On vacation … or likely to be on one soon? Last week we talked about Healthy Vacation Eating, and now we turn to another pillar of healthy living, exercise, which can also work well, with a bit of planning and creativity … while on the road.
Here’s a list of “The 10 Most Slimming Vacations” (destinations in the USA) which were based on nutrition and creative exercise options. The list includes places in Arizona, Hawai’i, Utah, Nevada, Florida, California, New Mexico, and Massachusetts. Here’s another list of 17 Amazing Fitness Vacations which expand the geography outsite the US, and took these factors into consideration:
- Availability and diversity of fitness programming
- Availability of individual fitness classes and active excursions
- Accessibility for a range of activity levels, from leisurely to intense
- Availability of healthy, customizable meals meeting various dietary restrictions
- Availability of relaxation services such as spa treatments and massages
- Diversity of locations
- Availability of specialized staff trained in featured fitness activities
- Stellar fitness and overall reviews on Trip Advisor
Admittedly, many of these are a bit ‘high end’ in terms of pricing, but there less expensive options, as well.
Some simple suggestions that have minimal or no financial impact include:
- Arrive at the airport 30-60 minutes early and walk the length of the terminal a time or two… Great for people watching as well as getting your bearings for unexpected gate changes, healthier culinary choices, etc. De-stress tw0 ways by not being concerned about missing your flight … and letting some aerobic activity while you loosen your mind’s grip on things
- Pack your swimsuit and a small pair of swim goggles; keep them in your suitcase so that you won’t have the ‘I forgot to pack it’ excuse when you arrive at a motel that provides a lap pool; you’ll be glad you did. Remind your family members to do the same so that you can enjoy a dip together.
- For the same reason, keep a comfortable pair (broken in, please) of hiking shoes, hiking socks (2-3 pair for longer than overnight trips) and whatever helps you enjoy spontaneous or planned hikes. Just having good, trusted footwear will support your explorations in city or country excursions.
- Before you travel, use online tools (Google can be your research buddy) to scope out trails, bike paths, gyms, water sports (e.g. kayaking as the photo above suggests), etc. in advance, and make excursion reservations (if appropriate) ahead of time as well as printing out maps, details, etc. that help you enjoy your trip without having to scramble to recreate the logistics. You don’t have to stick with an itinerary, but having one with you when you travel can often make the difference between a ‘coulda shoulda woulda’ trip and one where a bit of planning pays off. Your mileage may vary, but it’s often a lot easier to do this research from home way ahead of time if you have that luxury.
This Mayo Clinic article suggests items like these for your pre-travel list:
- Athletic shoes
- Exercise clothing
- Swimsuit
- Jump-rope
- Resistance tubing
- Hand grips
- Headphones
- Yoga mat
Just factor in what you like to do and make sure you avail yourself of opportunities to maximize the healthiest version of yourself! … Happy, healthy travels! 🙂
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