Immerse yourself in nature - Fall Foliage Road Trip in Beautiful Pennsylvania

 

A pair of Pennsylvania regions has been named two of the 10 best destinations for fall foliage in USA Today’s 10Best.com project.

The top 10 destinations selected by a readers’ choice popular vote from a list of 20 compiled by the 10Best.com editors and a panel of travel experts, from No. 1 to No. 10, are the White Mountains, New Hampshire; Upper Peninsula, Michigan; Pocono Mountains, Pennsylvania; Gatlinburg, Tennessee; Ozark Mountain Region, Arkansas; Taos, New Mexico; Door County, Wisconsin; Laurel Highlands, Pennsylvania; Stowe, Vermont; and Finger Lakes, New York.

Here’s what the editors had to say about each of the Pennsylvania regions on the list:

No. 3, Pocono Mountains: “The Pocono Mountains are ablaze with hues of red, orange and yellow come autumn, thanks to the area’s 127 species of indigenous trees, plants and shrubs. Leaf peepers can hop in the car for a scenic cruise along Route 507 near Lake Wallenpau pack or climb aboard a fall foliage train.”

No. 8, Laurel Highlands: “Fall foliage in the Laurel Highlands usually peaks in mid-October, making the Pennsylvania region an ideal fall getaway destination. Go for a drive along Laurel Highlands Scenic Byway with a stop to see Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater framed by colorful leaves or take a scenic hike in Ohiopyle State Park.”

10Best.com provides users with original, unbiased and experiential travel coverage of top attractions, things to see and do, and restaurants for top destinations in the U.S. and around the world.

Winners in the fall foliage destination category were selected by readers’ choice through a month-long online contest that encouraged travelers to vote daily for their favorite place to explore for fall.

The Laurel Highlands was ranked No. 3 on last year’s best fall foliage list, as well as previous designations as one of the top best new destinations for the Flight 93 National Memorial’s Tower of Voices and one of the best attractions in Pennsylvania for Ohiopyle State Park.

The Laurel Highlands spans 3,000 square miles of Fayette, Somerset and Westmoreland counties in southwestern Pennsylvania.

The Pocono Mountains encompasses more than 2,250 miles of Carbon, Monroe, Pike and Wayne counties in northeastern Pennsylvania,

Arrange for a car/limo service and immerse yourself in nature, enjoy the scenic routs of the beautiful Pennsylvania. Philadelphia Limo is Philly’s highest-rated car and limo service, with drivers who can get you to any destination of your choosing. Call (215) 485-7265, or book online to reserve your limo or bus today.  When life gets busy, ride easy with Philly Limo!

Air travel tips for older passengers

Flying across the country can be exhausting for anyone, but for seniors with health issues or physical limitations it can be extremely challenging. Here are a few flying tips and a number of resources that can help.

Booking: When you go to book your parent’s flight, this is the time to make special requests that can help make the trip easier for your parents. You’ll likely need to make these requests over the phone.
For example, you may want to book preferred aisle seats in the front of the plane for easier access or bulkhead seats that provide extra leg room, and you should probably request a wheelchair or two with attendant(s) to maneuver your parents through the airports they will be departing from and arriving to, and if there’s a connecting flight in between.
If your parents don’t want a wheelchair, but want some help, ask about electric carts.
You also need to check with the airline regarding their policy for oxygen units for your dad. While the Federal Aviation Administration prohibits the use of personal oxygen tanks during flights because they contain compressed gas or liquid oxygen, they do permit certain portable oxygen concentrators.

Getting to the airport: If your parents need help getting to the airport there are various senior transportation options, depending on your parent’s location. Philadelphia Limousine Service is one stop shop for all your ground transportation needs in the Greater Philadelphia Area. As one of the leading ground transportation companies in the Greater Philadelphia Area, we strive to provide the best service possible, with the highest regards to quality, passenger safety and customer satisfaction. Philadelphia Limo would be delighted to provide you and your loved ones with the service tailored to your exact needs.

Airport assistance: If your parents are flying on their own, most airports allow elderly fliers to be escorted to and from the gate by a non-traveling companion as long as they get a gate/escort pass, which he or she can get at the airline check-in counter by showing a government-issued photo ID. But if no one is available to help your parents, find out if the airline can assist them when you call to book their flight. Some airlines offer special check-in and escort assistance to passengers that request it. Or, consider hiring an independent company like Royal Airport Concierge Services, which will meet your parents at the curb, check their bags, expedite all check-in and security processes and escort them to a VIP lounge and the aircraft gate when they are ready to board. Costs typically range between $200 and $400. If you parents need even more help, there are also a number of traveling companion services you can call on like FlyingCompanions.com and FirstLightHomeCare.com. These services will do everything including making the travel arrangements, accompanying your parents on the trip, and facilitating their needs along the way. Fees for these services will vary depending on what’s needed and travel costs.

Security and boarding: To help you parents get through security screening a little easier, the Transportation Security Administration offers special expedited screening to passengers 75 and older, as well as those with disabilities and medical conditions. This allows them to move through security without removing their shoes or jacket, and some airports may have a special line. Call TSA Cares at 855-787-2227 or visit https://www.TSA.gov/travel/special-procedures to learn more. When it’s time to board, your parents can also take advantage of the airlines pre-boarding option for elderly passengers who need some extra time to get on the plane and get settled. And for getting off the plane, they can wait for the other passengers to disembark so attendants can assist them with carry-on luggage and escort them from the plane.

Five Great Tips on How to Overcome Worry

1. Awareness

Knowing when you’re worrying is a vital first step. It is not as obvious as it sound: it can be a chronic nagging that develops over weeks and months, as much as an acute feeling. One sensible step is to keep a short journal daily, recording your anxiety levels. You can cross reference this to what is going on in your personal and professional lives to look for links and triggers.

2. Breathing

Your mental state affects your physical state: when you smile, you feel happy. It is also the case that anxiety can cause physical symptoms; the most common of which are short, rapid and shallow breathing. If you can adopt a more relaxed rhythm of breath that is deeper and more deliberate, you will already start to counter the mental affects of worry and take back control.

3. Calming thoughts

If you can summon an image of serenity it can be a real tonic for a stressed and overworked mind. You will probably need to summon a vision of calm before the stressful situation arrives – perhaps it is an idyllic vacation destination or your parent’s garden. Whatever it is, practice your calm vision and it will always be there for you when you need it.

4. Stay active

The saying “The devil makes work for idle hands” is equally true for your mind. An unoccupied mind can return to troublesome topics and start a cycle of anxiety. Simple activities with repetition, such as walking the dog or cleaning, can stall the mind before it wanders.

5. Good sleeping habits

Worry prevents sleep and tiredness causes increased levels of anxiety – you can see a vicious cycle here in the making. The key is trying to establish and maintain a routine; admittedly not always easy for the business traveler. Ensure you have a break between work and sleep to allow your mind to get ready for rest and ensure that you moderate caffeine intake in the afternoon and evening.

Philadelphia Limousine specializes in removing the anxiety from travel. While not being able to remove worry from your life, we can certainly provide you any vehicle, anytime for any event. When your business or pleasure travels bring you to Greater Philadelphia Area, you can be sure that Philadelphia Limo will assist you in any requirements or special needs that you may have.  We are the area’s leading provider of chauffeured ground transportation; call us today to see just what we can offer.