5 Travel Destinations for Self-Care Seekers

On May 5, 2022May 5, 2022 By Isobar ExpeditionsIn Travel TipsLeave a comment

Today we are featuring a guest post from Healthy Fit who offer workout routines and fitness advise that can be used in your everyday life or when you are traveling.

The meaning of self-care varies slightly depending on who you ask, but for those of us who love to travel, there’s no better way to reset the mind and body than by exploring somewhere new. When we stimulate our senses with new sights, sounds, and smells, we nurture ourselves emotionally, physically, mentally, socially, and spiritually — which in turn reduces stress and anxiety and makes us healthier and happier overall.

Below are five travel destinations for every type of self-care seeker. Whether you’re looking to relax on a sandy beach, hike a mountain, or observe wildlife, there are so many self-care destinations to nourish the mind, body, and soul.

1. Paris

According to the Self-Care Capitals Report from Money.co.uk, Paris is the ultimate travel destination for those of us looking to reset the mind, body, and spirit. The city offers more than 936 spas, 332 museums, and 267 parks! A few notable attractions include the L’Institut du Luxembourg, Studio Rituel, Jardin des Tuileries, and Louvre Museum.

What’s more, Parisians are experts at maintaining a healthy work-life balance. It’s against the law for employers to contact their employees over the weekend, and a 35-hour workweek policy was passed in 2000.

2. London

For those of us who prioritize physical health and wellness while vacationing, London is the perfect self-care destination. With more than 103 gyms, fitness centers, and yoga studios located within London’s City Centre, we can spend time caring for our physical, mental, and emotional health between visiting attractions such as the Tower Bridge, British Museum, and Hyde Park. Plus, those of us who identify as plant-based or health-conscious eaters can visit one of the many vegan-friendly restaurants in England’s capital city.

3. Ubud

If you’ve read or watched Eat, Pray, Love, you — like many others — may have already fallen in love with the town of Ubud in Bali, Indonesia. You can observe the monkeys at the Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary as you make your way toward the Pura Dalem Agung temple, take a stroll along the Campuhan Ridge Walk, or treat your body and mind to a relaxing Balinese massage. Between nature, spirituality, and holistic body treatments, can you think of a better self-care destination?

4. Venice

For those of us who use art as a form of self-care, there’s no better travel destination than Venice, Italy. From the Palazzo Ducale and Museo Storico Navale to the Gallerie Dell’Accademia, there’s no shortage of galleries and museums in this northeast Italian city. Self-care seekers can also tour the city by kayak, climb aboard a peaceful gondola ride, or tap into their spiritual side at one of the more than 100 Venetian churches.

5. Yellowstone National Park

Located in parts of Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho (USA), Yellowstone National Park is the ultimate self-care destination for those experiencing digital burnout. Cell phone coverage is limited throughout the park, making it an ideal location for a digital detox. Travelers can also enjoy self-guided tours throughout the park, observe grizzly bears, bison, and moose in their natural habitats, and enjoy outdoor activities like hiking, biking, fishing, rafting, and camping.

In Conclusion

While everyone could use a bit more self-care in their daily lives, you don’t always have to travel to a new city, state, or country in order to care for your mind, body, and spirit. If traveling somewhere new isn’t in the cards, try camping in your backyard, planning a self-care staycation, or spending the day at a spa. The important thing is that you’re exposing yourself to new experiences while keeping your individual self-care needs in mind.

Top of the World in Baltimore, Maryland

On May 3, 2022May 3, 2022 By Isobar ExpeditionsIn Maryland4 Comments

As we continue to get acquainted with our new location and finish the process of moving in, we decided to take some time this weekend to be tourists in our new city. One of the things that we did was to go to the observation deck of the World Trade Center near Inner Harbor that is called “The Top of the World”. This is the type of thing that we would do anytime that we visited a city, regardless of where we are in the world, as these observation decks provide amazing views. In addition to the views, the deck also provides quite a bit of history regarding the city and information on many of the famous citizens that have lived there.

Looking Out Towards Our Neighborhood Off in the Distance

Like many cities located on the eastern coast of the United States, Baltimore has a rich history that goes back hundreds of years to the birth of the nation. Clearly it has evolved over time into the modern city that it is today. Inner Harbor is just a short distance from the city center of Baltimore, so the views from the observation deck include both views of the harbor as well of the city center. One of the things that we found interesting was that we could see the landmark of the local brewery in Baltimore, National Bohemian (Natty Boh), which is located near our new location, so we could almost see our new home from the deck.

