Active Adult Trips

The Active Adult Program is working on the 2024 trips now. Register for the 2024 Yearly Trip Registration so you don't miss out on our trips.

One-Day Trips

Please note that there are no dates or costs for our trips on this list. Once a trip is ready for registration a detailed trip flier will be added to the trip description. To receive the trip fliers automatically when the trips are available for registration, sign up for the Yearly Trip Registration.

October – Raleigh, NC: NC State University

Take a behind-the-scenes tour as you learn the history of some of the unique facilities and programs that the university has to offer like the Gregg Museum of Art & Design, Memorial Belltower, and the Howling Cow Dairy Education Center and Creamery just to name a few.
Additional Information
Trip Registration

November – Fayetteville, NC: Honor Our Veterans

Honor our soldiers with a visit to Fort Liberty (formally Fort Bragg.) Visit the 82^nd Airborne Division War Memorial Museum, dedicated to telling the history of the 82nd Airborne Division from 1917 to the present. Tour the John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Museum that spotlights the proud history of the US Army Special Forces “Green Berets”, US Army Psychological Operations, and the US Army Civil Affairs. 
Additional Information
Trip Registration

December – Bear Creek, NC: Southern Supreme 

Tour, taste, and shop the Southern Supreme Fruitcake Factory. Watch as the delicious nutty fruitcakes are made and packaged on-site.  Shop for homemade candies, peanut brittle and so many more goodies for yourself or as gifts. 
Additional Information
Trip Registration

Overnight Trips 2024

Highlights of the Douro with Spain Cruise
Nov. 4-12, 2024

Enjoy a relaxing 7-night cruise on the Douro River through Portugal and Spain. Visit several cities and ports aboard the MS Amalia Rodrigues. Porto is the second largest city in Portugal, Vila Real is known for its variety of religious buildings and architecture, Salamanca is a city of dazzling beauty with extraordinary architectural treasures rich traditions, Lamego is a small picturesque old town rich in history and charm and Guimaraes a university town listed on the UNESCO World Heritage Site.

• Highlights of the Douro with Spain Cruise - Details and Registration
• Register on RecLink for Highlights of the Douro with Spain Cruise

Overnight Trips 2025

Utah’s Mighty National Parks
April 27 - May 3, 2025

Discover Utah’s Mighty National Parks on this adventure-packed seven-day and six-night trip. Highlights of this trip: Salt Lake City, Moab, Canyonlands National Park, Dead Horse Point State Park, Monument Valley, Arches National Park, Capitol Reef National Park, and Park City. The trip also includes Canyonlands by night cruise, Goulding’s Lodge Museum and Trading Post as well as wine tasting in Moab.

For trip questions and/or registration contact Carmen Rayfield at 919-996-4734 or carmen.rayfield@raleighnc.gov

Find out all about the trip and get your questions answered at one of our Trip Informational Meetings. Register for a meeting to save a seat. You don’t have to attend a meeting to register for the trip.
Anne Gordon Center for Active Adults 1901 Spring Forest Road
Saturday, Nov. 16 at 10:30 a.m.

• Utah’s Mighty National Parks - Details and Registration
• Register on RecLink for the Adult Programs Trips

Highlights of the Columbia and Snake River
July 20-27, 2025

Explore the highlights of the Columbia and Snake Rivers during this eight-day and seven-night trip. Tour Highlights include Mount Hood and lunch at Timberline Lodge, Portland city tour including Old Town Historic District and International Rose Test Gardens, Columbia Gorge with Vista House, Multnomah Falls and Bonneville Dam, Fort Walla Walla Museum, a jet boat excursion on the Snake River, Dinner cruise on Lake Coeur d’Alene and a SkyRide gondola in Spokane.

Trip cost per person is based on the cabin selection and can be found on the trip flier. Cabin spaces are limited for this trip, so register quickly. For trip questions or if you are looking for a roommate contact Carmen at 919-996-4734 or carmen.rayfield@raleighnc.gov.

Find out all about the trip and get your questions answered at one of our Trip Informational Meetings. Register for a meeting to save a seat. You don’t have to attend a meeting to register for the trip. 
Anne Gordon Center for Active Adults
Saturday, Nov. 16 at 3 p.m.

• Highlights of the Columbia and Snake Rivers - Details and Registration
• Register on RecLink for the Adult Programs Trips

Alaska Land and Sea
July 31 - Aug. 11, 2025

Grab your passport and travel to breathtaking Alaska by land and sea. Enjoy 2 nights in Fairbanks, 1 night in Denali, 1 night in Anchorage and 7 Nights Alaska Cruise aboard the Norwegian Jewel. Trip highlights include Riverboat Discovery Sternwheeler cruise, Fairbanks City Tour, Alaska Railroad to Denali, Denali National Park tour, Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, Anchorage City Tour, Hubbard Glacier, Icy Strait Point, Juneau, Skagway, Ketchikan and the Inside Passage. 

Trip cost per person is based on the cabin selection and can be found on the trip flier. Cabin spaces are limited for this trip, so register quickly. For trip questions or if you are looking for a roommate contact Carmen at 919-996-4734 or carmen.rayfield@raleighnc.gov.

Find out all about the trip and get your questions answered at one of our Trip Informational Meetings. Register for a meeting to save a seat. You don’t have to attend a meeting to register for the trip. 
Anne Gordon Center for Active Adults 
Saturday, Nov. 16 at 12:30 p.m.

• Alaska Land and Sea - Details and Registration
• Register on RecLink for the Adult Programs Trips

Frequently Asked Questions

Have questions about our trip? Check out the FAQ flyer to get your questions answered. 

Policies

Reservation Policy

Trip reservations are accepted on a first-come, first-serve basis with payment and completed registration form. Note: Spaces are only reserved when a deposit/payment has been received.

Cancellation Policy

To withdraw from a trip, it must be submitted in writing via letter or email to the Active Adults Program Manager. All day trips follow the Raleigh Parks Refund Policy unless money is incurred by the department. Full or partial refunds are subject to non-refundable expenses incurred by the Department. Multi-Day trip withdrawals follow the tour operator’s cancellation policy. Note: "No shows" for trips will receive no refund.

Payments/Deposits

Deposit and balance due dates for trips will be indicated on each trip itinerary. Registration can be made online thru RecLink, in person or mail in with check or credit card. One-day trips require full payment with reservation. No reservations are held without payment, and "early" registration is not allowed.

Transportation

Charter motor coach or a Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources Department bus or van. Type of vehicle will be noted on trip itineraries. Smoking/Vaping is not allowed on charter buses or Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources vehicles. Rest stops are made periodically during trips.

Departure Site

All trips will depart from the Anne Gordon Center for Active Adults, 1901 Spring Forest Road, Raleigh 27608, unless otherwise noted.  Cars may be parked here overnight.

Seating

We are unable to reserve seats on vehicles for special needs, such as motion sickness. Seating is available on a first-come, first-serve basis on the day of the trip. Seat rotation may be used on multi-day trips.

Escorts

A full or part-time Raleigh Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources Department employee escorts all trips.

Active Adult Program Newsletter