This week's senior travel deals include rail pass discounts in the UK, a special package at Nemacolin Woodlands Resort in southwestern Pennsylvania, holiday lodging deals in Jackson Hole and some great offers for solo travelers from Grand Circle Travel and Overseas Adventure Travel. Head over to the Senior Travel Forum to see the senior travel deals and discounts for the week of November 7, 2009.

With Thanksgiving around the corner, nearly everyone I know is talking about holiday plans. This year, many people are planning to travel by car and stay with relatives in order to save money. You may find yourself driving from one place to another with your grandchildren in tow.

Traveling with grandchildren is both amusing and challenging. Spending a few hours in the car with grandchildren offers a chance to tell stories, find out about school activities and teach favorite songs. As the trip drags on, however, boredom can lead to whining, and that's no fun for anyone.

If you're planning a road trip with your grandchildren, take a moment to read our list of things to bring along - and things to leave at home. Trust me, nothing ruins a road trip more quickly than the discovery of melted chocolate - or worse - in the back seat of Grandpa's car. Our road trip packing list will help you make the most of your trip with your grandchildren.

Photo © Jamie Harris

Residents of the Mid-Atlantic states will be familiar with this sight. At this time of year, deer are everywhere. I took this photo at Antietam National Battlefield a few weeks ago.

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Take a photo tour of Antietam National Battlefield.

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Photo © Nancy Parode

I came home from my last trip to an unpleasant surprise. During a weekend rainstorm, wind had damaged my ridge vent, creating a roof leak. I was thankful the rain stopped before water began to drip onto the carpet, but I'm still dealing with repairs and insurance claims.

I was only away for a weekend, so I didn't have anyone check my house during my trip. After this incident, I'll definitely consider hiring someone to keep an eye on things every time I'm away. Having a house sitter on-site can prevent small problems from turning into bigger ones.

Should you hire a house sitter for your next trip? There are many types of house sitting arrangements, from casual agreements with a neighbor to formal contracts with bonded house sitters. Some house sitters will take care of pets, giving you an alternative to boarding your dog or cat.

If you're not sure that you need a house sitter or wonder what services a house sitter provides, take a look at our helpful information on house sitting arrangements.

Photo © Mike Munchel

This week's senior travel deals include airfares to Australia and New Zealand from California, Branson holiday packages and a seniors-only Amtrak discount. Head over to the Senior Travel Forum to see the senior travel discounts for the week of October 31, 2009.

On November 6, 2009, The National World War II Museum in New Orleans will celebrate the grand opening of its new complex, which includes The Solomon Victory Theater, The Stage Door Canteen and a new restaurant, The American Sector. Grand Opening events will last throughout the weekend, with a free Family Fun day and Victory Stomp celebration on Saturday and a Stephen E. Ambrose Retrospective and a lecture by Dr. Alan Brinkley on Sunday. (Tickets are required for the Victory Stomp.)

The Solomon Victory Theater will play host to Beyond All Boundaries, a multisensory experience that goes beyond mere film to bring the World War II experience to life. Each weekend, The Stage Door Canteen will present live performances commemorating the music and dance of the World War II era.

The National World War II Museum, founded by historian and writer Stephen E. Ambrose, is the only museum in the U.S. dedicated to telling the complete story of World War II at home and on the front lines. The new complex is part of a planned $300 million expansion which will eventually include four new exhibit pavilions.

I realize this post is not exactly wordless, but I am glad that the museum is expanding and wanted to share the details with you. The National World War II Museum showcases the wartime experience for young and old alike and brings jobs and revenue to New Orleans while fulfilling this mission. No matter how old you are or how much you know about World War II, you'll learn something new during your visit to The National World War II Museum.

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If you're planning a road trip to western North Carolina, eastern Tennessee or Great Smoky Mountains National Park, you may need to adjust your driving route, but there's no need to change your travel plans.

A rockslide covered Interstate 40 with tons of debris near the 2.6 mile marker early Sunday morning, according to the North Carolina Department of Transportation. The Asheville Citizen-Times reports that the slide area, just north of the Tennessee border, will likely be closed for a few months for debris removal and road repair.

This area attracts many tourists during the fall months; they come to visit Great Smoky Mountains National Park and to enjoy the brilliant colors of the autumn leaves. During the I-40 cleanup process, you can choose from several detours. North Carolina DOT has set up an all-interstate detour, and the Haywood County Tourism Development Authority has posted a list of scenic detours on its website.

Even though Halloween is a week away, most of the stores in my area have begun to set up holiday displays. My mailbox is jammed with catalogs. The holiday shopping season has definitely arrived.

To make your holidays a little brighter, we've put together a list of top gift ideas for senior travelers. Whether your loved ones travel by car, RV or ocean liner, there's something on our gift suggestion list that can help make their next vacation more enjoyable.

Photo © Jane M Sawyer

This week's senior travel deals include hotel discounts, a Spain travel package for non-UK EU citizens and free meals for U.S. veterans and military retirees in November. Take a look at our senior travel discounts for the week of October 24, 2009.

This week's About.com Travel Blog Carnival focuses on that spookiest of holidays, Halloween. Charlyn Keating Chisholm, About.com's Guide to Hotels / Resorts / Inns, has collected information about Halloween celebrations from Salem to Scandinavia and points beyond.

I have spent Halloween outside the U.S. seven times. It has been interesting to watch Halloween traditions, which originated in Europe, re-cross the Atlantic Ocean and blossom in places like Germany and France.

I have to admit that until I read through this Travel Blog Carnival I had never thought of observing Halloween by visiting Lenin's tomb in Moscow. I've visited the tomb, back in the days of the Soviet Union, and the atmosphere was definitely unusual, so I can attest to the creep factor. Just goes to show that you can find that spine-tingling feeling everywhere you travel, right?

Photo © Gavin Mills