5 Resources for Planning a Fit and Active Summer Vacation
By Brandi Koskie - DietsInReview.com
With the summer travel season fully underway, you might think that there's not much room in your suitcase for your healthy lifestyle alongside all the sunblock, portable DVD players, and camera gear. But guess again!
You can easily fit a pair of running or gym shoes into all of the luggage your family is loading up for summer vacation, and even stuff an outfit for the gym in there too. Heck, it might even be some shorts and a tee you were already planning to take with you, killing two birds with one stone.
The other daunting part of managing your fitness routine, or even penchant for healthy eating while away from home, is not knowing where to go or what to do. That's the confusion we want to clarify now. There are a lot of resources available to you on the road that are often free or incredibly affordable.
Don't let your healthy habits take a vacation, instead, make sure one or some of the following find a spot on your itinerary.
MapMyRun - Whether you use their Website or the apps, you'll quickly and easily find the best routes for running. Users publicly share their routes so that others can hit the ground running without having to guess at a good spot. Put in the ZIP or city where you plan to run and peruse the map. If you plan on renting a bike while on vacation, the sister service MapMyRide does the same thing.
Guest Gym Pass - If you're a member of the YMCA or another nationwide gym chain, look into getting a guest pass for a location in the city you're visiting. If your gym doesn't have multiple locations, reach out to a fitness center near your home away from home and ask about guest passes, which are often available for free or for an incredibly reasonable day rate.
Hotel Yoga - When booking your reservations, ask about the availability of yoga classes in your hotel. Seem like a stretch? Many hotels are offering this service for free to their guests. Q Hotel in Kansas City, Hyatt Hotels, and JW Marriott are just a few who've made this wellness service part of your stay.
Make Active Plans - Lounging on the beach sounds divine, but what about actually swimming in the water, playing volleyball on the sand, or renting a bike and seeing the sights instead? Fit some actual activity into your vacation plans and you won't have to think twice about a workout, you'll be doing it anyway and creating some even better memories in the process. Hiking, kayaking, golfing, or even horseback riding are just a few more ideas.
Eat Locally - If you're crashing at an extended stay hotel or renting a vacation home then source your groceries from a local farmers market. Not only is it a fun and leisurely way to spend a weekend morning visiting with the locals and learning about the area, but you'll find fresh, affordable healthy fruits, vegetables, breads, jams, and even eggs and meat. LocalHarvest.org and USDA.gov both offer free searches to find a farmers market in your area.
Learn more about planning and enjoying a fitter summer vacation at DietsInReview.com:
Best Active Vacation Spots for a Healthy Getaway
Best Fitness Vacations on a Budget
Best Yoga Vacations Around the World
