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Immersion, a Different Kind of Travel
(Focus: Pacific Northwest)
Most Baby Boomers and other retirees enjoy traveling and are often quite experienced in the usual modes, such as cruises, RV touring, a rushed week or there, and the “this is Monday so it must be Rome” tour of Europe.
In my Baby Boomer/retirement phase, I yearned for a more relaxed sort of travel, a type of journey which would enable me to see new places, a new part of the world, yet put my clothes into dresser drawers and leave them for the duration of the trip. I dreamed of travel in which I would be able to get a real sense of the people in the area or country, a true feeling of the geography, a partial glimpse into what it might be like to be a resident/native of this place I was honored to visit.
The first time I received an exquisite taste of this delectable travel style was when my husband and I traveled Europe in the late 80’s. We took a relatively slow pace in the summer, as we were teachers and had some time available to us. We spent a few days in Nice, a few in Chur, Switzerland, a few in Florence, and elsewhere. Never did we spend fewer than four or five days in one place. It gave me a craving for what I would later call “immersion travel.”
Immersing oneself into a place and its surrounding territory for two weeks to a month is for me the only way to truly engage in the sights, sounds, tastes, smells, and stimulating culture of the locale being visited. My idea eventually evolved into choosing a spot, drawing a circle around it on the map to encompass all of the territory to which I could daytrip, plotting my calendar according to time available, finding appropriate accommodations which felt as much like a home as possible, and finally completing the journey for 2-6 weeks. Immersion travel lends itself well to retirees and Baby Boomers.
There are some factors to consider when choosing an immersion travel locale. There should be:
The first place I actually completed an “immersion” travel trial was Bandon, Oregon, a little town toward the southern end of the Oregon coast. What made Bandon, Oregon such an ideal locale for an immersion travel experience? There are many choices of accommodations. I rented a home on a hill overlooking the incredibly picturesque beach ($2500/month). (For plentiful choices, contact the Bandon Chamber of Commerce or visit www.vrbo.com ) The view was spectacular; I could sit in front of the huge picture window overlooking the ocean and watch the river meandering into it. I was able to see the sunset each night if I wanted to from the west window as it unfolded in brilliant colors in front of my eyes. Or I could jump in my car and drive less than a half mile to the jetty and watch it in the car or sitting on a log on the beach. And the beach! Usually one walk a day down the hill to that lovely beach would not be enough. There were huge rocks, caves at minus tide, agates and shells, a few people surf fishing, and the always mesmerizing sea, sometimes meek, sometimes ferocious. Walking on the sand was always calming and soothing, with steps up the hill at various locations. For those more physically challenged, there is a boardwalk above the sea which would be good for wheelchairs, or one could simply park at sea level and walk along the jetty area and back to the car.
In Bandon, Oregon, there are quaint shops to explore, grocery stores, a wonderful fish market with selections fresh from the fishing boats off the Pacific, fresh vegetable and fruit stands from local farms, a historical museum, a lighthouse, a boardwalk along the cliff above the ocean, crabbing along the docks downtown, a harbor, several wonderful restaurants, and the main attraction, the beach, the river flowing into it, and the jetties protecting the harbor. Everything is within walking distance if you stay in one of the fine accommodations on the cliff overlooking the sea. Cape Arago, with a lovely park and gardens is one half hour to the north; Cape Blanco, with a lovely campground, spectacular views and a lighthouse is one half hour to the south. Both are wonderful picnic spots. A world class golf course lies just to the north of town and has brought prosperity to the region for the past ten years. During July and August the blueberries are abundant from the farms surrounding Bandon, and they are impossible to resist. The cranberry festival is in the fall, and local bogs have tours available most of the year. In Bandon, cranberries reign supreme, complete with a cranberry princess for the festival and the best cranberry fudge you’ll ever taste.
Bandon is roughly 100 miles from Interstate 5, west of Eugene, Oregon. If you are coming from Portland, it is approximately 230 miles (130 down I-5 and then 100 in from there). There are planes from Portland into North Bend, which is approximately one half hour north of Bandon. Car rentals are available at the North Bend airport.
Bandon-By-The-Sea, as the locals like to call it, meets all the criteria for a long stay, a true “immersion” travel experience for the person wishing more than a quick glimpse of this most picturesque and peaceful place.
(Next immersion travel focus: New England)
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.About the author of this article: Kathy Bjorklund was a teacher and librarian in the public schools of Washington State for 30 years. Since retirement in 2005 she has devoted her time to a website dedicated to reviews of current young adolescent literature @ www.middlebooks.com