Vacations can be relaxing and rejuvenating or hectic and stressful, depending on how you choose to unwind. Getting outdoors and enjoying nature is a great way to kick back and come home in better shape, and if you like, a little pampering can be included.
Hiking spas have been growing in popularity and offer a mix of usual spa services such as massages and facials, combined with hikes that last anywhere from part of a day to several days. And food created to please your taste buds and make your body feel and function better is served.
Noticeable Changes
Consider the reported changes experienced by some of the people who vacationed at the New Life Hiking Spa in Killington, Vermont:
• Drop in cholesterol levels
• More flexible and less painful joints
• Smoking cessation
• End to emotional eating
• Improved self-esteem
• Decrease in depression
• Sense of youthfulness
SpaFinder enables you to search for spas (with and without hiking activities) in the United States and beyond.
Nature is Powerful
A large body of research supports the belief that experiencing nature offers numerous benefits. The studies number in the hundreds and the total amount of people involved in them add up to tens of millions, according to Frances "Ming" Kuo, Ph.D., director of the Landscape and Human Health Laboratory at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
“The benefits have been measured objectively, using data such as police crime reports, blood pressure, performance on standardized neurocognitive tests, and physiological measures of immune system functioning," says Kuo. For example, families living in apartments that overlook trees and grass experience less conflict than other people in the same development without a “green” view.
Vacation Options
If you’re in the mood for adventure in this country or abroad, consider hiking, biking, and other tours covering a variety of activities like white- water rafting, kayaking, or trips on horseback. Companies such as Austin-Lehman Adventures offer plenty of options.
Or, you can stay close to home and check out local nature spots. The National Park Service makes it easy to find parks around the country on its website. For state parks, individual state websites are helpful, or you can start here.
Then again, getting your nature fix can be as simple as choosing to walk along a path bordered by trees and grass rather than over a regular sidewalk, whenever the opportunity arises. One study found that people feel significantly better after a nature break as brief as 20 minutes long — and they’re reportedly easier to get along with after the respite.
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