Best Boomer Towns - Town Blogs

Bend, Oregon

Bend is a small but growing city in a beautiful area of Central Oregon. The city is between the scenic Deschutes River and is home to gorgeous green parks, many walking trails, and pleasant neighborhoods. Surrounded by volcanoes, alpine lakes, and wilderness areas, Bend is well-known for its vibrant outdoor scene. Mountain bikers come here from across the United States to hit the trails, and hikers will find an incredibly diverse range of hikes. 

Winter holds its own beauty here, as nearby Mt. Bachelor brings skiers and boarders to the area. Some of the fascinating aspects of Bend are the geological attractions created by the volcanoes, which offer a whole host of unique sites and things to see and do. Plan out your stay with our list of top attractions in Bend. One of the most interesting places to visit in the Bend area is Newberry National Volcanic Monument, where you can explore numerous attractions of the Newberry Volcano. Stand on top of Lava Butte, a cinder cone that rises to 500 feet above the surrounding landscape, looking out over the old lava flow, or walk underground through the Lava River Cave, a one-mile-long lava tube. In another area of the monument, you'll find beautiful lakes and mountain peaks, with wonderful hiking and camping opportunities.

The monument has two main access points. Twenty minutes south of Bend off Highway 97 is the Lava Lands Visitor Center, from where you can ascend Lava Butte or visit the Lava River Cave. The Chitwood Exhibit Hall here provides a wealth of information on the geology of the area and details on things to see and do in the monument, as well as current conditions. This is the most convenient way to see some of the sites in Newberry National Volcanic Monument.

Tucson, Arizona

Skip the Southwest stereotypes and experience the real deal in Tucson, AZ, where history is right at your fingertips and nature is all around you. With museums, historic sites, hiking trails, golf courses and shopping around every corner, Tucson gives you the freedom to roam, exploring a part of the country like no other.

The robust colors of centuries-old frescoes and sacred beauty of Mission San Xavier del Bac call out to you with the opportunity to explore the best example of Spanish colonial architecture remaining to be seen in America. The shining steel of a 1959 Boeing Superfortress is among hundreds of magnificent aircraft at Pima Air & Space Museum.

At the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, you'll experience the wide variety of animal and plant life in the Sonoran Desert, one of the most biodiverse spots on the planet. In Tucson, you'll discover a place with more things to do than your heart and mind can imagine.

First Friday Artwalk in Ashland

Opening receptions to monthly art exhibits.

An Ashland First Friday is an eclectic mix of visual delights, interesting conversations, intimate music and tasty treats. The collage of image and experience grows as you stroll the galleries in the Historical Downtown and Railroad Districts. Join us year-round for the Art Walk from 5 to 8 PM on the next First Friday.

Fri Jul 6th 5:00pm - 11:30pm
Ashland, OR 97520

Learn More: https://stayashland.com/events/

 

Paso Pops in Paso Robles

Paso Pops, the annual Paderewski Festival-sponsored patriotic concert and Independence Day celebration in Paso Robles combining wine, beer, food, family-friendly activities, live music and fireworks, will be held on Wednesday, July 4. The event moves to the Main Stage at the Paso Robles Event Center with a three-year agreement as part of this venue and date change. Tickets go on sale April 2.

Date and Time:
Wednesday, July 4, 2018 - 5:00pm

Location:
Paso Robles Event Center
2198 Riverside Avenue
Paso Robles
CA, 93446

Learn More: http://www.travelpaso.com/events/paso-pops-0

 

Willie Nelson’s 4th of July Picnic in Austin

7/4/18
Willie Nelson's 4th of July Picnic
Circuit of The Americas
Willie Nelson will return to Circuit of The Americas for his 45th annual Independence Day picnic and music fest. This day-long event features a star-studded lineup, headlined by Nelson himself, and a patriotic fireworks display at the end of the night.
www.thecircuit.com

Oregon Shakespeare Festival in Ashland

The Tony Award-winning Oregon Shakespeare Festival (OSF) in Ashland, Oregon is among the oldest and largest professional non-profit theatres in the nation. Each year OSF presents an eight-and-a-half-month season of eleven plays in three theatres plus numerous ancillary activities, and undertakes an extensive theatre education program. Operating on a budget exceeding $26 million, OSF presents more than 780 performances annually with attendance of over 410,000 people.

