Travels With Cindy

Summer Travel? Merci, Non: Why I Prefer Shoulder-Season Travel

Why battle summer crowds and sweltering heat when you can travel during the shoulder seasons? From April in Paris to December in Sevilla and fall in Florida, discover why flexible travelers can enjoy better weather, fewer lines, and a far more relaxing trip.

Am I traveling this summer? I am not. I do not like crowds. I do not like unbearably hot weather. And the two together? Just no.

Instead, I’m getting lots of writing work done in my lovely air-conditioned home in Knoxville. After I finish the second draft of my current novel-in-progress, it will be cooler and much less crowded in Europe. In other words, time to travel!!!

Why Travel During the Hottest Months?

Why do people travel in the summer if they don’t have to? I know that people with children in school pretty much have to travel during the summer. If you’re a teacher, same thing. Your long vacation breaks are in the summer, so that’s your travel time.

But for those of us who are empty nesters and of a “certain age,” we can travel whenever we want! If you love blistering temperatures—104 degrees in Paris last month—and standing in line in the heat for hours to see famous sites, go for it.

For moi: merci, non.

Discover the Joy of Shoulder-Season Travel

Instead, use this time to plan for what the travel industry calls the “shoulder seasons.” I call them “pleasant times to visit wonderful places.”

Think April in Paris, which was six shades of magnificent this year. Chestnut trees in bloom all over the city! Cool air with a perfect breeze! Sweater weather as you check out all the gorgeous flowers at Monet’s Garden in Giverny! Long, pleasant walks through the gardens of Versailles!

Europe Can Be Wonderful in Early Winter

Even southern Mediterranean cities can be divine in early winter. Last year, I visited Madrid and Sevilla in early December and had the best time of my life. The Christmas decorations were up, but I barely needed a coat.

In Sevilla, flowers were still in bloom, and I enjoyed many pleasant hours simply wandering the ancient streets—most of them pedestrian-only. Did I experience a few cool days? Sure, but throw on a pullover sweater and a pair of tights, and you’re fine.

And did I mention there were no crowds of any kind? No lines, either. Want to visit the Alcázar or the cathedral? Pick a time on your phone and show up.

The Best Time to Visit Florida

Florida, the Sunshine State? Summer in Florida is hotter than the surface of the sun.

As a part-time Florida resident, I can say: Come to Florida in the fall! Fall in Florida is still plenty warm enough to get a tan, walk on the beach, and swim in the pool.

My beach condo is in St. Augustine, in northeast Florida, and I can tell you that the best weather is from September through December. My condo is booked with guests every July, but it is usually available—and for much lower rates—in the fall.

Y’all are missing out on the most pleasant time to cruise down A1A with the sunroof open, while palm trees and hibiscus blossoms remind you that not everywhere in the United States is brown and possibly cold already.

Travel at the Best Time for You

If your time is flexible now, you can travel during the “best” times—not necessarily the “most popular with families” times of the year!

Bon voyage,

Cindy

Cynthia Coe is the author of several novels and non-fiction books. Travel with her through time by reading her novels “Knitting Through Time” and “Knitting Under the Orange Trees.” To view her complete list of books, please visit her Amazon Author Page at this link.

Planning a Fall Visit to St. Augustine?

My own beach condo in St. Augustine is professionally managed by an excellent local property manager and is often available at lower rates during the fall. It’s a comfortable home base for beach walks, historic sightseeing, and leisurely drives along A1A.

You can see photos, check availability, and book your stay here at this link.

This is the view from my condo!

Why Seniors Should Travel Sooner Rather Than Later

Senior travel takes energy, strength, and stamina. Here’s why travelers over 60 should plan active trips, especially to Europe, sooner rather than later.

Several years ago, when I turned 60, my Aunt Diane took me aside and advised me to travel now — before I turned 70. Still in good health and taking me along for a brisk walk around her neighborhood, Aunt Diane told me that unfortunately, most of her friends couldn’t keep up with her.

“The years between 60 and 70 are good years,” she said. “But afterward, you don’t know whether you’ll be able to travel.”

The Best Years for Senior Travel May Be Earlier Than You Think

Ah, the “golden years” of retirement! The time to sleep late and enjoy not having to do the school run or rush to make that eight o’clock meeting. The time to pursue long-neglected hobbies and passions. The time to travel.

But not so fast.

Travel takes a tremendous amount of energy and fitness. Let’s not kid ourselves. If you want to travel, especially internationally, you’d better get with it.

Travel After 60 Requires Energy, Strength, and Stamina

In the last week or so, I’ve seen numerous questions posted online asking about “activity levels” on many of the tours I’ve taken recently. Inevitably, the person will list health problems — knee issues, heart issues, breathing issues, general unsteadiness on the feet — then ask, “Will I be able to keep up?”

Reading these comments, I can only shake my head as my fingers hover over the keys to reply, “Probably not — at least, not on many European tours.”

Friends, travel in Europe often requires the fitness level of a moderately active 30-year-old.

The streets of the most charming European cities and villages are often paved with cobblestones. They may involve uphill and downhill walking, and steps — often steep ones — are usually thrown into the mix at some point.

