Monarch Landing Travel Club Really Takes Off

Residents at Monarch Landing Senior Living Community in Naperville, Illinois, are on the move—literally. More than 100 seniors are actively involved in an in-house travel club designed for people of all interests. “We want to make sure there is something for everyone,” said committee chairperson Leila Zweibel, who, along with fellow residents Rita Hardin and Joan Leyden, got the travel club off the ground in 2011. Since then, participation in this rapidly growing group of seniors has soared. “We are always picking up new people,” said Zweibel. Beginning with one-day excursions to local theater productions and an overnight Mississippi riverboat cruise, the group has begun to expand its horizons. In May 2013, 25 Monarch Landing residents flew to New York City for a four-day sojourn. “That was ambitious and exciting,” said Zweibel. Guided by personnel from the Paramount Theater in Aurora, IL, the trip included three Broadway shows, a city tour including the 9/11 Memorial, the famed 5th Avenue, Times Square, Chinatown and Wall Street, horse- and bicycle-drawn carriage rides through Central Park, a ferry ride to the Statue of Liberty, and a specially arranged tour of Radio City Music Hall. Some walked, some took cabs, and all had a great time. Said Wing Park, who went on the trip with his wife Jan, “I had an apprehension of going and a lot of pre-conceived notions about the city, but we had a fabulous time. I didn’t want to go, but now I want to go back.” Park’s comment pleases Zweibel: “Our philosophy is to provide wonderful travel experiences that everyone can enjoy.” A former college professor in New York and Florida, Zweibel led students on summer-long trips to Europe with her late husband Malcolm, a New York school superintendent. After retirement, the couple spent 14 years escorting people to exotic places throughout the world, averaging three major trips per year. In 2009, when Zweibel made the decision to move to Illinois to be closer to family after 34 years in Sarasota, Florida, she became very involved in the “friendly, welcoming, active” community of Monarch Landing. Soon, she was eager to establish a travel group that would offer a variety of opportunities for people of all ability levels. To that end, Zweibel and her team developed a questionnaire to determine not only interest in the group, but preferred transportation modes, destinations, length of time away, etc. “We had a marvelous response,” said Zweibel. “That’s how we came up with the trips we’ve taken so far.” Even after a whirlwind trip to the Big Apple, there is no rest for the weary. Next on the Monarch Landing travel agenda is a Danube riverboat cruise, and under consideration are a weekend train excursion to Galesburg, Illinois and a trip to Washington, D.C., “hopefully during cherry blossom season,” said Zweibel. Remarked Wing Park, erstwhile reluctant traveler, “I can’t wait to go on another trip with this great group of people.” Monarch Landing is a senior living community on a scenic campus in Naperville, Illinois - named "one of America's best places to live and retire" by Modern Maturity. Monarch Landing is owned by Senior Care Development and managed by Life Care Services. For additional information, visit www.welcometomonarchlanding.com.