55+ Travel Club
Due to COVID-19, all Travel Club events have been postponed until further notice.
We support our sponsoring travel agencies in their efforts to provide local travel within the government safety guidelines. We know everyone is eager to travel again as soon as it is safe to do so.
We will continue to publish our monthly Travel Club newsletter in which we will update you on what’s happening in the travel industry, and particularly how our sponsoring travel agencies are working to provide safe options. Stay Safe and Keep Your Travel Dreams Alive. We will get through this!
Hey 55+ Travellers! In honour of the 15th anniversary of INSPIRED 55+ Lifestyle Magazine in 2019, the publisher launched a 55+ Travel Club to assist readers in discovering new travel destinations and new travel friends.
PUBLISHER BARBARA RISTO:
“One of the things I’ve learned about our readers is the vast majority of them LOVE to travel. Unfortunately, many find it difficult to follow their passion for travel due to the lack of a travel partner. So along with providing information about new travel destinations, I wanted to make the 55+ Travel Club a place where those without travel partners would have an opportunity to meet potential travel buddies. I’m excited to launch this club and I’m looking forward to meeting the new members and joining some of them on the trips we highlight at our club events.”
Fill in the form below to sign up for updates!
NEW! VIVA VAGABONDS
Are you interested in travelling with INSPIRED Publisher Barbara Risto on a regular basis? You may be interested in VIVA Vagabonds (The “VI” stands for Victoria, the “VA” stands for Vancouver.) “I’m starting the VIVA Vagabonds group for those who want to join me on my travels and who want to have the familiarity of travelling with people they already know. Come join me in exploring destinations both near and far.”
55+ Travel Club
We host two club events per year in each of the following cities: Victoria, Vancouver and Nanaimo. At these events you can expect to hear presentations from 3-5 travel agencies, featuring one special destination each. Come join us before you plan your next travel adventure and see what we have on offer. In addition to these events, we send out a monthly newsletter containing travel tips and trends, upcoming events, and special discounts. We recently were offered a 40% discount on a local ship excursion that we sold out in one week, thanks to the interest of our members. Our very first event was held in Victoria (click here to see the article we wrote about it)
BUDDY BRUNCH 
This is a small social gathering held after a club event where members who are looking for travel partners are encouraged to join the publisher of INSPIRED Magazine, Barbara Risto, for brunch and the opportunity to get to know potential travel buddies. A local restaurant serves as the gathering spot, and lasts about 2 hours. We chat about where we’ve been, and where we want to travel next. It’s up to each person attending to make the most of this networking opportunity. Whether you are single or married to a partner that doesn’t want to travel, this is a way to meet potential travel partners. We look forward to having you join us at one of these fun and social events. Watch this page for upcoming brunch dates or email us at travel@seniorlivingmag.com
“A quick note to thank you. Four women met through your first Buddy Brunch, at Uptown. We’ve visited one another’s homes, met for brunch and movies, considered various trips together, and shared our personal travel experiences. I greatly appreciate that you facilitated our fortuitous meeting!”
– Jane B., Victoria BC
PREVIOUS EVENTS
NANAIMO TRAVEL CLUB EVENT
A very successful first event was held at the Berwick on the Lake on Feb 10, 2020. We had a group of about 35 people, and presentations on trips to the Yukon and Northwest Territories from Mile Zero Tours, a rail trip across Canada was featured by Ageless Adventure Tours, and a trip to Ireland with Collette and hosted by INSPIRED Publisher Barbara Risto. In addition, KC’s Boutique provided a short fashion show on how to pack a limited number of clothes for the maximum flexibility on any trip. A big thank you to the gift sponsors – Breakout Nanaimo, the Vancouver Island Symphony, Chemainus Theatre, and Berwick on the Lake.
VANCOUVER FALL BUDDY BRUNCH
In November 2019, 14 travel club members from Vancouver gathered to enjoy a tasty brunch, swap travel stories and seek out partners for future travel excursions. A wonderful time was had by all and we look forward to hosting more of these events in 2020.
VICTORIA FALL 2019 CLUB EVENT
In October 2019 we held our second Victoria Travel Club Event at the Berwick Royal Oak, and the number of 80-85 attendees this time was huge! The evening began with a reception where guests enjoyed special appetizers prepared by the Berwick chef. These delicious morsels complemented the travel destinations offered by our presenters. Throughout the evening our speakers shared upcoming trip details, previous stories, and fun facts.
We would also like to thank our generous prize sponsors!