Case in point: the “back breaker street” in Coimbra, Portugal — straight downhill on cobblestones and truly dangerous in rainy weather. And many of the narrowest streets in old European towns are too narrow for cars, so don’t expect a taxi to come bail you out.

Will a Tour Bus Make Travel Easier?

Will a tour bus get you around these problems?

In short, not really.

My group tours in Europe have all included really nice Mercedes buses. No problem, right?

Wrong.

You still need to climb very steep steps to get on and off these buses. And there may be twenty people behind you, ready to get going.

Train Travel in Europe Can Be Harder Than Expected

Taking the train?

No one is necessarily available to help you with your luggage. You’re expected to haul your suitcase across the gap between the platform and the train car, carry it up or down steps, then cram that overloaded piece of luggage into a space smaller than the suitcase itself — often while lifting it over your head.

No, I’m not kidding. I did this numerous times in France just weeks ago.

Airports Can Be a Fitness Test, Too

Even the airports are a challenge.

On every international flight I’ve taken in the last several years, I’ve had to walk long, long distances just to get to passport control in European and Canadian cities. Even for someone who works out every day, these treks are no small thing — especially if you’ve just taken an overnight flight to Europe and are about to drop.

And then there was that steep staircase at the end of the long walk from the plane in Madrid. I watched with fear as a white-haired woman made her way down those steps, with no handrail, pulling a carry-on suitcase behind her.

Don’t Wait Too Long to Travel the World

The moral of this blog post: don’t mess around and wait until you’re 80 years old to travel the world.

Travel before that knee gives out.

Travel before you need a cane to navigate a crowded city street with uneven pavement.

Travel before the thought of hauling luggage through a train station makes you want to stay home.

Travel While You Can Enjoy It

Instead, travel while you can prance down a Parisian street on a perfect spring day with a spring in your own step.

Travel while you can climb on that bus to Versailles.

Travel while you can walk uphill to that charming village in the South of France, where you find the most delicious honey in a tiny shop across from an ancient staircase, then head back down the hill for a crêpe and a glass of wine.

Travel now.

Blessings,
Cindy

For my list of “must have” travel gear, see my Amazon Storefront at this link!

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Traveling Alone After Widowhood – A Widow’s Rite of Passage?

After losing my husband, I never imagined I would one day travel through Europe alone. But one small walk by myself in a Portuguese town became the first step toward a joyful new chapter of solo travel, confidence, and rediscovering myself after widowhood.

Losing a spouse is hard, and in so many different ways. There’s the sheer loss of a life mate itself. But there’s also the mountain of paperwork, the endless financial changes and decisions, maybe a possible change of household. At some point, you get all that behind you, and you want to travel again.

After I finally got myself “settled” after losing my husband in 2020, I eventually wanted to travel again. My late husband, Tom, and I had traveled extensively during our 37-year marriage. We spent the summer after our wedding in Europe, we traveled later to visit friends living in Europe – and to explore the newly re-united Germany in 1992. We traveled to the Arctic Coast of Russia to adopt our third child, and we later took that child to bicycle through Amsterdam, Bruges, and Versailles. With all that travel under my belt, I was once waved toward the “experienced traveler” line at a large airport, even with 3 kids and a stroller in tow.

Yet I couldn’t bring myself to travel at all as a new widow. I daydreamed of a new husband appearing out of the blue to take me on a river cruise in Europe. I don’t know who I thought that husband would be, but after signing up for every dating app on the web, it soon became clear that this travel “plan” – or fantasy – wasn’t happening.

Discovering Solo Travel After Loss

At some point, I faced the reality that some handsome, older man would not be showing up to sweep me off to Europe, pay for the trip, or make sure I was safe and protected from whatever I thought I couldn’t possibly handle by myself.

I began exploring possibilities for traveling alone and was stunned to find something called “solo travel” – tours and trips abroad just for people traveling alone.

In a moment of “what the heck,” I picked up the phone and booked a trip to Portugal. I had never been to Portugal, and that was the point. I didn’t want to go someplace I had been with my husband; I wanted to start making travel memories all my own.

My First Solo Trip as a Widow

Was I scared to death? Oh yeah. For this first excursion, I planned nothing but the tour – no going early, no staying late. I chose to fly through Amsterdam, an airport I knew fairly well and that had felt “safe” and well organized on previous trips. I had a firm “stay with the group” mentality. I stuck like glue to the others in my tour group, never having meals by myself or doing any wandering off on my own at all.

But late in the tour, I finally decided to take one little baby step toward truly traveling alone. In a small town in Portugal, I took a short walk alone. Nothing special, nothing crazy. I walked around the block, found a little store, and bought myself a soft drink, using what little Portuguese I knew.

And I did it!!!!

This one little baby step toward solo travel awakened the old Cindy who explored European cities confidently and with cheerful curiosity, with joy. After that one little walk, within months I was ditching a tour group to explore Montreal and Quebec for hours by myself. And by the end of 2025, I was going off to Spain completely alone, with no tour group at all…and I had the time of my life.

A New Chapter Through Solo Travel

My travels have reshaped me into a new person in my widowhood. I’ve taken charge of my own life, spending my time as I please, developing myself into the person I’ve always wanted to be.

Little did I know, when I took that first short walk by myself in a Portuguese town, that I would soon blossom into my new, joyous, exciting post-widowhood self.

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