It can be quite a challenge to keep fit when traveling or on holiday. Today’s blog will help you make that challenge easier with our recommendations and links for shopping suggestions. When you buy through links on our site we both win – you get a great product and we may earn an affiliate commission. This keeps it 100% reader-supported and free of advertisements or sponsorships. Thanks for your support!
So how can you make sure your health and fitness don’t take a hike while your are traveling or on vacation?
Fitness at Sea Ranch Is Easy
Make sure your travels include a layover at Abalone Bay, our Sonoma County oceanfront vacation rental in Sea Ranch, California!
Why Even Work Out on Vacation?
Some people view vacation as an opportunity to completely escape their daily life, including their exercise regime. Others, on the other hand like to maintain the routines of the exercise regimen. The Trick to having an enjoyable time on vacation is to find the balance between routine and relaxation that keeps you happy.
What Are the Benefits of Working Out on Vacation?
For some being on vacation means unplugging yourself completely from the daily routine. However, you may find you miss it after awhile. Some of the benefits for exercising while on vacation include:
- Staying active helps combat the sluggishness that accompanies prolonged periods of relaxation.
- Improving your brain health while serving as a stress reliever and becoming less anxious, especially if you tend to experience travel-related anxieties.
- Maintaining physical activity energizes you throughout your vacation, allowing you to make the most of your new experiences.
- Improving your mood by stimulating brain chemicals may leave you feeling happier.
- Putting an extra spark in your sex life with improved energy levels, increased confidence about your physical appearance, and added help in getting aroused and maintaining it.
- Being physically active and exercising can simply be fun! Whether you do it with friends or family or while meeting new people and trying new experiences.
How to Keep Your Fitness Plan While on Vacation
To help keep your fitness plan at Sea Ranch Abalone Bay or other stops along the road we offer up a dozen easy hints!
1. Plan Ahead and Pack for Success
Pre-planning and packing wisely will help you successfully stay on your exercise and health regime. Before you go we recommend you review what is already available for your use at a vacation spot then decide if you prefer your equipment over the accommodations.
For instance while staying at Sea Ranch Abalone Bay, you’ll find the following:
- yoga mat
- pickleball rackets and balls
- ping pong paddles and balls to enjoy our Joola Ping Pong Table
- walking sticks
- Connect-4 Game
- Basketball
- Swimming kickboards (in orange bag)
If you can leave it at home it will certainly make travel lighter and easier. But if it will throw you off your game or just not be the same, go ahead and pack it. And don’t forget to pack your resolve to keep up with your fitness program!
We recommend you…
- Pack a few lightweight exercise essentials before you leave home on your travels: a jump rope, resistance bands, swimsuit, a work out video, your laptop or iPad.
- Travel in your work out clothes and your sneakers to avoid the bulk taking up space in your suitcase.
- Pack your golf shoes and a few golf clubs for a round of golf at The Sea Ranch Golf Links.
- Pack your dive equipment for snorkeling or rent equipment
- Visit our activities page before you leave for other ideas.
- Don’t forget your exercise routine and your resolve to stick to it while on the road.
2. Take a Hike
You can certainly keep to your fitness plan by enjoying a walk or run along the oceanfront bluff trails that run in front of Abalone Bay. As you take to the bluff trail or any of the other 40 miles of trails within Sea Ranch, don’t be surprised by the deer, wild turkeys or the barking of the harbor seals cheering you on.
- TSRA’s Trails and Maps
- Interpretive trails with brochures describing historic and natural feature the San Andreas Fault Interpretive Trail, the Monarch Glen Interpretive Trail, Reading Our Seascape, and the Sag Pond Story Interpretive Guide
3. Go for a Swim
Of course a traveler or vacationer at The Sea Ranch can work out in any of the 3 recreational centers, with their pools, tennis courts, pickleball courts, and basketball courts. Our kickboards will give you the edge over others splashing about in the pool
4. Fish or Dive for Fun or Dinner
The underwater world at The Sea Ranch is beautiful but requires a wetsuit to enjoy it. If you don’t have space in your bags to carry yours you can always rent one. Abalone Bay is diver friendly with its fish cleaning station and wetsuit rack.
