When we think of education, we often picture classrooms, textbooks and students in their teens or early twenties. But for Road Scholar, the pursuit of knowledge has no age limit.
Who is Road Scholar?
Road Scholar is a not-for-profit organization that calls itself a “university of the world for older adults,” and rightfully so. With a mission to inspire adults to learn, discover, and travel, they offer a wide variety of immersive travel programs that are as educational as they are unforgettable. Whether it’s taking a French Canal Voyage, spending Christmas in Sorrento or learning how to cook authentic Indian food with families in their home, every experience is real, and the world becomes your classroom.
A Mission with Movement
At the heart of Road Scholar is a belief that learning should be lifelong and experiential. Their programs aren’t just about sightseeing—they’re about immersing yourself in culture and knowledge. Expert instructors lead each adventure, providing extraordinary access to information, local culture and behind-the-scenes experiences you won’t find in typical all-inclusive packages. The goal? To spark curiosity, encourage meaningful discussion and foster life long friendships among like-minded travelers.
Where They Shine (and Where There’s Room to Grow)
Road Scholar’s storytelling is heartfelt and authentic. They photographs of their travels and blog-style features highlighting their journeys. These elements bring their mission to life—but they could lean into storytelling even more. Making the stories of their travelers and educators more central to the homepage or social feeds would go a long way in building emotional connection.
Social Platforms
Road Scholar is very intentional with how they use their social media accounts. With active Facebook and Instagram accounts, Road Scholar prioritizes the platforms where their 50+ audience is most likely to spend time. While their Instagram boasts an impressive 38.9k followers, engagement rates are surprisingly low at only 4.2%.
Their content is relevant and well-aligned with their audience, and their choice to skip platforms like TikTok and Pinterest was probably wise.
The Bigger Picture
What makes Road Scholar stand out is not just the number of trips offered (there are many!), but the values behind them. They believe that learning is not something we age out of—it’s a lifelong journey. And in a world that often sidelines older adults, that’s a powerful message.
Road Scholar makes it a priority to do sustainable travel. This means respecting and preserving local cultures, conserving natural environments, minimizing waste and pollution, protecting wildlife, and making a difference. They have partnered with organizations such as TONTOTON to limit the amount of plastic used in their programs. They also acknowledge the amount of CO2 that is created by flying, so to counteract they partake in carbon offset projects such as Wind energy in the Dominican Republic, Clean cookstoves in India and Nitrous oxide abatement in Florida. All of their contributing equalling 400,000 seedlings being planted (and growing for 10 years)!
Final Thoughts
Road Scholar isn’t just a travel company—it’s a movement that redefines what it means to get older. They’ve built a platform where knowledge and adventure go hand in hand, and where curiosity is the ticket to exploring the world. With a bit more intentionality in how they tell their story, they could reach and inspire even more lifelong learners across the globe.
How to contact
Call center hours are Mon-Fri, 9 a.m.- 6:30 p.m. EST.
(800)454-5768
Email address: contact@roadscholar.org
Mailing Address:
Road Scholar
PO Box 56033
Boston, MA 02205-6033
Reach their website at: https://www.roadscholar.org/
With love, Ava
Ava Stepanian 