7 Ultimate Vacations For Every Kind of Adventurer
Guys, you need a vacation. We know. It sounds ridiculous--as if you needed us to sell you on the joys of warm sunshine, beautiful scenery, and great food. But we wouldn't be telling you this if we didn't feel we had to. American men may excel at many things, but kicking back for extended periods of time isn't one of them. Three out of four civilian workers in America are offered paid vacation days, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. But more than half of those workers are leaving some or even all of those days unused--to the tune of 662 million days a year. C'mon, man: You're not doing your body, your career, or yourself any favors.
Just as you need cheat days to achieve difficult goals, you need time off for your health and mojo. This not only recharges you today but could also extend your life tomorrow: Penn State researchers link greater involvement in leisure activities to better overall health later in life. It'll also strip away stress, and you may even return home a more interesting person--exposure to different cultures could increase creativity. What you need is a plan. Where's it going to be? We found the greatest vacations on the planet. Book one and upgrade yourself.
THE ROB KRAR ULTRA CAMP
BEST FOR: RUNNERS
WHERE: FLAGSTAFF, AZ (FLY INTO PHX ORFLG)
Situated beneath northern Arizona's snow-capped San Francisco Peaks at 7,000 feet, Flagstaff has experienced a culinary renaissance and also evolved into a trail running mecca that attracts some of the country's top ultra runners. Two-time Western States 100 winner Rob Krar hosts weeklong intensive camps where runners can hone their trail skills and max out their fitness. Offset your long daily runs through aspen and ponderosa pine forests with meals at Pizzicletta, a wood-fired pizzeria, and Tourist Home, an all-day cafe specializing in gourmet brunch food. Camp registration (from $2,150) includes six nights at downtown's Embassy Suites by Hilton, and all meals. robkrar.com
DISAPPEAR IN A PUREPOD
BEST FOR: UNPLUGGING
WHERE: GREATER CHRISTCHURCH AREA, NEW ZEALAND (FLY INTO CHC)
With the recent addition of the Pohue PurePod overlooking Port Levy Bay, there are now six of these ecofriendly, one-bedroom glass cabins scattered amid the ruggedly beautiful, rolling farmland of New Zealand's South Island. Think of it as wilderness camping but with a soft bed, flush toilet, and hot shower. Two of the most spectacular properties, Manakau and Kahutara, are 2 1/2 hours north of Christchurch and overlook the Kahutara River and the jagged peaks of the Seaward Kaikoura Range. There you can hike the hills above the cabin, dip your toes into the glacier-fed river, or kick back and enjoy the epic mountain vistas from the deck with a local Waipara Valley pinot noir and some creamy Kaikoura cheese. There's no Wi-Fi or cell service and, frankly, no reason to care. Rates start at $295 per person per night, based on double occupancy. purepods.com
RAFT THE MIDDLE FORK
BEST FOR: WATERSPORTS NUTS
WHERE: STANLEY, ID (FLY INTO BOI)
In 1968, Congress passed the WSR Act, which created the National Wild & Scenic Rivers System and granted special protection to our most spectacular American waterways. Fifty years later, some 12,700 serpentine miles are out there for you to explore. Book a white-knuckle trip down the Middle Fork Salmon, which winds for 100-plus miles through the high country forests, craggy granite canyons, and wildflower-studded grasslands of the 2.37-million-acre Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness. It's an unforgettably wild ride, running more than 100 rapids, including Class III and IV, through territory teeming with wildlife. Oars launches six-day trips May through August (from $2,549), which include camping and hearty riverside meals. And most people actually do return. oars.com
NO. 1 BOOT CAMP
BEST FOR: FITNESS FREAKS
WHERE: IBIZA, SPAIN (FLY INTO IBZ)
You don't have to go all the way to the sun-soaked Mediterranean party island of Ibiza to get fit, but it certainly can help. Whether you're looking to reboot your fitness regimen or sculpt your stubborn soft spots, No. 1 Boot Camp's dedicated weeklong program (from about $2,040) provides exactly the tools and trainer-led motivation you need to get the job done. Your schedule involves 10-hour days of workouts--including mountain runs, cliff hikes, boxing, and yoga--fueled by three delicious, nutrient-dense meals and snacks tailored to your nutrition and activity profiles. No matter what your fitness level, No. 1 promises, like a military boot camp, to push you to achieve your best long-term results. And with a week of focused, hard-core exercise and custom nutrition under your belt (not to mention aftercare options to support you once you're back home), you should be equipped to keep aiming high. no1bootcamp.com
PRO TIP!: Catch Z's at 30,000 Feet
Wear your U-shaped pillow backward. Leaving the opening at the back of your neck can offer you better support while you're asleep. Supporting your chin prevents your head from falling forward, keeping your spine straight. Elevate your feet on your carry-on. It takes pressure off your leg veins, encourages blood-flow, and makes you more comfortable. And keep your legs uncrossed.
