Mid-Life Adventures: Top 5 Travel Destinations to Be a Better You
Ups and downs are a natural part of life, but sometimes they make it easy to lose touch with you. One of the best ways to rediscover your passion for life and connect with who you really are is to take a vacation that breaks away from your everyday routine.
While jetting off to a remote beach for a week of drinking and doing little more than lounging in the sun often sounds appealing, these types of trips can leave you feeling even more out of touch with reality upon arriving home. Here are five of the best places to make the most out of your vacation.
Whether you want to meet new people, try new food, find fun adventures, or simply slip away for a few days to discover another culture, there are plenty of places in the world just waiting to wash away your worries.
1. Ireland
If you don’t fathom yourself a social butterfly, but would love to meet new people in a breathtakingly beautiful locale, Ireland could be the perfect place for you. After spending time in one of the neighborhood pubs, you’ll find yourself with a bounty of new best friends who are happy to hear your stories and share cheers to new beginnings. However, if beer and bars aren’t your preference, the country hosts numerous underrated beaches and fairytale-worthy scenery that sprawls throughout the countryside. An abundance of charming bed & breakfasts scattered throughout Ireland take the impersonal feel out of big hotels and will have you feeling at home, even if you’re thousands of miles away.
2. Thailand
Men and women alike will find the perfect balance of tranquility and adventure in this scenic country. Thailand’s Buddhist mentality promotes equality amongst the sexes, meaning everyone can enjoy the meditative mindset and creative culture. From clothes to cuisine, there are many budget-friendly ways to relish in all that the country has to offer. Take home stunning silk scarves and precious stones to remember your journey, or simply enjoy the essence of Thai cuisine when you’re there. Curry, seafood and vegetable-rich dishes will have you feeling revived and rejuvenated. Take time to venture into the jungles or spend a few days at a tropical retreat on one of the numerous offshore islands.
3. New Orleans
Big Easy style serves up treats and charms for people from every walk of life. Travel and Leisure magazine consistently votes the lively city as the number one spot for the singles bar scene in America, which is not to say couples won’t enjoy jumping and jiving together throughout the streets of New Orleans as well. With a year-round Mardi Gras vibe, its easy to dive right in and feel like part of the effervescent city. With unparalleled culture, cuisine and customs, the city caters to all ages and interests and will have you returning home with some extra pep in your step.
4. Costa Rica
If money is tight, whether from a recent divorce or putting kids through college, there’s no reason you shouldn’t be able to indulge in a tropical vacation. Costa Rica offers the perfect compromise between a cost-efficient cultural experience and a one-of-a-kind vacation escape. Clean and comfortable accommodations often cost you less than $60 per night. The opportunities for adventure in nature will refresh your spirit and leave you with a renewed zest for life. If you want you visit a volcano at night, zip line through rainforest canopies, or see the seas aboard a surfboard or ocean kayak, every road leads to a new adventure. Breaking through the stereotypes of many Latin American countries, Costa Rica provides a safe place with warm-hearted locals who are always happy to help.
5. Japan
Unlike anywhere you’ve ever traveled, the country provides a unique juxtaposition of ultra-modern technology with ancient traditions and customs. Shrines, temples, castles and many festivals provide a glance into the centuries-old traditions of the Japan, only steps from some of the world’s most modern machinery. From bullet trains to the birthplace of the Toyota Prius, museums as well as everyday amenities will consistently amaze you as you experience never-before-seen technologies and toys alongside traditional experiences. You will leave Japan not only with an enlightened state of mind, but a healthier lifestyle, as you spend your time there enjoying the flavors of nutritious dishes served up in smaller portions, allowing you to savor the flavors.
So go ahead and pepper your vacation with the zest of other cultures. By taking the time to treat yourself, while also becoming immersed in the lessons to be learned from other parts of the world, you will come back with stories to tell and memories that will last a lifetime. Translate the teachings of your voyages into daily life and each day will start to feel more like a vacation.
