The Beacon Newspapers

Take a road trip through the Pacific Northwest! Visit Portland, dramatic waterfalls, coastal beaches, and towering redwoods. Have any road trip memories to share?

From roses to redwoods in the Pacific Northwest | Beacon In Portland’s central Pearl District two summers ago, the hotel desk attendant showed me points of interest on a map of the city, including its internationally renowned rose garden and Powell’s, the…

Experience the 1972 Broadway musical Pippin, an engaging play within a play! With music by Wicked’s songwriter, the production runs through July 26. To read more, visit

Pippin shimmers at Signature Theatre | Beacon In Signature Theatre’s current production of Pippin, the actors are so near that you can feel a breeze when they execute their death-defying choreography. Directed by Matthew Gardiner, Signature’s…

Have you ever tried rowing? Local rowers over 50 say the sport is easy on the joints and relaxing for the mind, and it can be started at any age. Read more about it here!

Rowers find renewal on our local rivers | Beacon It’s 5:45 a.m. on a cold, dark morning. Stars twinkle overhead, and only the faintest light of dawn appears in the eastern sky. Instead of being in my cozy bed, I am helping three other people carry…

The Northern Virginia Senior Olympics returns in 2026 with more than 30 types of events! From pickleball to mahjong, events run from September through October. Register today!

Senior Olympians cheer each other on | Beacon “You never know what you can do until you try.” —C.S. Lewis The Tobias family of Annandale, Virginia, wasn’t one to sit around. With seven children, all of whom played sports, parents Joyce and…

Like biking and traveling? Hear from Ed Warner on how to combine the two by bringing your bike with you on a trip by train—plus some recommended bike-friendly destinations.

All aboard: Bring your bike on the train | Beacon Perhaps because we’ve nowhere to be in a hurry or because we truly enjoy seeing the areas we travel through, retirees are notable for being fans of Amtrak and of bicycling. So, for a vacation, why…