Healthy Holiday Getaway Ideas
Think ahead to December 29th. The last week of celebrations has left your jeans tight, your liver pickled, your exercise schedule in a slump, and your energy running on empty. Time to recharge!
Start 2012 with a bang. Plan in advance to avoid the post-holiday blues and get a head start on your New Year's resolutions with one-night, weekend, or week-long wellness-inspired jaunts designed to renew and refocus your mind, body, and spirit.
To get your creative juices flowing, we've assembled six healthy trip styles with destinations and suggested starting points for everyone from the adventurer to the spa enthusiast. Whether your budget is Lean Cuisine or French Laundry, there's something for every palate: surf in Nicaragua, take a digital fast in Australia, ski between the French and Swiss Alps, satisfy your inner gourmand with a 100-mile diet getaway, assist in a development and relief project, or book a spa retreat!
Tip: Holiday travel can be pricey due to high-season surcharges, but don't rule out traveling between December 31st and January 14th. Resorts usually experience a post-holiday exodus after New Year's Eve and before high season, making this two-week period the ideal time to practice the art of escape.
Surf's Up
Dude! Learn to surf or dial your skills catching a wave at surf camp. Not just for kids, surf camps let you learn and practice throughout the week, meaning you'll actually improve and remember your
Start here: Safari Surf School in Costa Rica for Howler monkey alarm clocks, fresh caught shellfish, salsa dancing, and sweet cocktails. Or Monty's Beach Lodge in Nicaragua for strong Nicaraguan coffee, tropical fruits from local markets, and deep-sea fishing trips. (Photo courtesy of Monty's Beach Lodge)
Snow
And from sand to snow, your winter wonderland awaits. When selecting a cool holiday retreat, go with a destination that offers varied outdoor exercise options for the whole family. Mountain resorts are ideal for this purpose, as they don't just serve up mogul-infested double black diamond dashes, but downhill ski runs for all levels, plus cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and skating. Half-sweet, no-whip, skim milk hot chocolate anyone?
Start here: Whistler, Canada, for hearty food with stunning views, ski-in slopeside bars, and classic Whistler après traditions like fireside cocktails and live music. Or, Portes du Soleil (a collection of 12 connected ski resorts in the French and Swiss Alps), for breakfast in France and lunch in Switzerland. Now that's something to write home about!
Digi-Fast
Turn off your iPhone, BlackBerry, tablet, and laptop. You won't need them anyway because you're going far off the grid. Healthy getaways aren't only about diet and exercise; sometimes your brain needs a break, too. Take a sabbatical from information gluttony and high-def screens to download beside lapping waves or a crackling fire. If the thought of taking a digital hiatus sends your brain into an Angry Birds tizzy, start with 24 hours and work up to 72. Bring an actual book, printed on paper.
Start here: Wilson Island, Australia, for a shipwrecked feeling with gourmet cuisine with fresh-caught seafood, bright fruit salsas, and sunset drinks. Choose Yelapa Casa in Mexico for snorkeling, locally produced tequilas, and spicy birria, or Rolling Huts in Washington, for a sleek and modern getaway, with local eateries serving steak frites, bison meatloaf, and buttermilk scones.
Voluntourism
We've talked about refreshing the mind and body, but what about the soul? Whether this is a solo or group pursuit, trade your beach cover-up for overalls, and your daiquiri for a shovel. With so many organizations offering short-term opportunities to lend a helping hand, it's just a case of finding the
Not to mention, working with and helping locals is the best way to really immerse yourself in another culture and experience a place and its cuisine on another level.
Start here: Travelocity voluntourism trip ideas. (Photo courtesy of Cross-Cultural Solutions)
Health Spa
As evidenced by the yearly release of movies satirizing the stresses of holiday cheer — from Christmas-light burnout to family meltdowns — an extended trip to the spa could be the perfect, pre-emptive gift. Rejuvenate with holiday detox treatments, early morning hikes, and afternoon siestas.
Start here: Sanctuary Camelback Mountain Resort and Spa, in Scottsdale, Ariz., for Asian-inspired healthful and local cuisine and an extensive wine list; the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess for Michael Mina's Bourbon Steak, sustainable and local ingredients, and fresh cocktails; or the Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale at Troon North for great dishes like lobster and corn bisque, Chilean sea bass, and roasted bone marrow.
The 100-Mile Retreat
Take the 100-mile diet concept one step farther, and go on a 100-mile getaway. Save the carbon emissions of flying to a far-flung land and opt for a simple retreat close to home. Stop at winter farmers
Start here: One hundred miles (or so) from your home. Search airbnb, VRBO, or HomeAway for a vacation rental with a kitchen to cook up your locally sourced feast. Of course, check The Daily Meal for recipes to fill your getaway weekend. (Photo courtesy of airbnb)