Transform your trip into an active adventure
Ideas to turn your trip into a fitness win
Have you ever worried about missing your exercise goals while on vacation? It doesn’t matter if you are a gym rat, do home workouts or go for a daily run. A trip can throw off your normal routine, be it a big sightseeing itinerary, a shorter driving excursion or something in between. With a few simple guidelines you can get plenty of exercise, close those fitness tracking rings on your watch and explore a new place in the process.
Get Outside
This is the most important recommendation of all because if you focus on the outdoors the exercise will almost always fall into place. When you are walking around and exploring a new place you end up getting in steps. Look for parks and public gardens that you can explore if you are in a city. We explored the Boboli Gardens while in Florence and got in a ton of city hiking. See my article for more information.
Don’t Follow the Crowd
You don’t have to see every sight on the Hop On Hop Off bus. That can be exhausting. It is better to go for quality over quantity, so be a little choosy and plan a nice walking route that includes some sights in each place. A big city walk will give you the opportunity to soak in sights, find unexpected places and get in plenty of steps. We logged some serious mileage while exploring Quebec City.
Rent a Bike
Biking is a great way to see beautiful countryside, more so than if you’re driving in a car or riding on a tour bus. It’s much easier to stop and pause and admire the scenery. Also, many cities have great bike paths and/or dedicated bike lanes. Find a good bike shop and ask their advice on what type of bike they recommend: e bike, gravel, mountain, or road. A reputable shop can suggest routes and outfit you with a bike, helmet and even a GPS if needed. While in Austin, Texas we did a self-guided e bike tour of the city’s murals and it was the highlight of our trip, and in Tuscany we went on an e bike wine tasting adventure which you can read about here.
Plan Doable Hikes
If you are looking for something more than big walks, make sure to load some hiking apps on your phone. The Alltrails app is one of my favorites for finding local hiking trails. Their advice is spot on, and you can read reviews from recent hikers. We were able to use Alltrails on the mainland of Italy and on Sardinia. We found a picturesque day hiking spot near Sugarbush in Vermont on Alltrails.
Rent a SUP
It’s possible to stand up paddle on lakes, rivers and open water depending on where you are. SUPs are a great work out for core, balance, arm, and leg strength; not to mention they are fun. A SUP rental shop can outfit you with a board, paddle, and a PFD. You might even try a SUP yoga class like I did.
Include a Ski Day (or two)
If you are in the mountains during the winter, chances are you are close to a ski resort. Some travelers prefer to only bring their ski boots along with them and rent the rest of their equipment. Many shops will rent you ski gear in addition to a helmet and ski clothing. My husband had to rent ski pants and equipment in Park City when his luggage didn’t make it to his destination. If you don’t want to carve off a whole day to go skiing consider an hour or two of cross-country skiing, ice skating or snowshoeing. Read more about my early season trip to Telluride where we did more than just ski here.
Do a Little Research
A little bit of planning can reveal all the adventures possible in a certain destination. Don’t just limit yourself to the main tourist sights, and don’t be shy to ask a local or a fellow traveler for their advice. Real time information can be essential.
Pack Active Wear
Consider what type of clothing and footwear you’ll need. If you plan to do a lot of walking rely on a good sneaker or walking sandal. Trail shoes come in handy for moderate hiking. Quick dry UV shirts are great to have on hand for hiking, SUPs, or swimming activities. A good, brimmed hat will protect you from the sun. My favorite trail shoes are from Altra.
Helpful Gear
I like to brink a backpack as my carryon that I can use for hiking. I also like a low-profile running belt that can fit a phone, key, and a credit card.
A convertible backpack like this one from PAC safe is great for city hiking:
Don’t Beat Yourself Up
It’s good to take a break from your normal routine, including your fitness goals. Trying different activities while on vacation is a great way to take a break from your normal everyday experiences. You might discover something new that you want to continue doing when you return home. Make sure to subscribe to my blog in the upper right hand corner so you don’t miss any of my posts.