Thu Feb 1st - Wed Oct 31st

Oregon Shakespeare Festival
15 S. Pioneer St
Ashland, OR 97520

Learn More: https://stayashland.com/events/

 

ATHFEST Music and Arts Festival 2018 in Athens

The AthFest Music and Arts Festival takes place in historic downtown Athens, GA, showcasing more than 100 bands on three free outdoors stages and a Club Crawl Friday and Saturday nights spanning 14 Athens music venues. The festival includes an artist market, KidsFest, and food and drink vendors. The annual festival is a fundraiser for AthFest Educates, which supports local music and arts education for youth in the Athens area.

NAMED A TOP 20 EVENT BY THE SOUTHEAST TOURISM SOCIETY, and one of the Top 10 Summer Music Festivals by Livability.com!

Affiliate events start June 20th, including LaughFest and the Flagpole Music Awards.

All performances on the outdoor stages are open to all ages and many are FREE of charge to the public. Indoor performances and Club Crawl Tickets are available for purchase. The festival showcases the best talent in our area, and generates huge awareness for the nonprofit, AthFest Educates, and its mission to provide much needed funding to support music and arts education for youth.

June 22, 2018 - June 24, 2018
Recurring daily
Location: AthFest
Downtown Athens Athens, GA
Price: Outdoor stages FREE
Time: All weekend long!

Learn More: https://www.visitathensga.com/event/athfest-music-and-arts-festival-2018/18660/

Sunday Brunch & Piano with John Vaughn in Aiken

Enjoy John Vaughn on the piano and a delicious Sunday brunch at The Willcox.

John Vaughn has been playing the piano since he was a child. Having grown up in Aiken, SC he had the opportunity to play for such American families as Whitney, Vanderbilt, and Mellon. When he moved to Hollywood, he met Buddy Rogers ( his film won the 1st oscar and was married to Mary Pickford) and became his protege, playing for the well heeled of Beverly Hills at the Pickfair estate. John also played for HRH Prince Bandar at his palatial home in Aspen. He picked the pianos out for this famous estate. John has played for parties from the likes of The Rolling Stones to Phyllis Diller.

Location
The Willcox
100 Colleton Ave
Aiken, South Carolina 29801

Upcoming Dates:
May 6, 2018 at 10:00am
May 13, 2018 at 10:00am
May 20, 2018 at 10:00am
May 27, 2018 at 10:00am
June 3, 2018 at 10:00am
June 10, 2018 at 10:00am
June 17, 2018 at 10:00am
June 24, 2018 at 10:00am
July 1, 2018 at 10:00am

Contact Info
803.648.1898

Learn More:https://www.visitaikensc.com/calendar/event/sunday_brunch_at_the_willcox/" target="_blank"> https://www.visitaikensc.com/calendar/event/sunday_brunch_at_the_willcox/

 

First Saturday Of The Month Vintner & Vines Tour in Paso Robles

Deep in the willow creek district of Paso Robles, discover distinctive Italian wines unique to Pelletiere Estate by walking with our winemaker, Amy Butler and Vintner, Janis Denner as they explain the process involved in making limited production Italian style wines. Learn about the heritage of Italian grape growing and origins Pelletiere Estate's rare Italian varieties, compare old world and new world approaches to winemaking and discuss Paso Robles' unique micro-climate. Then experience these exceptional wines first hand with a guided tasting.

Start time:11am

There is no fee for the tour. Normal tasting fees apply.

No reservations are required however, we do encourage you to let us know ahead of time if you will be joining us so that we can make the proper accommodations. Remember your sunblock and proper touring shoes!

Date and Time:
Saturday, April 7, 2018 - 11:00am

Location:
Pelletiere Estate Vineyard & Winery
3280 Township Road
Paso Robles
CA, 93446

(805)239-9432

Learn More: http://www.travelpaso.com/events/first-saturday-month-vintner-vines-tour

 

Austin - ATX Television Festival

6/7/18 - 6/10/18

ATX Television Festival

Downtown Austin
ATX Festival is the first festival devoted to Television's history and future. It functions like a traditional film festival with premieres of new series, current hits and cult favorites. ATX Television Festival also offers access to the industry's leading professionals with cast and creator Q&A's and panels focusing on innovation in both production and content delivery.

Learn More: www.atxfestival.com

More Blog Posts

Bend, Oregon

Tucson, Arizona

First Friday Artwalk in Ashland

Paso Pops in Paso Robles

Willie Nelson’s 4th of July Picnic in Austin

Oregon Shakespeare Festival in Ashland

ATHFEST Music and Arts Festival 2018 in Athens

Sunday Brunch & Piano with John Vaughn in Aiken

First Saturday Of The Month Vintner & Vines Tour in Paso Robles

Austin - ATX Television Festival