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Top Scenic Day Trips from Seattle for Active Older Adults

You might think they call it the “Emerald City” because of its wealthiest resident, the Wizard of Microsoft. But it is the year-round greenery, not Bill Gates, that inspired Seattle’s nickname, a name that echoes Washington’s status as the “Evergreen State”. The lush greenery is courtesy of Mother Nature’s constant and generous supply of precipitation, a Seattle reality that residents embrace as a small price to pay for the exquisite natural splendor. And let’s not forget you can also get a great cup of coffee, it being the birthplace of Starbucks and all. Check out these great day trips from Seattle and you’ll understand why Seattle is one of the fastest-growing cities in the nation. Mount Rainier National Park One of the most popular things to do outside Seattle is a day trip to Mount Rainier National Park. Spanning over 200,000 acres, the park boasts over 260 miles of hiking trails, 4 accessible campgrounds, and 5 visitor centers. And of course, the piece de resistance is Mount Rainier itself, one of the northwest’s most impressive peaks. Located under 2 hours from Seattle, Mount Rainier National Park is known as one of the best places to visit in Washington state. Boeing Factory Of all the places to visit near Seattle, the Future of Flight Aviation Center may be the one your grandkids will rave about all the way home. But it has a high fascination factor for grown-ups as well. Tours provide insight into both the history and future of aviation and a walk through the amazing 472,000-square foot factory. Visitors are reminded to be on time as tours leave promptly as scheduled and there is no option to meet a tour in progress. Portland, Oregon A little over 3 hours by car, Portland, Oregon is known as an eco-friendly city with a thriving art, theater, and music scene as well as an assortment of coffeehouses and microbreweries. Its Washington Park boasts attractions like the Japanese Gardens, railway, and zoo for the kids. Getting away to Portland for the day is a minivacation. Snoqualmie Falls A little over half an hour outside Seattle is one of the most impressive waterfalls in North America and one of the most popular attractions in Washington state. 1.5 million visitors a year flock to Snoqualmie Falls, to marvel at the 270-foot high natural wonder. Visitors also enjoy Salish Lodge with its fine dining, and incredible views. Bainbridge Island From Seattle’s waterfront Pier 52, catch the Washington State Ferry to Bainbridge Island for the day. Enjoy spectacular views of the Seattle skyline as you sail your way to this island gem that oozes charm. Once you get there, enjoy an array of eclectic galleries, chic boutiques, and cute eateries. This shortlist only scratches the surface of places to visit near Seattle. Just think, if you lived at Lynnwood, Overture’s active adult community in suburban Seattle, every day could be a new adventure.

5 Fun and Easy Valentine’s Day Party Games for Adults

When you think of Valentine’s Day, a candlelight dinner and several grand romantic gestures may come to mind when it comes to you and your spouse, significant other, or special someone. But February 14 can also be a day to relax and hang out with other couples or just a group of friends at a planned event or party. Here are five Valentine’s Day games that active adults 55+ will love no matter who they are spending it with. The Newlywed Game Whether you know it because of the original 1960’s TV series or any of its subsequent revivals, The Newlywed Game is beloved across many generations. Bring the fun to your apartment home or active adult community with a special Valentine’s Day version. Come up with your own questions that each member of the couple has to match to score points or earn prizes. Here are a few ideas: · What attire was worn on the first date? · Who’s the better kisser? · Who said “I love you” first? · What pet name is most used among the pair? · Where was the first kiss? Need some more ideas? Check out this list of 150 Great Newlywed Game Questions . Name That Love Song If your friends and neighbors are music fanatics, spend your night playing Name That Tune, with a twist. Have one person read the lyrics of a popular love song while everyone else in the group tries to guess the title. The person who guesses correctly gets a point. You can determine the winner by who has the most points after a certain time or by playing to a defined number of points. Songs to consider for your list include: · My Heart Will Go On – Celine Dion · I Will Always Love You – Whitney Houston · Your Song – Elton John · All of Me – John Legend · Can’t Help Falling in Love – Elvis Presley You might also look to Billboard’s Top 50 Love Songs of All Time to get more ideas. Match Game To play this game, you’ll need a stack of sticky notes. Write the name of a romantic movie on the note and stick it on the forehead of a participant. Have everyone guess the film that’s on their forehead by asking yes-or-no questions. Choose your favorite romances and consider: · Casablanca · Gone with the Wind · The Notebook · Breakfast at Tiffany’s · Sleepless in Seattle Need more ideas? Check out Rotten Tomatoes’ Top 100 Romance Movies list . Candy Bingo And a delicious twist to the classic Bingo game by using your favorite Valentine’s Day candy as markers. From Hershey’s kisses to conversation hearts, there’s no wrong choice. Even better, up the ante and give winners of each game a bag of candy to satisfy their sweet tooth. Valentine Pictionary Summon your inner artist and play a game of Valentine Pictionary. Divide your group into teams and have one reach into a bowl filled with slips of paper that have romantic words and phrases written on them. That word or phrase must then be drawn on a whiteboard or large sheet of paper while each team member makes a guess. Here are some examples to get your creativity flowing: · Candlelight dinner · Love birds · Love letter · Soul mate · Cupid’s arrow Make your Valentine’s Day gathering special when you play one - or more - of these crowd-pleasing games. If you’re looking for a new place to love and call home, contact our team today and we’ll share with you all the reasons you’ll love living at Overture.

