How Group Travel Sparks a Sense of Joy

Researchers have shown that having new experiences is good for maintaining your cognitive health, but it’s also beneficial for your mood and overall mental health. For me, group travel helps me get over the sense of ennui that hounds me. It also gives me some social time, which is another thing that is really important for our mental and physical health. I like that I also get time to be alone, which I need as an introvert, but I’m not entirely on my own. I find when I go on completely solo trips, I get a little depressed and lonely, so group trips are much healthier and more fun for me. 

So Many Surprises! 

The Faces of Oregon program was my first learning adventure with Road Scholar, and it was filled with surprises that will stay with me for a long time. I inadvertently saved one of the best states for last, and I had no idea how disparate Oregon is — from the city of Portland to rainforests, beautiful beaches, stunning gorges and mountains, tall waterfalls and even high and dry desert. I really enjoyed the gentle hikes and lectures given by naturalist Natalie DaSilva, who was so knowledgeable about the places we visited and so willing to find the answer to any question.  

I learned about geography, history (we were hot on the trail of Lewis and Clark!), eagles, science, art, forestry, roses and wine-making, among other things. I learned how to say the name of the state correctly:  ORY-gun. I learned that Portland residents like their reputation for being a little quirky, and the city was actually named after Portland, Maine. 

The temperature changes were a surprise, too. We flew in on June 16 to weather that was cloudy and in the 60s. The next day, we visited Mount Hood, where the temperature steadily dropped to the 30s, and it even snowed hard as we ascended the mountain by bus. The second full day we drove to the northwest coast of Oregon and enjoyed windy, clear weather. In Portland, during a city exploration, the temperature was in the 80s, and the final day in the Columbia River Gorge, it went up into the high 80s. Layers to pile on and peel off as necessary were the order of each day.  

A Leader for All Seasons 

Although I’ve traveled widely, I’ve come to appreciate having a leader to make arrangements and guide me in the right direction. We really lucked out on the Faces of Oregon program with our Group Leader, Susan Wolfe. A tiny woman with energy to burn and a heart so full of grace and love that it knows no depth, Susan made everyone feel seen and heard.  

Thoroughly prepared for all eventualities and questions, she was organized, but kept the mood light with jokes — her favorite was telling us on the way home from a long day of activities that a session for hatchet throwing or zip lining had just opened and she had signed us all up. She also came up with an entertaining way of making sure the group of 24 was all on board the bus — she assigned each of us a number (I was number 13) and had us count off every time we left a venue, making it into a game.  

By chance, we didn’t get to formally introduce ourselves to one another until lunch in the  Wildwood Recreation Center on Mount Hood the first full day of our trip. By waiting until we were well-rested from traveling and all seated, however, Susan turned this lunch into a bonding experience as we were able to give our fellow travelers our full attention. From that time on, the group magically coalesced into a group of caring friends, even though we’d known each other less than 24 hours.  

My Fellow Road Scholars 

I’ve found one of the best parts of a Road Scholar program is meeting like-minded people from all over the country — the Midwest, the Southwest, the Mid-Atlantic, the West and the East. They are all so well-traveled and curious, no matter their age, that it is inspiring.  

We had many women in our group who, like me, came alone on the program, either for the first time or — get this — the 30th. There were also two sisters, two friends, four couples and a single man in our pack. There were symmetries with so many of the other travelers. One couple had lived many years ago in the Connecticut town that I live in now! And there were actually four Nancys in the program — me (short Nancy), another from North Carolina, one from Ohio and one from Illinois. Nancy is a popular name for women of a certain age, but I’ve never found this many in one group before!  

Another favorite part of the program was when we explored downtown Portland. As a mixed-media artist, I loved seeing all of the public art. Led by a local historian, the highlight was a piece called Portlandia, one of the best-kept secrets of the city. A copper repoussé statue of a woman that, at 34 feet tall, is second in size only to the Statue of Liberty. The statue hangs off of a government building, reaching out toward the ground. Most people aren’t all that aware of the statue because the artist, Raymond Kaskey, used his wife as a model for the classical figure and was fearful people would criticize the art and hurt her feelings, so he refused to allow the city to publicize it.  

Seeing the International Test Rose Garden in Portland’s Washington Park, which blooms from spring to fall and contains over 650 varieties of roses, was a special treat for me, an avid gardener. (No wonder Portland is known as The Rose City!) I also appreciated that I was able to go off on my own one afternoon to visit the Japanese Garden in Washington Park, which offered me an afternoon of tranquility and an outstanding view of Mount Hood. 

What’s Next? 

Having now visited the 50 states and with a personality that is goal-oriented and always looking forward to events and trips, I have to figure out what might be next for me. Travel to more national parks, perhaps (I’ve seen 17 to date), countries (22) or continents (four)? I plan to consult Road Scholar’s catalog for an answer!