There are many recognizable landmarks that can be seen from the deck, including the baseball stadium where the Baltimore Orioles play named Camden Yards. In addition to the navy and commercial ships that can be seen in the harbor, there are also several ships that are part of the living classrooms in Baltimore that people can tour that can be seen from the deck. It was definitely an enjoyable way to spend some time getting acquainted to Baltimore. It was also a clear and sunny day, which made the views even better.

One of the Many Plaques in the Observation Deck

Top Things to Do When Visiting the Diverse Country of Ecuador

On April 28, 2022April 28, 2022 By Isobar ExpeditionsIn South America4 Comments

Ecuador is such a wonderful country in South America with so many different places to see and explore. It is a country made up of three distinct ecosystems from the coast, the peaks of the Andes Mountains, and the dense Amazon Rainforest. Quito, the capital of Ecuador, is centrally located, making it the perfect location to start any adventure. Ideally, any visit to Ecuador would last for at least two weeks, but if you don’t have that much time, you’re going to have make some difficult decisions. During our trip, we made sure to make the most of our time there, but we had to decide whether we wanted to go to the Galapagos Islands or spend time in the Amazon Rainforest as we didn’t have time to do both. For an ideal trip to Ecuador, here are the top places to see during your time there.

Inside San Francisco Church and Monastery

Quito – The city of Quito has a wonderful, old-world feel that will almost make you feel as if you are in Europe. There is the Basilica del Voto Nacional, San Francisco Church and Monastery, and an old town area that is very walkable. Even if you are heading the coast or the rainforest to see the wildlife, you should certainly allocate several days to spend in Quito.

View from the Top of the Lodge Deck in Ecuador

Napo Wildlife Center – For an experience in the Amazon Rainforest that you will never forget, staying at the eco-lodges of the Napo Wildlife Center cannot be beat. From giant river otters, hundreds of birds, monkeys, sloths, caiman, and more, there is so much to see during time in the jungle. Also, visiting an indigenous village as well as seeing hundreds of parrots at the parrot clay licks is extremely impressive. You will need to spend at least four to five days in order to really make the most of your time in the Amazon.

The Equator – Going to the middle of the earth is a fascinating experience and the Intiñan Museum at the true equator has a variety of interesting science experiments. It is fun for adults and children alike. There is also a very interesting museum, La Mitad del Mundo, that is at the location previously thought to be the equator and it can be seen during the same trip to the real equator.

View of the Quilotoa Caldera and Lagoon in Ecuador

Laguna Quilotoa – Visiting this lake in the crater of a dormant volcano is one of the most spectacular sights within Ecuador. It is certainly worth taking the time to hike down to the lake itself or you can ride a donkey down and back up if you want as it is quite steep. You can also kayak out onto the sulfur lake, but you can’t go swimming.

Amazing Peaks as We Hiked Above the Teleferico

The Teleferico – Located on the outskirts of Quito, the Teleferico is a cable car that will take you up the side of the Pichincha Volcano with amazing views of the city. There also several hiking trails after the cable car drops you off at the viewing station. It is at a very high elevation, so it is wise to pace yourself if you do decide to go hiking. It is certainly worth the effort as the views are absolutely amazing.

Walking the Nature Trails Below the Volcano

Cotopaxi Volcano – Hiking on an active volcano may not be on everyone’s bucket list, but is certainly a very interesting experience. At this time, you can only climb to the mid-station on the side of the volcano due to the fact that it is an active volcano and the risk for an eruption remains high. There is also a park with nature trails located at the base of the volcano that is certainly worth taking the time to hike as well.

Sea Lion – Provided by Happy Gringo Tours

Hammerhead Sharks – Provided by Happy Gringo Tours

The Galapagos Islands – Unfortunately we had to choose between spending time in the Amazon or going to the Galapagos Islands, so we’ll have to return at a later time to see the amazing wildlife that is there. The tour company that we used provided us an interesting article on the animals of the Galapagos that certainly has us wanting to return.

When we first decided to go to Ecuador, we were surprised at how little we actually had seen or read about this fascinating country. There is certainly an abundance of things to see in Ecuador and we used Quito as our home base for our time there. From an abundance of wildlife and dramatic scenery to the historic city of Quito, Ecuador definitely has something for everyone and is a gem of South America.