Top Wearable Technology for Older Adults

We live in a world of great gadgets! From smartphones to robotic vacuum cleaners, technology has made our lives easier and more fun. For those who can remember when sending a fax was as high tech as it got, you’ll be on the edge of your seat when you hear about the cool new stuff that can actually be worn on your person! Safeguarding senior health and upgrading quality of life, wearable tech is a real game-changer. Check out the latest, best wearable tech for seniors. Apple Watch Series 4GPS With brand-new features like the biggest display area yet, built-in electrical heart sensor, fall detection and emergency SOS, the newly redesigned Apple Watch Series 4GPS will help you stay active, healthy and connected. Automatic workout detection, new yoga and hiking workouts, personalized coaching, and activity sharing with friends put this wearable tech high on the wishlist. Just strap it to your wrist and bring your world with you wherever you go. The Tango Belt The Tango Belt is all about protection, connection and prevention. Easy to wear, and unobtrusive, the Tango Belt automatically senses a serious hip-impact fall and deploys airbags to reduce the force of impact. Along with protection, the belt sends digital alerts to caregivers in the event of a fall. Care Touch Fully Automatic Wrist Blood Pressure Monitor Take the pressure off keeping track of blood pressure! The Care Touch fully-automated wrist blood pressure monitor has a large easy to read LCD screen and can give you a reading in less than one minute. Keeping track of your daily readings can provide vital information to you and your doctor. Metria Wearable Sensor Sticking directly to the body with skin-friendly adhesive, the Metria Wearable Sensor is a discreet and comfortable way to monitor heart rates, blood pressure, and sleep patterns. A connected mobile app gives both patients and doctors access to the information. The Jawbone UP System Slap the Jawbone UP System on your wrist and keep track of exercise, diet, and sleep patterns. This health and fitness tracker combines a wristband monitor with a user-friendly mobile app to provide information that allows users to be proactive about their health and wellbeing. Fitbit Health and Fitness Trackers Tried and true, Fitbit fitness trackers have been part of the wearable tech market for some time. Their latest devices can track sleep, steps taken, and distance. They integrate with mobile apps to keep track of nutrition and set fitness goals. On your wrist, around your waist, or stuck to your body, wearable tech is a complex science that makes healthy, active living simpler. Stil on the fence about going digital? Read our easy tips on keeping up with technology for older adults .

Unique New Year's Resolution Ideas To Push You Out of Your Comfort Zone

“My New Year’s Resolution list usually starts with the desire to lose between ten and three thousand pounds,” jokes actress and writer Nia Vardalos. Yes, it’s meant to be funny. But it also accurately pokes fun at traditional New Year’s resolutions that focus on our flaws and set us up to fail. Though a goal of between 10 and 3000 pounds does give Nia a bit of latitude. As active adults who have been around the New Year’s block—several times—maybe this year is the perfect time for unique New Year’s resolutions. Forget words like “improve” and “better”. Replace them with fun and laughter. Set goals that motivate you to surprise yourself and those around you. You don’t have to overhaul the same old same old. Just bring your new 2020 state of mind, an outlook that celebrates life. Here are some New Year, new “me” ideas! Rule Number One If it makes you happy, do it. There is no time like the present to dive into the deep end and embrace all opportunities in your path. Whether it’s travel, a new class , or a new friend, just say yes! Face a Fear Facing fear can mean anything from going to Social Hour by yourself to hosting a party, to taking a flying lesson. Think about something you’ve always wanted to do but feared trying, and this year, do it! Surprise Your Family No matter how young at heart you know you are, your kids—those same humans you taught to walk—are starting to think they are cooler than you. Surprise them with something unexpected like a wine tour, rock concert or a glamping weekend. Let them know you take the “active” in active adult seriously! Follow Up When you make a new friend or run into an old one you regret not seeing more often, make it a point to get a phone number and reach out to make a date. Someone needs to take the first step. Why not you? Active adulthood is all about people and relationships . Make 2020 the year you make the first move. As writer Vern Mclellan posits, “what the New Year brings to you will depend a great deal on what you bring to the New Year.” Let 2020 be the year you rise to the challenge of bringing fun and laughter into your world.

