Have suitcase, will travel: Senior center offers many chances to get away
MEL TOADVINE Josephine Scotton, who mans the Travel Desk at the Lehigh Senior Citizen Center, shows a map of several destinations that travelers can make in.
If you are looking for an easy and affordable way to get away, you may be interested in motorcoach trips for Lehigh Acres Senior Citizen Center members and the public.
Josephine Scotton runs the Travel Desk at the center and plans at least three major trips a year, plus several daytrips in-state.
“I’ve been working the Travel Desk for eight years and I love it,”?she said. “I get to see so many people and make new friends.”
Scotton typically works the Travel Desk five days a week.
“We like to get the word out to everyone, the general public who are not members, of any age, to come in and sign up for a great trip,”?she said. “The buses are the best, with entertainment on board some of them. They are large and there is plenty of room and comfortable seating.
“We work with Diamond Tours in Fort Myers for trips from three to seven days, with everything included for the one price,” Scotton said. “We go to places like Nashville, Pigeonforge, Tennessee, New Orleans, St. Augustine and Miami and Key West, and up north to places like New York City.”
The next trip is a three-day, two-night trip to Miami and Key West on March 3-5. The cost is $240 and covers double occupancy.
“That includes two nights’ lodging, three meals, two breakfasts and one dinner,” she said. “A visit to the beautiful oceanfront Hollywood Beach boardwalk, a visit to Key West and a cruise by celebrity homes on Biscayne Bay, plus a visit to Bayside Marketplace.”
Motorcoach driver and step-on guide gratuities are included.
Scotton noted that Diamond Tours is the largest motorcoach tour company in the country.
From Sept. 9-17, there will be a trip to New York City.
“That’s nine days and eight nights and the price is only $845, from Wednesday to Thursday of the following week. It’s per person double occupancy,” she said. “There are so many things to see and do in New York City and for those who have never been, it is a trip of a lifetime.”
Travelers stay in hotels in New York City and motels on the way up and back.
The trip also includes a stop at Baltimore’s Inner Harbor and one in Fayetteville, North Carloina, to experience a unique educational approach on United States’ history through the preservation, interpretation and recognition of Army history, equipment and technology.
Take a daytrip on March 7 to the Strawberry Festival in Plant City.
There will be more than 50 food vendors, exhibits including agriculture, commerce, industry, livestock, fine arts, horticulture and crafts, and top-name entertainment.
“The cost is only $54 and includes all admissions, deluxe motorcoach with restroom, tour coordinator and on board entertainment,” Scotton said.
Goody Tours runs this trip.
Many return for different trips, and if enough people say they want to go to a certain place, Scotton will do her best to make it happen.
“The busses hold 54 people when we go with Diamond Tours. After two hours, the driver has to stop for rest and for riders to get out and walk and stretch and get some fresh air,”?she said. “After four-hour trips, we stop for meals at pre-determined nice restaurants, and at night we may stop around 5 or so so everyone can get ready for dinner and enjoy the motel and the pool in warm weather.”
There must be 30 reservations made for each bus trip.
The Travel Desk can also help with reservations for the Broadway Palm Theatre in Fort Myers. The next play “West Side Story,” runs Feb. 19 through April 15.
“The plan to go to see ‘West Side Story’ is for us to attend Feb. 28, a Saturday, and car pool from the senior center at 10:45 a.m.,” Scotton said.
“We’ll have buffet seating at 11:45 a.m., and the show begins at 1:15 p.m.,”?she said. “The price is only $47. This is great because a lot of our members don’t like to necessarily travel at night.”
Future plays are already planned and people can sign up now.
“I really enjoy this and I go on the trips and they all are a lot of fun,” Scotton said. “It’s ideal for people who live alone, widows and widowers, singles or doubles. You make friends easily and the rides are very comfortable.”
Anyone interested in signing up for a trip can stop by the Lehigh Acres Senior Center, at 219 Plaza Drive, or call Scotton at the Travel Desk at (239) 369-5355.
“I’m here almost every day, but if I am not here someone will be at the desk to give you all the information needed about any trips we are planning,” she said.
