I read recently in one of those gossip/fashion magazines (seemingly the only reading material offered near the treadmills at the gym) that laze-around-by-the-pool resort vacations are "out." What's "in" are active vacations. Think of market tours and cooking schools in France, hiking in Oregon, kayaking in the Carolinas, horseback riding in the Dakotas.
I doubt the "IN" versus "OUT" conclusion was the result of anything very scientific, but this Badass absolutely approves of the sentiment. As we plan our summer vacations, we should stop thinking them as a vacation from the Badass lifestyle.
An active vacation can still be a restful and relaxing one -- after all, just getting away from work e-mail, deadlines, household chores and daily life tedium is the best way to bring stress levels down a notch or two!
I say we take a cue from all of those summer camps we enroll kids in from June through August. Go on vacation, but DO something.
A friend of mine is doing a biathlon event with his brother in San Francisco in July - literally swimming from Alcatraz to San Fran land, then running to the finish line. Yowza! Yes, it will be hard work. But they're also turning it into a vacation, with plans to spend a few days in the city after the race to enjoy it.
A co-worker is vacationing in New Mexico in a few weeks, and already she plans to do lots of hiking and even llama-riding (I am not making that up, and I can't wait to see pictures!) A reporter at the St. Petersburg Times newspaper where I used to work has multiple marathons under his belt, and he uses the races as "excuses" to visit great cities. He runs, then he stays for a little R&R.
My former editor goes to Vegas every year - the truth is he loves the bright lights and casinos, but he also "atones" by timing his visit to the marathon, which he dutifully trains for in the months leading up to it.
A few tips on making vacation more Badass:
1. If you're in a big city with mass transit and great eye candy, hoof it. Ditch the car, and walk from subway station to subway station or light rail or trolley stop. If you zoom from place to place in a car, think of all the cool stuff you're missing out on.
2. Embrace where you are: If you're taking a road trip through the Midwest, why not make pitstops for horseback riding, hiking, etc. And why not learn to waterski or surf if you're headed somewhere warm and surrounded by the ocean? Vacation is about exploration as much as relaxation. So get out there and explore!
3. Learn something new: Keeping the mind active is just as important as moving that Badass. Sometimes, the two go hand in hand. A friend of mine is headed to France with her husband in July, and she has booked time with a local chef who is going to bring her market-shopping and then teach her what to cook with all that fresh food.
I don't know where I'm vacationing to this summer of my 33rd birthday, but I know I won't be sitting around on my Badass the whole time! And I have a long list of things I want to do: hike, learn to surf, learn to sail, explore great cities on foot, the bucket list goes on and on....
Coming tomorrow: Badass Boot Camp plays hard at track and field!
