Back to the Past

As the sun began to set over the lush forest, my husband and I frantically ran through the dense foliage. “Oh my god! What is that?” I yelled. “I don’t know,” was the response. “But it’s coming straight for us. Run!”

All around us, the ground shook with the thunderous footsteps of the dinosaurs we had just woken up. With each step, we narrowly avoided the gaping jaws of the Tyrannosaurus Rex and the swift claws of the Velociraptors. Just when we thought we were safe, a pack of hungry Dilophosaurus surrounded us. A loud roar echoed through the forest as the angry crunching and stomping noises got closer and closer.

Running for our lives, we rounded a corner in the dense forest, only to be confronted by more sounds: roaring, growling, bellowing. A gargantuan creature stared me down, its barbed tail twisted, its snapping jaws came within inches of my face, and its fiery, garbage breath threatened to knock me out. My life flashed before my eyes.

Well, not quite, but the animatronics were very realistic.

Who would have thought that at the age of 65, my husband (well, he’s not quite 65) and I would travel back to the land of the dinosaurs—and enjoy it! I’m talking about our recent field trip to Jurassic Forest, a dinosaur-themed, activity-based park near Gibbons, Alberta.

Years ago, we took our three children to the Royal Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology, located in Drumheller, Alberta. Now that’s a huge attraction—crowded, loud, expensive—but worth it if you have kids who love dinosaurs. Or, if you’re an adult who is fascinated by these long-gone inhabitants of our planet and the evolution of man. I’m not sure if Jurassic Forest was around when our kids were younger, but if we had known about it, we would have taken them to visit.

So why did we decide to visit a place full of fake dinosaurs? Why not? My friend Joanne and her husband had just returned from a trip there and enjoyed it. So, we decided to give it a go. We decided to stay in Sherwood Park, a large hamlet in the province of Alberta, right beside Edmonton, the province’s capital. It is only a 20- or so-minute drive from the Forest.

It was a beautiful day, albeit very smoky. The Forest lived up to its reputation. The 18-hole, dinosaur-themed mini golf course proved challenging, especially for my husband, although he still managed to beat me. Go figure! In my defence, I was distracted by the huge T-Rex towering over the course, roaring and glowering every time I went to hit the ball. After our exciting game, we ventured out into the forest. We followed the well-constructed boardwalk and entered a prehistoric world. The trails through the thriving forest were beautiful, and the animatronic dinosaurs were so well done that it was easy to forget they were, well, not real. My imagination worked overtime, that’s for sure! (Yes, I have the makings for at least one short story!)

Was it a long way to go for three hours of play? Yes. Was it a lot of money to spend? Well, not that much—a discount hotel and free breakfast helped with that. Was it worth it? For sure. Definitely! I would recommend it.

Besides seeing something different and nudging my inner child, it was nice to just get away from routine. A short trip is all you need to do that, right?

There have been a few studies done on tourism and active aging. The paper Understanding the Value of Tourism to Seniors’ Health and Positive Aging, notes that several studies indicate that tourism positively affects seniors’ well-being and level of social engagement by enhancing their self-esteem and confidence. Tourism usually means new experiences. New experiences activate the brain and the nervous system. Of course, that will have a positive influence on our well-being. Just look at all the recreational programming available in retirement homes.

When most of us think of tourism, we envision trips to a tropical locale, a journey aboard a cruise ship, or sipping coffee at a European bistro. But not everyone has the resources to travel far. That doesn’t mean you have to stay at home. Thanks to the internet, it is quite easy to discover various types of tourism specifically catering to older adults.

Officially, “tourism” is the act of spending time away from home to pursue recreation, relaxation, and pleasure. To me, the keywords are “away from home.” That can be for a couple hours or a few weeks. For example, we recently attended a Saskatoon Berries baseball game in our home city. This is the first year we have had a Western Canadian Baseball League (WCBL) team, and yes, it was fun. It was something different. There are many activities to get you away from your routine, even if just for a few hours. If you are doing something different, immersing yourself in a new activity, new people, and new surroundings, you are doing your body good. Take a social adventure!

This week we are taking a mini vacation (two days) and staying at a friend’s cabin at a lake about three hours away. Next weekend, we are going to Regina, where my husband’s band, Koricancha, will play at the Regina Latino Festival. We will stay with our daughter and then go to Moose Jaw, where mini golf and a trip back in time via the Moose Jaw Tunnels await. Hmmm. Maybe I’ll write about that!

In the meantime, life is an adventure. Make the most of it!

Interesting Reads & Things

20 Outdoor Activities for Seniors: Fun & Safe Outings | Safer Senior Care

Older travellers – Travel.gc.ca