would love for you to join us to make memories that last a lifetime. Call me at 317-701-5984 for more information, or stop by the center in the MHP Community Health & Wellness Center for flyers and the schedule.
Extended Day Trips
Travel Coordinator Carol McDaniel has several travel options scheduled:
May 3-13, 2023, Portugal River Cruise
Pretrip meeting April 27
Staterooms with or without balcony
from $9,083 per person, passport required
Final payment due 2/3/23
Air included
June 18-24, 2023, Cape Cod & Martha’s Vineyard
Pretrip meeting June 15
FULL – Wait List Only
Final payment due 4/11/2023
July 15-22, 2023, Columbia & Snake River Cruise
Pretrip meeting July 6
Sailing through Washington & Oregon
From $3915 per person
Air, additional $595 per person
Requires proof of vaccination
No passport required
Final payment due 3 months ahead of sailing
September 4-9, 2023 Virginia Beach, Williamsburg, & Norfolk
Pretrip meeting August 24
$809 per person based on double occupancy
+$267 additional for single occupancy
Final payment due 6/27/2023
September 24-30, 2023, Cape Cod & Martha’s Vineyard (#2)
Pretrip meeting Sept 14
FULL – Wait List Only
Demand has determined a second trip now available.
$715 per person
+ $209 additional for single occupancy
Final payment due 7.17/2023
Contact Carol McDaniel, 317-701-5984 for more information
If you are interested in any of these trips, I will send you a brochure/flyer for those via email. If you want to go ahead and sign up for any of these, the motorcoach only trips require a deposit of $75 per person made out to Shelby Senior Services and dropped off or mailed to the Senior Center at 2120 Intelliplex Dr. Make sure you put which trip it is for in the memo section of the check.
If you are interested in fly/motorcoach trips, I will send you a brochure with the reservation form in the middle of the brochure that you will fill out (one for each person going) and write a check for the deposit ($250 per person) plus the insurance (see the reservation form) made out to Collette. Send that to me at the Senior Center in Shelbyville. If you choose a fly/motorcoach trip, call me and I’ll walk you through signing up.