9 Best Vacations for Seniors and Retirees – Travel + Leisure

After retirement, it’s time to treat yourself to a well-deserved vacation. Without time constraints, you can enjoy longer stays or slower travel as you visit multiple regions, a variety of landscapes, or national parks you’ve been meaning to visit. You might also appreciate the convenience of a destination resort where you can enjoy dining and most activities on site.

There are plenty of resorts designed with mature adults in mind, but if you’re planning to meet up with family, choose one with facilities geared toward multigenerational groups. For many retirees, a good vacation provides a balance of outdoor pursuits, health and wellness, and pampering, so we’ve selected places based on these criteria. Here are nine of the best vacations for seniors in the U.S., whether you prefer a verdant mountain retreat, a nostalgic coastal escape, or a glamorous desert oasis.

Suncadia Resort, Cle Elum, Washington

Nestled among the Cascade Mountains on the edge of Washington’s Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, this picturesque resort offers tranquil scenery, crisp mountain air, and a variety of outdoor activities. Choose The Lodge for panoramic river and mountain views or The Inn, a plush hotel with golf course views.

At Suncadia Resort, guests can choose from a plethora of activities. Play golf, go for a hike, or try archery or axe throwing. Bikes, canoes, and kayaks are available to rent as well. If you’d prefer something less strenuous, find your inner artist with an acrylic pouring class. Begin the day with guided meditation or a fitness class followed by a spa treatment. Should the grandkids arrive for a visit, there’s a pool with two slides to keep them entertained. Even the family dog can tag along to this pet-friendly property.

Big Cedar Lodge, Ridgedale, Missouri

This wilderness resort in Missouri’s Ozark Mountains is set in 4,600 acres of natural beauty. Big Cedar Lodge consists of three styles of accommodation: rooms within the private log cabins, luxurious cottages, or glamping and cabins at Camp Long Creek.

Five golf courses and practice facilities include 19-hole Payne’s Valley, nine-hole Top of the Rock, 13-hole Mountain Top, and two 18-hole courses, Buffalo Ridge and Ozarks National. Go bowling, visit the arcade, or try a high-ropes course at Fun Mountain. Fitness classes, exercise equipment, four pools, and a personal trainer are available. With a lazy river and discovery center on-site, the grandkids will love visiting too.

Lone Mountain Ranch, Big Sky, Montana

Located near Yellowstone National Park and about an hour from Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport, Lone Mountain Ranch is set in the Montana Rockies. Stay in one of 25 historic log cabins, ranging from one to six bedrooms. The named cottages have stunning forest views and are outfitted with wood stoves, rustic furnishings, and full baths.

In true ranch style, there’s horseback riding, with backcountry trails and experienced wranglers to ensure a memorable experience for riders of all ages. Hike with naturalist guides, go mountain biking, or enjoy fly fishing, no matter your skill level. Canoes, kayaks, and paddleboards are provided if you want to explore nearby lakes. You can have an experienced guide curate an excursion to Yellowstone National Park or save on admission with a national park pass for seniors. Outdoor yoga, archery, and axe throwing are also options.

Mission Point, Mackinac Island, Michigan

At waterfront Mission Point, guests can stay in the Main Lodge or the Straits Lodge, which has dog-friendly options. Accommodations range from cozy rooms suitable for singles to the 1,500-square-foot Bois Blanc Suite, with ample living space, a full kitchen, and laundry facilities — ideal for longer stays.

A National Historic Landmark, Mackinac Island has a slow pace and an old-fashioned feel, partly thanks to its ban on motor vehicles. The small island can be covered on foot or in an electric wheelchair within a few hours. Relax on the resort’s expansive lawn in an Adirondack chair, go on a bike ride, play tennis, or just soak in a hot tub. Guests can also book experiences like craft and culinary workshops or spa treatments at the Lakeside Spa and Salon. When you’re ready to explore, stroll downtown to sample the famous local fudge, or book a horse-drawn carriage tour to be transported to another era.

