With an increasing population of those 65 and over, there is plenty of opportunity for great retirement activities in Vermont. From yoga classes to volunteer opportunities to gardening projects, there are many programs and activities around the state to keep one busy. Here are the 9 best retirement activities in the state.
This is a gathering place for healthy aging that offers lifelong learning, physical activities, trips and events, and delicious meals. Classes include movement, humanities, art, and technology, and you will find clinics and resources as well as groups and events, and more. Many lectures, presentations, activities, and groups are no cost to seniors.
Many retirees may feel a diminished sense of purpose when the step away from full-time work, but that is when Senior Corps comes in. Connecting adults age 55 or older with the people and organizations that need a helping hand, many members become “mentors, coaches, and companions” or contribute job skills and expertise to a community organization. Plus, more than “270,000 Americans” have created mutually beneficial ties within their communities.
Many older Americans are familiar with RV camping and campgrounds, but did you know that In exchange for volunteering to help managers with a camp chore like cleaning campsites and collecting fees, you can get free camping? It is a great way to keep active, and it combines an activity that many retirees already do with something that a mutually beneficial to the park.
Not only will you learn to make great meals, but participating in cooking classes has been shown to increase well-being as well as bolster kitchen technique. And many at the Essex Resort are particularly well-suited for seniors, such as the popular class, World Class Cuisine, where participants work together to create a full meal. This way, the participants can split chores and have a social experience at the same time.
From Super-Gentle Yoga to Ageless Yoga, Otter Creek has many classes that increase joint mobility, ease lower back tension, and relax tense spines. With bolsters and pillows, joints and tight areas are supported, and attention toward alignment is the focus. Individual interpretation of the movements is encouraged, and the pace is leisurely with transitions gentle.
If you are a retiree who has lived in Vermont or who has moved there, chances are you have heard of maple syrup. One fun thing to do is to visit the Morse Farm, a four-season theatre, museum, and country store inside a working farm. There is also a well-groomed nature trail, sugar house, free samples, and more.
Featuring many ongoing activities like bingo, book group, jazzercise lite, bridge, mahjong, new canasta, seated yoga, and more the Essex Senior Center has more things to do than you can shake a stick at, and if you don’t want to help, you can always volunteer. Plus, you will find trips, wellness classes, social opportunities, and more.
This activity can be done right at home and has been proven in improve your mood. Gardening can be done at any time in any season and include edible windowsill garden, cactus gardens, flower gardens, and even bonsai. Plus, easy-to-grow plants like dill, basil, cilantro, and lavender are easy to grow even if you don’t have a “green thumb.” Some of the best garden centers in the state include Elmore Roots Nursey in Wolcott, Green Mountain Hosta in East Dover, and B&B Nurseries in Morrisville.
Riders, cyclists, and pedestrians of any age can traverse these paved paths without the fear of coming upon speeding motor vehicles. From Burlington's relatively flat waterfront path to the slightly more rugged Lamoille Valley Rail Trail these paths follow the route of retired train tracks and offer some of the Green Mountain State’s prettiest view as well as a way to stay active.