Have suitcase, will travel: Senior center offers many chances to get away
MEL TOADVINE Josephine Scotton, who mans the Travel Desk at the Lehigh Senior Citizen Center, shows a map of several destinations that travelers can make in.
If you are looking for an easy and affordable way to get away, you may be interested in motorcoach trips for Lehigh Acres Senior Citizen Center members and the public.
Josephine Scotton runs the Travel Desk at the center and plans at least three major trips a year, plus several daytrips in-state.
“I’ve been working the Travel Desk for eight years and I love it,”?she said. “I get to see so many people and make new friends.”
Scotton typically works the Travel Desk five days a week.
“We like to get the word out to everyone, the general public who are not members, of any age, to come in and sign up for a great trip,”?she said. “The buses are the best, with entertainment on board some of them. They are large and there is plenty of room and comfortable seating.
“We work with Diamond Tours in Fort Myers for trips from three to seven days, with everything included for the one price,” Scotton said. “We go to places like Nashville, Pigeonforge, Tennessee, New Orleans, St. Augustine and Miami and Key West, and up north to places like New York City.”
The next trip is a three-day, two-night trip to Miami and Key West on March 3-5. The cost is $240 and covers double occupancy.
“That includes two nights’ lodging, three meals, two breakfasts and one dinner,” she said. “A visit to the beautiful oceanfront Hollywood Beach boardwalk, a visit to Key West and a cruise by celebrity homes on Biscayne Bay, plus a visit to Bayside Marketplace.”
Motorcoach driver and step-on guide gratuities are included.
Scotton noted that Diamond Tours is the largest motorcoach tour company in the country.
From Sept. 9-17, there will be a trip to New York City.
“That’s nine days and eight nights and the price is only $845, from Wednesday to Thursday of the following week. It’s per person double occupancy,” she said. “There are so many things to see and do in New York City and for those who have never been, it is a trip of a lifetime.”
Travelers stay in hotels in New York City and motels on the way up and back.
The trip also includes a stop at Baltimore’s Inner Harbor and one in Fayetteville, North Carloina, to experience a unique educational approach on United States’ history through the preservation, interpretation and recognition of Army history, equipment and technology.
Take a daytrip on March 7 to the Strawberry Festival in Plant City.
There will be more than 50 food vendors, exhibits including agriculture, commerce, industry, livestock, fine arts, horticulture and crafts, and top-name entertainment.
“The cost is only $54 and includes all admissions, deluxe motorcoach with restroom, tour coordinator and on board entertainment,” Scotton said.
Goody Tours runs this trip.
Many return for different trips, and if enough people say they want to go to a certain place, Scotton will do her best to make it happen.
“The busses hold 54 people when we go with Diamond Tours. After two hours, the driver has to stop for rest and for riders to get out and walk and stretch and get some fresh air,”?she said. “After four-hour trips, we stop for meals at pre-determined nice restaurants, and at night we may stop around 5 or so so everyone can get ready for dinner and enjoy the motel and the pool in warm weather.”
There must be 30 reservations made for each bus trip.
The Travel Desk can also help with reservations for the Broadway Palm Theatre in Fort Myers. The next play “West Side Story,” runs Feb. 19 through April 15.
“The plan to go to see ‘West Side Story’ is for us to attend Feb. 28, a Saturday, and car pool from the senior center at 10:45 a.m.,” Scotton said.
“We’ll have buffet seating at 11:45 a.m., and the show begins at 1:15 p.m.,”?she said. “The price is only $47. This is great because a lot of our members don’t like to necessarily travel at night.”
Future plays are already planned and people can sign up now.
“I really enjoy this and I go on the trips and they all are a lot of fun,” Scotton said. “It’s ideal for people who live alone, widows and widowers, singles or doubles. You make friends easily and the rides are very comfortable.”
Anyone interested in signing up for a trip can stop by the Lehigh Acres Senior Center, at 219 Plaza Drive, or call Scotton at the Travel Desk at (239) 369-5355.
“I’m here almost every day, but if I am not here someone will be at the desk to give you all the information needed about any trips we are planning,” she said.
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