Vacation is usually a time of solitude, relaxation, and indulgence. When you hear the word, you probably conjure images of serene aqua waves lapping against a white sandy beach, round after round of cold, fruity cocktails dressed with mini umbrellas, and stuffing yourself with the local specialty cuisine.


What usually precludes these tropical getaways is a two week binge of diet and fitness to look our very best for the occasion. We spend hours in the gym and restrict our calorie intake to meet our vacation-body goals, but when we arrive to our destination the healthy lifestyle usually flies right out of the window! Is there a way to keep our fitness momentum going, or to at least prevent backsliding? Yes- there are many effortless ways to exercise on vacation, and none of them require your hotel gym.

Carry a Backpack

If you’re really adventurous, try to forgo a suitcase all together and bring all your vacation needs in a backpack. If that is simply not realistic, transfer all of your travel and tourism essentials into a backpack that you can carry as you tour your destination. Tote bags and purses are terrible for your posture and can be cumbersome, sometimes zapping your adventurous spirit. A properly fitting backpack, however, adds a little weight to give your legs a better workout and frees up your hands. Don’t be afraid to squat down for a better look at something, or do some toe raises while you’re standing in line.

Explore on Your Feet, Not in a Cab

With your travel backpack ready, you are a mobile vacation party! Be sure to pack some practical shoes that will allow you to walk in comfort all day, and get out to see the sights. Sitting for prolonged periods throughout the day is linked to a number of health concerns, so walking instead of riding gives you a leg up on health and fitness. You’ll be surprised at how much more culture you can experience in a place while adventuring on foot, rather than traveling place to place via taxi. You might be staying at a Luxury Hotel in Downtown Dallas, or anywhere else, with or without cab services available. Regardless of that, you should try to avoid transportation if the places you want to see fall within walking distance at least. The slower pace of motion while walking will allow you to stumble upon excitement that you might otherwise miss, all the while burning lots of extra calories.

Try a New Watersport

Beach vacations offer lots of opportunities to be physically active, so take advantage of the crystal-clear water by booking yourself in for one of these surf lessons near me, or even try your hand at paddle boarding, kayaking, or snorkeling. Surfing is a terrific cardiovascular workout, and like paddle boarding, engages the stabilizing and balancing muscles of the legs and core. Kayaking tones the shoulders and arms, as well as abs, and snorkeling works you from head to toe.

Dance and Let Loose!

Chances are, wherever you visit will have a vibrant night life. If you hear live music and have the chance to dance- go for it! Dancing burns almost 500 calories per hour, which is enough to burn off the two or three cocktails you might enjoy while you shake it.

Indulge in the Unique Local Fruits & Veggies

There’s nothing wrong with sampling the local fare of sweet and salty treats-after all, you are on vacation! A good strategy to keep yourself balanced, though, is to seek out the fruits and vegetables that are indigenous to the area you’re visiting. Filling up on these natural delights will make you less likely to overindulge in high calorie delicacies.

If you find that these steps are not quite enough to fulfill your exercise desires, you have other options yet! Consider planning a hike, running on the beach each morning, or taking a yoga class from the resort spa. There are plenty of ways to have fun and stay active on your vacation!