Downsizing or “Right-sizing” Tips for Empty Nesters

So, it’s a little quieter than you’re used to. But on the upside, you are no longer tripping over the flotsam and jetsam of your kids’ busy lives. Still, becoming an empty nester can be a little unsettling—at first. So, the best advice for empty nesters is to press pause, take a breath, and allow yourself to process this huge life passage. Yes, one door has closed, but another has been thrown wide open and the sweet breeze of freedom is wafting through. Once you gain a little perspective and begin to contemplate what moving forward looks like, it will be time to start thinking about your empty nester house plans. Will you be downsizing, or as we like to call it “right-sizing” when the kids leave for college? If you are looking around your house and now seeing an oversized, underpopulated living space that has outlived its primary purpose, the answer may be a resounding yes. In that case, the first step toward transitioning out of your long-term home into a fresh new environment that supports your active adult lifestyle is a necessary evil: Clutter control. Let the De-Cluttering Begin Your house has a lot of stuff in it. A smaller space will not have room for all that stuff. It is a mathematical fact. If you are even thinking of downsizing from your house to an apartment, the first order of business is to face the clutter chaos head-on and pare down your possessions. As you begin thinking about the process of wading through decades of accumulation, remember, Rome wasn’t built in a day. Tackle one room at a time and when you get to the photos and childhood memorabilia section, enlist the help of those kids. Provide snacks—and tissues—as the process can be an emotional stroll down memory lane. Getting rid of unnecessary belongings can create its own kind of separation anxiety. Stay focused on how wonderful it will be to live a newly streamlined life. You’re Ready! Oddly enough, the departure of the children is much like their arrival. It throws you for a loop initially, but once you get the hang of it, you realize you are ready to celebrate and embrace this new chapter with the same enthusiasm you brought to parenthood. And seriously, no matter where the kids are, staying in touch is easily facilitated by technology. Between facetime and texting, you won’t even realize they’re gone! So, get to the gym , pursue a new passion, make a new friend, or pack a suitcase and head off on a bucket list trip . This is your time and you’ve earned the right to enjoy it to the fullest!

The Benefits of Dancing for Seniors

Dance is the hidden language of the soul.” Martha Graham Music by itself is uplifting. And yes, swaying, stamping and twirling are fun. But it’s only when you put them together that the magic happens. Literally since the dawn of time, humans have been expressing themselves through dance. Even before there was written language, celebratory and ritual dances significantly contributed to the development of civilization. In contemporary medicine, dance is well regarded as a therapy modality for a wide variety of conditions from PTSD, depression, and eating disorders. But it’s the most recent research that confirms dance may be much more than just a way to connect with our emotions and impact behavior. In fact, it may be a secret, untapped fountain of youth, a powerful tool to fight the aging battle. Little did Ponce de Leon know it was right there all the time! The results of a study by the German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, published in Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, showed that while physical exercise, specifically endurance training, will help reverse the aging of the brain, it was only dancing that “lead to noticeable behavioral changes in terms of improved balance.” The study included volunteers with an average age of 68. Participants were divided into two groups. One group spent 18 months in a traditional training program that included repetitive exercises such as cycling or walking. The other group pursued a dance regimen that was constantly changing, challenging them with new patterns, rhythms, steps and routines every couple of weeks. The dance group displayed a significant increase in balance. Experts attribute the disparity in results to the combination of physical and mental rigor involved in the dance workout. Keeping your brain active is certainly a dance benefit, but there are so many other reasons to get up and shake your booty! Dance Your Heart Out Dancing will also help improve your cardiovascular health while positively impacting posture, motor skills and reaction times. Stay Strong Cutting a rug can help support strength and muscle function to protect seniors from injury. Ease the Pain One group of statistics shows that seniors engaged in social or group dancing experience less pain. Dance is an Attitude Those who dance and keep it moving are more likely to engage in other healthy behaviors such as keeping up with medications and eating a healthy diet. It Takes Two to Tango Dance is a great social outlet, an opportunity to connect with peers and develop new and meaningful relationships. So, shall we dance? The answer should be a definitive yes! Turn on the music, grab a partner and feel the beat as you enhance your physical, mental and emotional wellbeing. We’ve all got the music in us. Find out more about how Overture's active adult communities support healthy lifestyles for all their residents. “We should consider every day lost on which we have not danced at least once.” Friedrich Nietzsche