It is with a tired, weary, and joyful head that I ask you this question: ?Ya ever hiked?? If your answer is, ?Yes?, then you surely have anecdotes of pitfalls or triumphs. If you answered, ?No?, then I must ask a second question: ?Why the heck not?!?
You either love or hate hiking. It's not for everyone. No, wait, it is. If you can walk, you can hike. Even the handicapped hike. Frequently. If you're a timid beginner, there are hiking trails that little kids and the elderly can do. I'm not elderly or a kid, but I am a wimp and out of shape person who loves hiking and frequently have the elderly and kids pass me on trails, and I'd have to say that one of the best hikes for ANYBODY of ANY ability is ?Staircase? in the Olympic Mountains in Washington State, USA. This hiking hot spot is not too far from Shelton, WA, and just a skip and jump from Hoodsport, WA. The drive there is GORGEOUS. I take the undemanding 1.5 mile hike, which is lined with beauty bark, breathtaking in natural beauty, clearly marked, and the sign-in sheet that you sign at the start of the trail daily boasts signatures of hikers from France, Holland, England, Italy, Japan, Connecticut, Toronto, you name it! The cascading waters fall in stairs, thus the name ?Staircase?. The colors of the rapids are the amazing aquamarine/turquoise color you'd see in an ocean shot for a Corona Beer commercial that occurs beachside'So clear and fresh and the same feeling of getting away from it all. Oh, and the white foam of the rock-smoothing white waters, or as I like to call them, ?waves?, from which a light spray invigorates even the most weary of souls. Rock jumping is fabulous here, as is wading and picnicking. The wading waters are abolutely and perfectly clear. The colored stones beneath your feet stimulate your soles. Hikers hike up their pant legs and feel the sharp pain of cold as the water numbs with each caress. On the trail, each hiker you pass on the trail treats you like an acquaintance with a warm smile and, ?Hello?. As you continue, where the hiking crossroads meet, you run into the more daring hikers coming down off the 3-day hikes, who readily share their stories of tranquility and accomplishment as you shake your head in amazement as you listen.
So, as you sit in your cubicle in front of a computer, day after day, making excuses to yourself as to why it's OK to fill your weekends with obligation and duty to run errands for the household ?good?, I ask you to raise one hand into the air-- and slap yourself. ?Snap out of it!? Live a little. Do something for yourself for a change. Stop nursing those stupid, dumb anti-depressants and anti-anxiety pills mixed with diet suppressants and sleep aids, and get off your badonkadonk and get back to nature. I'm not saying to stop taking those pills, I'm saying for you to stop making excuses as to why you can't go take a hike. We had a great expression not too long ago, when someone would irk you and you'd say, ?Go take a hike, buddy.? Well, all of ya'll sittin? around on your keisters, you're irking me if you're not taking advantage of our National Parks. Go take a hike!
Go Take A Bath
Wasn't it pop-star Huey Lewis who sang "All I want is a couple days off!"? Don't we all? Sometimes life seems like an ongoing rat race with getting the kids to soccer practice and the cat to the vet for her shots, plus a hamper that resembles a volcano spewing a never-ending flow of dirty laundry. A couple days off would be a godsend for most of us.
When you don't have time for even a short three- or four-night cruise, a cruise to nowhere can still fit your schedule. Get Aunt Hilda to keep the kids for just two nights while you and your honey jaunt off into the sunset for a glorious quickie getaway that's refreshing and fun!
What's a Cruise to Nowhere?
Never heard of a cruise to nowhere? This is a wonderful little creation that came about years ago. You board a ship and sail off into the open ocean, leaving your cares behind. It may sound like romantic dribble, but for one to two nights, it's true. Ports including New York, NY; Norfolk, VA; Seattle, WA and Los Angeles, CA host cruises to nowhere on lines including Carnival and Norwegian Cruise Line.
Usually lasting no longer than two nights, a cruise to nowhere sails out into the ocean, turns around and comes back to the same port from which it left. If you leave from New York, you'd sail out into the Atlantic Ocean, turn around and return to New York again. What's so exciting about that? It's not the destination? it's the ship!
For example, you can relish in the pampering and attention of spa treatments. Start with an hourlong, full-body massage that gently eliminates away every ounce of stress you've been carrying around since that last meeting at the office. Feel years melt away with delicate facial treatments. From fitness professionals to hairstylists, you'll find everything you need to de-stress.
Las Vegas-style shows, swimming pools, dancing, nightclubs and more are available, so you can kick up your heels. And, of course, there's the food!
Amazing creations from master chefs are put before you from morning to night! Eat in the main dining room and be waited on hand-and-foot or dine at your own schedule in one of the other fabulous restaurants. Every cruise line has something different to offer, so regardless of which ship you choose, you're sure to have an abundance of exceptional food. Want a quick snack? Buffets are open 24 hours a day with everything from scrambled eggs to pizza to ice cream. And, if you insist on being good, you'll even find healthful salads and grilled dishes.
Why Cruise to Nowhere?
When your time is limited, this makes for a great getaway. Available from most major ports, you have the freedom to embark from a city near you. These cruises are usually less crowded than full weekend or weeklong tours, meaning your level of personal attention is even higher than it would normally be. And you simply can't beat the price. Deals become available occasionally that allow you to book an all-inclusive cruise to nowhere for around $150 per person. You couldn't get a decent hotel room for two nights for that price.
When time and money are limited, but you desperately need to break away and recoup, consider a cruise to nowhere. They are fun, affordable and will have you feeling like yourself again in no time flat!
Both Podo & Roy Witman are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
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