What Is Self Care?
Self-care is a concept that encompasses activities that we do deliberately in order to take care of our mental, emotional, and physical health. Self-care can include a wide range of activities.
While self-care and cruising may seem like two unrelated topics, they can actually be quite complementary. Cruising can provide an opportunity to engage in self-care activities, such as relaxing on the beach, getting a massage, or trying new foods. Additionally, the social aspect of cruising can be beneficial for mental and emotional health, as it allows people to connect with others and make new friends.
Overall, self-care and cruising can be a great way to improve your overall health and well-being.
4 North American Self-Care Cities to Visit on Your Next Cruise Trip
Cruise trips give you access to some must-visit destinations along the coast of America, a few of which are famous for being especially good for self-care (your health and well-being). These places have a variety of self-care amenities or are good for your health in a number of other ways. You can usually hit these places up if your cruise ship docks in port or if you choose to start or end your cruise there, getting some extra R&R is a good way of improving your health.
Below, offers up 4 North American destinations you should consider on your next cruise for exploring self-care:
San Francisco, California – For trendy self-care
You don’t usually associate a bustling business hub with self-care. But San Francisco is surprisingly good for your well-being (especially when you don’t work there)! Self-care is very big here, as SFGATE can confirm, with trends like cryotherapy and “soul salons” popping up a mile a minute. You’ll find a variety of unique self-care activities to enjoy all around town.
Depending on what you enjoy, you can find solo self-care spots, beauty treatments, wellness centers, and places for pampering. Some unique self-care activities you can access in San Francisco are journaling at the cozy Mill cafe, getting an all-natural beauty treatment at Ayla, taking a hike at Crissy Field with the Golden Gate Bridge in the background, and eating sushi at Chisai Sushi Club.
Bar Harbor, Maine – Awesome natural parks
Bar Harbor is a peaceful, charming small town in Maine. Being a popular port of call, you’ll find many things to do and places to visit in and around Bar Harbor. Arguably, the best part about Bar Harbor is the Acadia National Park nearby, which is home to Cadillac Mountain. Acadia National Park is full of nature, which is very healing and relaxing. Climbing Cadillac Mountain is good exercise, and offers breathtaking views.
Two other self-care activities to enjoy in Bar Harbor are whale watching out on the Atlantic Ocean and taking a stroll in Northeast Harbor Village. Last, but not least, you can always spend a day down at one of the local beaches, getting a tan or just taking a dip in the ocean. Beaches are naturally relaxing and therapeutic, as NBC can confirm.
New Orleans, Louisiana – The Sacred Music Festival
If you love music, New Orleans is the place to visit. Music has proven health benefits – it busts stress, makes you more positive, soothes frayed nerves, and more. New Orleans is known around the world for its unique, soulful music. You’ll find a variety of music-themed or music-centered attractions in this city that can be incredibly healing.
If you visit at the right time, you may be able to participate in the Sacred Music Festival. This event is famous for its group healing activities and attracts people from all over the world. Besides music and festivals, New Orleans also offers other types of self-care – nature, spas, beauty treatments, exercise routines, and more.
Orlando, Florida (Port Canaveral)– Theme park fun like Disney World
Cruise ships frequently dock at Port Canaveral, which gives you access to Orlando, Florida. Orlando is best known for its theme parks and family-friendly attractions such as Disney World and Universal Studios. Visiting a theme park is an effective self-care activity: it’s very relaxing, busts stress, helps you bond with your loved ones and gives you a workout too (when you walk around the park).
To make the most out of a visit to a theme park like Disney World, you should consult online resources with helpful guides that can help you plan your day. The right resource will help you find the best attractions and show you how to enjoy Disney World without breaking the bank. Click here.
Did you fall in love with a self-care destination? Purchasing a vacation home
If you end up falling in love with Orlando or any other city and can see yourself coming back several times, you might do well to purchase a vacation home there. Vacation homes are guaranteed accommodations and can help you experience the most the destination has to offer. They can also be a good investment (rental money and tax breaks).
If you want to purchase a vacation home, you’ll have to make a substantial down payment of 20 percent or more. If you can’t afford to put that much down, you may be able to take out a second mortgage on your existing home or use a home equity loan.
Conclusion
Self-care reset trips will help you relax, get more in touch with your inner self, and improve your overall health. Cruise trips are naturally good for self-care, but you can get an extra bang for your buck if you also make it a point to visit self-care destinations along the way.
The Intentional Travelers 