Montage Palmetto Bluff, Bluffton, South Carolina

Montage Palmetto Bluff is a two-village, 20,000-acre community by the May River that encompasses a marina, a nature preserve, and much more. Accommodation options include rooms, suites, cottages, and residences with views of moss-draped oaks and picturesque marshlands. Some guests might even choose to buy a home here.

Explore the surrounding waterways by kayak or canoe, or take a boat tour and spot dolphins cruising along with you. Visit the 120-acre shooting range for practice both indoors and outdoors. Tennis, bocce, and pickleball courts are open for play, and you can book lessons to improve your skills. Take a leisurely stroll or bike ride along tree-lined paths. Planning a trip with family? There’s special programming for young guests with games, crafts, movies, scavenger hunts, and nature walks.

Cavallo Point, Sausalito, California

A converted military post, Cavallo Point is across the Golden Gate from San Francisco in Marin County. The resort is set in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, and offers stunning scenery, world-class dining, and a variety of activities. Guests can choose from rooms and suites in the early-20th-century officers’ quarters or contemporary buildings overlooking the former fort — some with breathtaking views of the Golden Gate Bridge. You can even rent an entire historic home with a private glassed-in porch.

During the day, take a guided hike, yoga class, or sunset cruise, and spend the evening around an outdoor fire pit. Splurge on a seaplane or helicopter tour to view the bay and San Francisco skyline from the sky. The resort’s Healing Arts Center & Spa provides a variety of wellness treatments, while offerings at the on-site cooking school range from globe-spanning culinary classes to oyster and wine pairings.

Arizona Biltmore, Phoenix, Arizona

If classic luxury is the vacation style you’re after, the Arizona Biltmore should be high on your list. Opened in 1929, the 39-acre estate at the base of the Phoenix Mountain Preserve evokes old Hollywood glamour with 705 rooms (including 100 suites, 41 cottages, 56 villas) and Frank Lloyd Wright-influenced design.

The resort features restaurants, a day spa, and seven pools including one with a 65-foot waterslide. Play golf, tennis, or pickleball, or take advantage of concierge arrangements for hot-air balloon rides, stargazing, biking, hiking, and more. At Tierra Luna Spa, select from a range of curated therapies or join a yoga or aqua aerobics class. Be sure to order a Tequila Sunrise at the Wright Bar, where the cocktail was invented.

Bungalows Key Largo, Key Largo, Florida

While Florida is one of the best states to retire in, that doesn’t mean you can’t take a vacation close to home. The Bungalows Key Largo is an all-inclusive, adults-only resort where you can take part in a variety of activities or just relax in a poolside cabana. Stay in a waterfront room or one set among the lush gardens with a soaking tub and outdoor shower. Regardless of which view you choose, enjoy this tropical oasis.

Kayak, paddleboard, and swim in the protected bay, where you might see manatees and dolphins glide by. Don your snorkel gear to float among colorful native fish. Join a beachfront yoga class or work out at the full-service Fitness Tiki Hut. If you simply want to unwind, head to the Zen Garden Spa’s steam room, sauna, or outdoor treatment cabana for a soothing massage. For the perfect end to an active or relaxing day, watch the sun go down on a catamaran cruise with a frozen cocktail in hand.

Rancho Bernardo Inn, San Diego, California

At Rancho Bernardo Inn, guest rooms, suites, and specially designed accessible rooms are set among lush gardens for a secluded feel. Private patios and balconies offer garden, spa, or golf course views. The resort’s 265 acres and San Diego’s perfect weather provide opportunities for alfresco dining and outdoor activities.

Play golf at the pristine 18-hole course, relax by the pool, or have fun with lawn games like cornhole, croquet, or oversized chess. Tour the Chef’s Garden to see the source of the restaurants’ fresh ingredients or get some ideas for your home garden. Spend some time at the spa, take a sunset yoga class, or arrange a private session. You can interact with a trained bird of prey with a private falconry encounter. If young ones visit, they’ll love the “dive-in movies” at the family pool, the well-equipped game room, and San Diego’s nearby attractions.

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