JACKSON HOLE
BEST FOR: WINTER SPORTS LOVERS
WHERE: JACKSON, WY (FLY INTO JAC)
In recent years, Jackson has risen up the ranks of U.S. ski towns, thanks to infrastructure improvements at the independently owned Jackson Hole Mountain Resort and some of the best, most consistent snow across ski country--even in La Nina years like 2017. In winter 2016, JHMR's snowiest ever, the resort opened the Sweetwater Gondola to deliver beginner and intermediate skiers to all the mid-mountain goods. There are also plenty of activities off the mountain--like fat biking on 115-plus miles of groomed local trails (Teton Mountain Bike Tours rents rigs); cross-country skiing through Grand Teton National Park; horse-drawn sleigh rides among the elk, bison, trumpeter swans, bald eagles, and wolves of the National Elk Refuge; and fly fishing for native cutthroat in the Snake River. Stay in town at Rustic Inn Creekside Resort & Spa (from $139) in a 400-square-foot luxury cabin or a room that provides fine views of Flat Creek, which regularly sees otters, swans, and other wild creatures. jacksonholechamber.com
JASPER NATIONAL PARK
BEST FOR: MOUNTAIN MEN
WHERE: JASPER, ALBERTA (FLY INTO YJA)
While Alberta's Banff National Park attracts the masses, many people don't realize that just a few hours to the north, Jasper National Park is bigger (by two-thirds), wilder, and far less crowded. Picture the same stunning scenery--emerald lakes backed by the jagged, snow-capped Canadian Rockies and massive glaciers--with roughly half as many visitors. That means you're more likely to encounter Yellowstone-quality megafauna--grizzlies, coyotes, elk, black bears, moose, cougars, and wolves--on your own terms as you hike and bike the nearly 300 miles of trails that wind into the pristine backcountry. Afterward, soothe your sore muscles with a hot-spring soak, grab a bite at a downtown eatery, and then retire to your luxe basecamp at the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge (from $222), an upscale mountain retreat with unforgettable views over nearby Lac Beauvert. jasper.travel
RANCHO LA PUERTA
BEST FOR: BEING PAMPERED
WHERE: TECATE, MEXICO (FLY INTO SAN)
With an organic farm, various swimming pools, miles of hiking trails, and 32 acres of landscaped gardens gracing its 4,000-acre property at the foot of Baja's Mt. Kuchumaa, Rancho La Puerta offers its guests a sun-soaked escape from the daily grind of modern life. On top of 50-plus daily fitness classes--including everything from guided sunrise hikes and trail runs to interval training, weights, and spinning--its weeklong programs (from $3,700, double occupancy) promise to balance body, mind, and spirit with yoga, meditation, holistic therapies, and even cooking classes. Healthy farm-fresh meals are sourced, whenever possible, from the onsite farm and local organic purveyors to ensure you're filling up on nutritious high-grade fuel. rancholapuerta.com
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