Eleanor “Ellie” Hamby and Dr. Sandra “Sandy” Hazelip, two 85-year-old best friends from Texas, have explained why they started exploring the world together after both suffered the loss of their husbands.
The pair, now known online as the “Traveling Nanas,” met in their early 60s through a medical mission in Dallas. Sandy had attended a seminar there after her husband died, and she later joined the Zambia Medical Mission. Ellie lost her own husband five years later, and their friendship deepened in the years that followed.
Their bond over travel took root during their first major journey together on the Trans-Siberian Railway, the longest railway line in the world across Russia. Years later, at age 81, they completed an “Around the World in 80 Days” trip that spanned seven continents and 18 countries.
“We had both experienced loss, and we knew how precious time is,” Ellie and Sandy said. “We still had places we wanted to see, people we wanted to meet, and experiences we wanted to have. We didn’t want our age to make those decisions for us.”
The physical realities of travel at their age require practical adjustments. Between them, the two women have four artificial knees. “We do take our physical abilities into account,” Sandy said. “But we choose adventures that work for us and keep going.”
Despite these limitations, they have embraced what they describe as a joyful approach to the unexpected. “We’ve made wonderful memories, found ourselves in some unexpected situations, and laughed our way through plenty of travel mishaps,” Sandy continued.
Their perspective on later-life travel stands in contrast to the more common pattern of gap-year backpacking in young adulthood. “You bring a lifetime of experience and perspective,” the pair explained.
Sandy noted that self-knowledge deepens with age, making cultural navigation more rewarding. “We’re also less concerned about impressing anyone,” she added. “We’re happy to ask questions, talk to strangers, and admit when we’ve taken a wrong turn.”
The Traveling Nanas have now visited 53 countries together. Their friendship, they said, gave them someone to share the adventure with at a stage when many might retreat from ambitious travel.
“Traveling has given us so much to look forward to, and sharing it with a best friend makes it even sweeter,” Sandy shared.
The pair are now encouraging others in their 60s, 70s, and beyond to pursue their own travel ambitions without waiting for ideal conditions. “Start with somewhere you’ve always wanted to go, choose activities that suit your abilities, and take that first step,” they advised.
“Find a companion who shares your curiosity and sense of humor, if you can. And don’t wait for everything to be perfect. Adventure knows no age limit.”