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5 things I learned about travel in my 50s – and a feature in Woman Magazine

This week brought an extra thrill when I opened a copy of Woman Magazine, one of the UK’s leading weekly women’s magazine and saw myself featured in an article called Generation Jetset! My mini-interview is part of a feature on three women who are proving that you can have fun and adventure in your 40s and 50s – it’s not something that’s the preserve of the 20-something backpacker. The magazine is in stores in the UK until Tuesday 27 February so don’t miss getting your copy!

Woman Magazine Heather Cowper Generation Jetset!
Woman Magazine featuring Heather Cowper Generation Jetset!

The interview tells a bit of my story, how in my mid-40s I set off on 3 week trip through Ecuador with two friends, leaving my husband to manage the children so that I could rekindle my spirit of adventure. It was after that trip that my idea to start a blog grew, as a way to share my love of travel and inspire other women to go off and have their own adventures too. I never dreamed that 10 years on, this would be something I now do full time, earning my living through my blog and other travel related projects.

Woman Magazine Generation Jetset! Click to see full size pdf
Woman Magazine Generation Jetset! Click to see full size pdf

To celebrate the joys of mid-life travel, I wanted to share with you a few of the things I’ve learned through travelling in my 50s.

1. If you love to travel, you’re never too young to start and never too old to stop.

I think I got my love of travel from family trips that we made as a child, on camping holidays with my parents and two sisters. I remember being packed sleepy-eyed into the car at dawn for the drive to Dover, where we would take the channel ferry and head off to tour around Europe. I continued to travel as a student, with trips to Kenya and Papua New Guinea and as our family grew I hope I’ve instilled in my children my love of travel. They are certainly confident travellers and citizens of the world. My parents continue to travel well into their 80’s and still enjoy visiting new places, and we love to go with them as a multi-generation family group whenever we can.

You may also enjoy: How to fund your travels: Money saving tips for the 50+ traveller

Family holiday in Salzburg
Family holiday in Salzburg

2. In your 50s you can have an adventure without feeling you have to prove yourself

I hope that I haven’t lost my spirit of adventure as I’ve got older, in fact I think my confidence has only grown as I’ve travelled more. I still love to go hiking in the Dolomites or try snorkeling with seals as I did in Canada last year, or go cycling through the vineyards in Italy. But I think I also know my limitations and I don’t feel the need to push myself to the limit if it doesn’t feel comfortable. There are some things, like bungee jumping that I’m happy to leave to other adventurous souls and I don’t feel I have to go to every extreme to have a good time.

Read about the time I climbed a Via Ferata in South Tyrol Italy

Climbing a via Ferrata in the Dolomites
Climbing a via Ferrata in the Dolomites

3. These days it’s about the quality of the experience rather than ticking off the destinations.

One year my daughter got a wall-map for Christmas where she could scratch off the places she’d visited and I realised that she had probably visited more countries than me, even though she’s half my age. But somehow that urge to count off the countries doesn’t seem to appeal as much to me, it’s more about having a fun time wherever I am. I want to slow down a little and savour the experience, have time to sit in that cafe and soak up the atmosphere or chat to the locals I meet. I may visit new places but equally I love to return to Greece each year to visit my sister who lives on Zakynthos. Life is not a race to see everywhere and do everything – instead it’s the experience that counts.

Read about beaches and places to swim on Zakynthos in Greece

Lazy days on Zakynthos Greece
Nobilos in Zakynthos Greece

4. Travel is twice as much fun when it’s shared

When my kids were growing up, I was that stressed out mum who couldn’t wait to have a bit of “me time” that didn’t involve organising five people’s lives. But now my children are grown up and leaving home, I’m in the “empty nester” stage where the time together is less frequent and so highly prized. I’ve found that travel is a way to reconnect with the family and so whenever we can we still try to have a family trips or book a villa together, spending time cooking, sightseeing or chilling out. I do sometimes travel alone when it’s more of a work project, but I find it’s much more fun to share the travel experience and make memories together.

Read about our family holiday in Costa Brava

Eating out with the family in Costa Brava
Eating out with the family in Costa Brava

5. In your 50s you can afford to treat yourself, but travel doesn’t have to be expensive

When I travelled as a child, my parents were on a tight budget and we generally went camping in Europe or rented a country cottage. Now we can afford to stay in nice hotels and enjoy the little luxuries of life, and relish it even more because we’ve earned it. I may go hiking over a high pass in the Alps and stay in a simple mountain hostel at the top of a mountain, but when I get back to the valley I’ll enjoy that boutique hotel with a spa and delicious food.

That’s not to say that every pleasure in life costs the earth. I’m just as happy buying street food in a local market as I am in trying the cuisine of a top chef. Even if you are on a limited budget there are ways to treat yourself to a great experience, by travelling out of season or snapping up the bargain flights so you can afford a stylish hotel or fantastic holiday at a lower price.

Read about our stay at the luxurious Cyprianerhof in the Dolomites

The Spa hotel where we stayed while hiking in the Dolomomites
The Spa hotel where we stayed while hiking in the Dolomites

I hope that you too enjoy the pleasures of travel at any age and continue, as I have though your 50s and beyond!

Woman Magazine Heather Cowper Generation Jetset
Click here to read: Woman Magazine featuring Heather Cowper Generation Jetset!

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5 things I learned about travel in my 50s

This article is originally published at Heatheronhertravels.com

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Anne Fraser

Sunday 8th of December 2019

I can relate to this. I find I still love travelling even if it's a bus ride to a local city for a coffee. I don't need to tick off places on the map now.

Heather Cowper

Friday 13th of December 2019

@Anne Yes, it's much more about the quality of experience thee days

farenexus

Friday 7th of September 2018

Thanks Heather for great article. keep it up

Stephenie Lawton

Thursday 9th of August 2018

Great article. I just took a short trip by Amtrak from LA to San Diego. it was such a treat! As you said, I met so many nice people. I splurged and stayed in a posh hotel, and enjoyed lunch at a delightful restaurant. I can't wait to return!

Heather Cowper

Monday 27th of August 2018

@Stephanie Sounds like that was a fun trip

Dana / O hotelach

Tuesday 20th of March 2018

"These days it's about the quality of the experience rather than ticking off the destinations" - this is so true, I couldn't agree with you more. I used to travel only once a year and only to take a break from work. Now I try to visit some new places at least three times a year and they don't have to be far away! There are many cheap flights and so on, it's a shame to waste the opportunity. When I think back, I see a person who didn't have much time or money, now I have more time and a little bit more money, so I travel as much as I can. I also have a travelling blog, but in Polish - maybe I should try writing more in English? Best wishes :)

Heather Cowper

Tuesday 27th of March 2018

@Dana So pleased you enjoyed the article, as you say we don't always have to go far or spend lots to enjoy our travels

Anders

Wednesday 14th of March 2018

Thanks Heather for great article. After traveling I make small video for my children and I love to share my travel experience with my family. I hope that after 20 years I can enjoy my travel trips like you...

Heather Cowper

Friday 16th of March 2018

@Anders Hope you enjoy travelling for many years to come!