While many think of a vacation only as lounging under an umbrella on a sandy beach with a cold drink in your hand, some lifestyles crave a more active, healthy, or challenging type of excursion. A new trend in the past years has been "get fit" trips, or a trip you take to simply challenge yourself physically and mentally.
New Life Hiking Spa, Killington, VT - How do you feel about climbing a mountain with altitudes of 4,000ft, then stopping at the top for some yoga, kinetics, and cardio? Located in the Green Mountains of Vermont, this active spa encourages guests to plan out their days based on the level of activity they're used to, then slowly up that with each passing day. Paired with the charm and character of a New England country inn and gourmet meals that balance all the nutrition you need to get up and moving, this resort with all-inclusive nights at $200 is well worth it.
Red Cliffs Lodge, Moab, UT - For a real white water rafting and mountain biking challenge, head to this Colorado River lodge to pass through Class III level waters while testing your body's true abilities. Though it's tough on the body, the red rocks surrounding the river will take your breath away more than the physical activity. Dry off with a half or full-day biking tour on up to 15 miles of rocky terrain. The rates are reasonable, and lodging comes with an incredible sprawl of southern eats.
The Ashram, Calabas, CA - Think you can clock 70 miles of hiking in one trip? The Ashram believes you can! On this mix of spirituality and health-centered activities, partakers in the Ashram will leave all electronics behind while they wake at 5:30 daily for a 4-hour hike paired with yoga, deep breathing, and numerous fitness classes. All meals are vegetarian, and guests stay in communal rooms to truly be in the experience together.
Canyon Ranch, Tuscon, AZ - Anyone training for a triathlon? If you find yourself in this preparatory experience, kick off your training at Canyon Ranch, a world-class get-fit camp in the middle of Sonoran Desert. The lodge features beautiful running trails, four pools, a variety of road bikes for rent, and sessions with exercise physiologists to fine-tune your training program. All-inclusive stays include special massages, spas, and a nutrition-packed meal plan.
Lake Austin Spa, Austin, TX - Think you could more or less live at the gym for a week? Lake Austin Spa's "Power 7" program includes a personalized, week-long program of spa treatments, fitness classes, discovery sessions where you'll learn to revamp your diet, and stress less, and special activities customized to meet your specific training goals. Fitness classes include 27 cardio and dance, 16 strength, 11 aquatic, and 30 meditation and yoga classes -- the choice is yours!
