Our happiest moments as tourists
always seem to come when we stumble
upon one thing while in pursuit
of something else.
Lawrence Block
In planning a holiday, do you ever feel torn between your inner gym rat and spa goddess? I am definitely neither. I don’t see the point of giving up an hour of a good night’s sleep to workout before the start of what is already called a work day. I am confident sunsets are just as lovely as a sunrise. I do not have patience for enclosed chambers with scents or recycled air when my lungs are involved in aerobic exercise. My skin crawls at the thought of spandex, sneakers and extended lounging in bathrobes in public spaces. I question the regimen of standing (or even sitting) upright when the laptop has been ingeniously designed for a comfortable recline on the sofa. And hard as I try, I simply can’t think of one good reason why I should be running when no one’s chasing me.
This December, I shall explore where I belong in the spectrum in between. I will give up my usual seat on an air-conditioned tour bus to join a National Geographic Expedition where the itinerary includes days of two to four hours on the kayak or hiking and six to eight miles of biking in 90 degree heat. Even without the physical strains, their recommended list of what to pack already tests the religion of my closet: a hat with a chin strap, a rain jacket that blends with the crowd, sneakers, a backpack and a 44 lb. baggage weight limit for a two week trip. Holy Mother of Glam!
If you’d rather not be seen this underdressed in male company, Travel & Leisure recommends adventure companies that cater to female travelers only. Why not consider a new spin on the bachelorette party, the mother daughter weekend, the sisters bonding holiday, the stocking stuffer?
Adventures in Good Company Specializes in expeditions in the U.S., like dog-sledding and snowshoeing on the shores of Lake Superior
Balanced Rock This nonprofit’s yearly Women of Color Wilderness Retreats in Yosemite combine survival-skill building, yoga, and mindfulness exercises.
Wild Women Expeditions Leads intimate journeys, like a horseback ride across Mongolia, designed to foster inclusivity.
Adventure Women Books luxe trips, most lasting at least a week, to 26 destinations — like hiking, biking, and whitewater rafting in Colombia.
Explorer Chick The company arranges backpacking trips in the American West and Appalachia, including a trek in the Great Smoky Mountains.
WHOA Travel Climbing Kilimanjaro and other destinations like Bavaria, Peru, Nepal, Russia, and India.
REI Women’s Adventures This outdoor-gear co-op leads ambitious expeditions, like a South Africa safari, and three-day Outessa retreats in California, Oregon, and New Hampshire. Outessa is another REI brand.
Fit & Fly Girl Daily workouts anchor retreats to party-friendly locales like Ibiza, Spain.
FP Escapes The Free People clothing brand’s itineraries in places like Nicaragua’s Playa Maderas emphasize mind-body connection
Damesly Hosts self-discovery workshops in Arizona, Hawaii, and Iceland.
One more that’s personally recommended by a friend who travels the globe year round: Private Journeys for small group luxury and exotic destinations.
Intimidated or not, I love National Geographic Expeditions for their commitment to environment conservation through sustainable travel and donating 27% of proceeds to the National Geographic Society, whose explorers and researchers are furthering our understanding of the planet.
A challenge is a good thing when you begin to think you have clearly delineated fences around your ways of being. Even if I don’t discover the Iron Woman in me, at least, the hotels will be fabulous and I’ll have a few laughs to share when I get back in January.
Click on “Leave a Comment” (top left) to share your most memorable, albeit unlikely, adventure.
xoxox
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