8 Great Places to Refresh Your Body, Mind and Spirit
by Phillip Townsend
There are few experiences that restore balance better than being close to nature. Peace and quiet. Majestic mountains. Oceans, lakes, rivers and streams. No crowds. Low crime. Life's simple pleasures.
Here are eight destinations to recharge, renew or reinvent yourself.
1. PORT TOWNSEND, WA
Resembling a town frozen in time, Port Townsend is a historic Victorian seaport sandwiched between the Cascade Mountains to the east, the Olympics to the west, and the Olympic National Forest to the South. Outdoor opportunities abound: fishing in the Strait of Juan de Fuca, cross-country skiing at Hurricane Ridge, sailing through the San Juan Islands, and hiking at Fort Worden State Park, home of a vibrant arts community. The quaint town of 8,700 has attracted writers, artists, holistic health practitioners and urban refugees from throughout the Pacific Northwest and beyond. All this and less than half the rainfall of Seattle. What are you waiting for?
For more information, go to www.ptguide.com or
www.ptchamber.org
2. ASHEVILLE, NC
The college town of Asheville is located where the stately Blue Ridge and Great Smoky Mountains meet. Best known for Biltmore Estate, the largest home in the United States, its lively cultural scene, short winters, and top-notch health care have attracted migrants from around the country. Known as a culturally rich city (bookstores, museums, galleries, coffeehouses), the town is also a New Age Mecca, filled with spirituality seekers, natural food markets, and alternative healers. And civic activism is strong; you'll find impassioned groups working to protect the environment. The Blue Ridge Parkway is accessible from the outskirts of town, offering a quick escape to fishing, mountain hiking, whitewater rafting and some of the best camping anywhere.
For more information, visit www.exploreasheville.com or
www.asheville.com
3. FAYETTEVILLE, AR
Tucked into the foothills of the Ozarks, Fayetteville is home to the University of Arkansas and Wal-Mart headquarters. Its bright fall foliage, close proximity to clear mountain lakes, and one of the lowest costs of living in the nation has long attracted big city transplants. The town is no longer synonymous with rural poverty. Instead, it is thriving. Dickson Street near the university is a lively strip of eateries and music venues. City Square is home to the popular farmer's market, which is open April through November. Downtown buildings have been restored to their original 19th century splendor. And thanks to a strong economy, new restaurants and shops are opening.
For more information, consult www.ipa.net/~jamesmcinis/
4. MACKINAC ISLAND, MI
Located at the juncture of Michigan's Lower and Upper Peninsulas, this small island is home to 500 full-time residents and no cars (they're banned). Local transport includes walking, bicycling, and horse and buggy (really!). Mackinac Island has had a turbulent history since its early beginnings as an Anishinaabe-Ojibwe Indian settlement: French fur trapper and Jesuit missionary outpost, British fortress during the Revolutionary War and War of 1812, Civil War prison, and Victorian summer resort. Today, visitors enjoy preserved beaches, a downtown area boardwalk, fudge shops, bicycles for rent, and a grand hotel of America's Gilded Age.
For more information, see www.mackinac.com or
www.mackinacisland.org
5. GULF COAST, FL
Bradenton and Anna Maria Island, charming beach towns on Florida's Gulf Coast, are a throwback to a time when Florida beaches weren't packed with condos and high rise hotels. Downtown Brandenton has antique shops, a waterfront district, and the Village of the Arts, a unique community of renovated bungalows where artists live and work. Anna Maria Island is a tropical setting where pastel-colored cottages and inns dot stretches of white sand beaches where seabirds outnumber people. The pace? Slow. 25 mph is the fastest speed limit posted on the island. This area that is untouched by the tourism craze of today's Florida (no fast food or hotel chains).
For more information, check www.flagulfislands.com
6. NOVA SCOTIA, CANADA
If you're on a budget, enjoy the ocean, don't mind a little snow, love seafood, and have a 19th-century mindset, then Canada's smallest province, is for you. A lobster-shaped stretch of land, Nova Scotia is almost completely surrounded by water in the North Atlantic. The province is characterized by its 3,600 miles of picturesque coastline, beautiful countryside, and New England style charm, not to mention opportunities for every outdoor activity imaginable. It hasn't changed much since Alexander Graham Bell spent his summers here (1885-1922). Most residents can trace their roots back to Scottish, Celtic and French settlers, but the natural beauty and low cost of living is attracting American expatriates. If the natural beauty and laid-back lifestyle doesn't bring you, the prices will: a seafood platter for $7 or an
ocean view cottage on few acres of land for $50,000.
For more information, try www.novascotia.com and
www.thesourcemagazine.net
7. QUEBEC, CANADA
When Montreal's residents need a break from urban life, they travel an hour north of the city to the Laurentian Mountains. This lake-sprinkled playground is popular for summer and winter outdoor pursuits of every persuasion. Saint Sauveur des Monts, the first stop-off on the way north, is a small and pleasant resort town perfect for lazing, while the Mt. Tremblant area is a busy tourist center. To truly get away from it all, join the handful of Montreal intellectuals in the fisherman's outpost of Natashquan on the shore of Quebec's Gulf of St. Lawrence. Islands are only accessible by ferry or small plane. For true isolation, visit Harrington Harbour. You'll love Quebec, even if you don't speak French, Oui?
For more information, visit www.laurentides.com and
www.beauxvillages.qc.ca/anglais/villages_a/harrington_a.html
8. BOQUETE, PANAMA
Located near the Costa Rican border, this lively Cental American town has a sizeable retiree community (Americans and Europeans). Boquette has everything you want from a tropical paradise: near-perfect weather, sandy beaches, emerald green mountains, clean air, and affordable prices. This lively small town has a sizeable expatriate community (Americans and Europeans). The fertile valley landscape features orange groves, coffee plantations and fields of wildflowers. The great outdoors boasts opportunities for swimming, fishing, surfing, snorkeling and kayaking.
For more information, go to www.panamainfo.com/en/article/destinations/7/
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Phillip Townsend, a 25-year practitioner of the Chinese health, healing and martial arts, is editor of The Global Life, an international living, retirement and travel newsletter. For a free copy, visit
www.thegloballife.net.
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