Sign Up for Updates
Germany’s Christmas Markets 2019
Europe in December is something to behold. Having visited the Christmas markets in Germany a couple years ago, I was eager to return. My latest visit took me to Frankfurt, Nuremberg, Munich and Regensburg. Frankfurt’s market is nestled in the old town, mere blocks from the commercial towers that mark it as the banking capital …
Australia and New Zealand
Few countries, much less continents, have as many unique features as the land known as Australia. From the mystical Ayers Rock near Alice Springs to the Great Barrier Reef off the coast, the land and seascapes of this region hold amazing sightseeing opportunities. This is a land where novelties come to life. While Aussies are …
Date Anyone?
If you have ever thought that a date is, well just a date, think again. A visit to the date markets in the Middle East will soon change your mind as you discover the various types. Purveyors of dates are now offering them covered in succulent chocolate coatings. Try dates bathed in a tempting coating …
Eat, Drink, Travel
Meal by meal, spice by spice, sip by sip, nothing is so satisfying as exploring a country through your taste buds. From the exotic spice markets of the Middle East and Asia to the bustling cafes of Paris, sampling the authentic regional cuisine brings you closer to the cultures of people around the world in …
Stay Cool with Ceviche
It’s refreshing, diet-friendly and best of all, incredibly yummy. If I could pick a recipe to beat the summer heat it would be ceviche. This dish requires no oven, only a marinade that cures the raw meat through the power of citrus juice. Because no heat is used, the ingredients retain ALL their nutrients. The …
Dune Bashing in Dubai
It’s become a national sport for tourists visiting Dubai – a drive out to the sand dunes where caravans of 4×4 vehicles circle the tops of shifting sand dunes, charging up one side and sliding silently and softly down the other. It’s like skiing through drifts and mounds of powdered snow, without the cold and …
Travel is Transformative
Very few things in life have the power to change your perspective like travel does. There’s something about opening yourself up to a new destination that spurs the Universe into giving you thoughts, feelings and aha moments that don’t often occur in the experience of day to day life. I encourage every young person to …
Glühwein
Fortunately, tasty glühwein is easy to make, and you can doctor it to your liking. Here’s the basic ingredients to get you started. For about 6 servings, combine ¾ cup water, ¾ cup white sugar, 1 cinnamon stick, and the squeezings from one ripe orange. Poke about 10 whole cloves into the orange peel and …
The Oberammergau Passion Play 2020
In 1633 the villagers of Oberammergau in Germany pledged to perform a play every 10 years about the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, should they be spared further ravaging by the plague. That promise saw the first play performed in 1634 and nearly 400 years later we are about to witness the 42nd …
Germany’s Christmas Markets
From food and wine, to history, culture and tradition – this versatile and resilient country calls you back over and over to savour its many offerings. Summer or winter, any season in Germany will bring adventure your way. But none bring out the inner child like Germany’s Christmas Markets. In villages and cities, Christkindl markets …
Easy Peasy French Crêpes
One of my favourite weekend breakfasts is crêpes filled with sweet or savoury fillings. I may not be a french pastry chef, but I feel I’ve mastered the art of cooking up a batch of crêpes using a non-stick pan instead of the fancy crêpe griddle. Of course, my crêpes are not perfectly round, but …
Expedition of a Lifetime
No continent has held its secrets as closely as Antarctica. It holds a place on the bucket lists of many, but only a few will scratch that itch.. Antarctica is protected not only by its severe climate, but by regulations imposed by the International Association of Antarctic Tour Operators (IAATO), dedicated to promote safe and …
Croissants, Crêpes, and Maple Syrup
Bonjour! Merci! No, we’re not in France (the maple syrup gives it away). If you are looking to get away but a long flight to Europe isn’t something you look forward to, why not a trip to Quebec with Collette’s Charming French Canada trip? The charm of old town Montréal, the beauty of Quebec City, …
Find Your Travel Style
When asked what they’d like to do, most people over the age of 55 will tell you they want to travel more. As someone who worked during high school so I could study and travel throughout Europe upon graduation, the love of travel was birthed early and has never left even though certain responsibilities curbed …
Stand. Sip. Socialize.
This is how you drink Espresso like an Italian. Whether it’s morning, noon or night, Italians love their espresso. Unlike a café in the US or Canada, Italians don’t linger for long. The beverage is meant to be a quick, potent dose of energy.
Dining with an Emirati in Dubai
One of the pleasures of travel to other countries is the sampling of unfamiliar food, learning how it’s prepared and sometimes how it is eaten.