Bored of the Beach? 4 Amazing Active Vacation Ideas
Are you tired of lounging on the beach during your vacations? Do you want to challenge yourself, find a new passion, or try something more adventurous? If so, then look no further!
We have compiled a list of four amazing active vacation ideas for you to try out on your next getaway. What will you try?
Learn to Surf
Surfing is a thrilling and exhilarating sport that is now immensely popular. Surfing involves riding waves on a board while standing up or lying down, and it’s more difficult than the pros make it look! Surfing well requires a combination of skill, strength, and balance. It’s also an excellent workout for the entire body, providing both strength and cardiovascular benefits.
Surfing has been found to have positive effects on mental health, too. It can reduce stress, increase feelings of happiness, and help you to relax. Trying something challenging and achieving a goal can also boost your self-esteem and sense of accomplishment.
If you love the beach but want to get a little more physically active on your vacation, why not learn to surf?
Where to go?
Some of the best surfing locations in the world can be found in places such as Bali, Australia’s Gold Coast, Hawaii, and Malibu, CA, but there are fantastic surfing spots all over the world.
Head to a beach location and book yourself a few lessons, or join a surf camp for beginners to get the full experience.
Go Hiking
Hiking is a wonderful way to explore the great outdoors–mountains, forests, deserts, and more–while getting plenty of exercise.
Hiking is an accessible sport for people of all ages and fitness levels because hikes can be long or short, and can vary in difficulty from easy and flat terrain to steep and rugged terrain. You can hike alone or with a group (though if you go alone, ensure you take safety precautions such as keeping a charged cell phone with you for emergency calls and letting someone know where you will be.)
Hiking offers an excellent cardiovascular workout that is lower impact than running. It reduces stress and improves mental health, since being outdoors and surrounded by nature has a calming effect on the mind. It is also a great way to see some incredibly beautiful places from a new vantage point.
Why not add a day of hiking into your next vacation? Or, if you’re feeling brave and craving a bigger adventure, make hiking the centerpiece and plan a multi-day walking trip. You can camp or–if they are available–check into hotels or guesthouses along the way.
Where to go?
You can hike almost anywhere! Simply perform an online search for “hiking routes + [location]”, ask at a Tourist Information office, or buy or borrow a guidebook to find the best trails at your destination.
Some of the best hiking locations in the USA include Yosemite National Park, Glacier National Park, the Appalachian Trail, and the Grand Canyon. Some of the best hiking locations internationally include Hadrian’s Wall in England, the West Highland Way in Scotland, Mont Blanc in France, Italy and Switzerland (yes, you can pass through three countries!), and the Laugavegur Trail in Iceland.
Try Rock Climbing
Rock Climbing is an excellent activity for those who love a challenge and want to push their bodies to the limit. It requires both physical and mental strength, making it a great workout for the body and mind.
Rock climbing requires using almost every muscle in the body, including the arms, legs, core, and back. Continuous movement and resistance help to build muscular endurance and strength. Climbing also improves flexibility, balance, agility, mental focus, and problem-solving skills, as well as boosting confidence and reducing stress.
It goes without saying that rock climbing can be dangerous. Never climb alone, get some tuition from an appropriately qualified instructor, climb within your ability, and make sure you have the gear that you need.
Where to go
Just some of the world’s best locations for rock climbing include Yosemite National Park in California, Zermatt in Switzerland, Kaylmnos in Greece, and the Peak District in England. If you are visiting a location where climbing is popular and you want to give it a go, book yourself into a beginner’s course or find an instructor who can take you out for your first climb.
Keen beginners can also take a rock climbing holiday. This will typically include tuition, equipment hire, and plenty of opportunities to have a go in a safe environment.
Get on Your Skis or Snowboard
If you don’t mind the cold and love being out in beautiful scenery and getting active, learning to ski or snowboard is the activity for you.
Winter sports such as skiing and snowboarding are physically demanding activities that require strength, balance, and a surprising amount of endurance. They work the legs, core, and upper body as well as providing you with a cardiovascular workout that will burn some serious calories.
Skiing and snowboarding also help to hone your mental focus, coordination, and quick thinking skills. You’ll challenge yourself and surprise yourself as you build confidence and achieve your goals.
Where to go
Winter sports can take you to some of the most beautiful spots on the planet. Some of the best ski and snowboard locations in the USA include Park City UT, Aspen CO, Breckenridge CO, Jackson Hole WY, and various locations in upstate New York. Some of the best ski and snowboard locations internationally include Whistler and Banff in Canada, St. Moritz and Zermatt in Switzerland, Åre in Sweden, and Chamonix in France.
You can learn to ski or snowboard before you go on vacation by taking lessons close to home (on an indoor slope if you don’t live in a snowy or mountainous area.) Otherwise, almost all resorts offer beginner-friendly lessons, which can be taken one to one or in small groups, to help you find your ski-legs.