While diving for abalone is no longer legal, you’ll find spear fishing is a marvelous way to not only get exercise but to eat healthy afterwards. Just make sure you avoid the marine preserves!
Of course leaving the spears at home and bringing a camera is another wonderful way to enjoy the ocean too.
Check out our Diving and Fishing page for more information about enjoying the sport in Sea Ranch and beyond.
5. Take a Tour
Sea Ranch offers a full range of self-guided hiking or walking tours along The Sea Ranch.
Or perhaps you may like to explore our local wineries with a wine tour! If you are looking for a short jaunt try Annapolis Winery only 8 miles away, heading east from Highway 1.
6. Ride a Bike
Don’t forget to pack your personal bike for a wonderful ride through out Sea Ranch. When you do we recommend you use sturdy and safe bike rack for carrying your bikes. For trail maps see our earlier blog post, Peddling back in time . Learn more about biking in Sea Ranch here.
7. Stick to Your Routine
Do your yoga floor routines outside on our recently expanded deck. We provide two mats for your use.
And when the weather is a bit too foggy, wet, and chilly you may prefer a work out in the comfort of the living room…
Or in the privacy of our game room.
Did you forget your video? No worries, we have some you may try out. Or follow along with any of the exercise programs shown on DirecTV’s programing or on streaming apps.
Do you have a favorite routine on your laptop or iPad? Connect to our free WiFi.
8. Visit the Gym
If you find you are experiencing gym withdrawals, then plan a visit to Physical Gym & Fitness Center in Gualala. Physical Gym offers $20 a day single passes and discounted multi-visits for the vacationer. If you don’t use them all up you can return and continue where you left off.
9. Bring your Exercise Buddy
Traveling with friends or associates makes your workouts, walks or jogging that much more fun. Why not turn a sporting game a bit more interesting by making winner pay for dinner and/or drinks at any of the wonderful restaurants nearby. We enjoy Trinks Cafe, St. Orres, and The Sea Ranch Dining Room.
No two-legged friends available to join you on your trip? Then bring your four-legged best friend to accompany you on your trekking. Abalone Bay welcomes dogs.
10. Enjoy a Round of Golf or Two
Whether you pack your clubs or rent them, there’s nothing like hitting that pesky white ball across the neatly trimmed coastal meadows of The Sea Ranch Links. The real challenge of the course is to avoid the natural hazards that dot the course, like bopping a deer or two with your ball.
This video offers you a great perspective of what to expect while knocking a few balls about the coastal meadow greens.
11. Stretch and Decompress
For the outdoors yogi, of course you’re an early riser to greet the sun rising over the meadows.
It’s the best way to get in a good yoga stretch while watching the whales pass in front of you.
Later, you connect with the zen and calm of Abalone Bay. You give the day your final salutation with a sip of tea, or glass of wine. Bidding adieu , the sun silently slips beneath the rim of the world and into the ocean. As it does you make sure you stop to watch the green flash as it disappears.
As night falls, you sit in the hot tub, count the stars as they materialize in the night sky above you. Soon you’ll be ready to head off to a very restful good night’s sleep.
12. Don’t Forget to Eat Right, Eat Healthy
Don’t lose control of your diet. To make sure you eat healthy stop by the town of Gualala to pick up some fresh fruit or vegetables at the farmer’s market and prepare your meals them in our kitchen with a view.
Whatever You Do, Don’t let Fitness Take a Vacation!
Above all avoid the “But I’m on vacation” trap! Maintain your balance between fun and fitness… an easy thing to do while staying at Abalone Bay.
I hope you find these ideas helpful. We’d love to read your traveler’s tricks and tips you use to make certain you remain fit. Post them in the comments below.
Be sure to visit our Facebook page as well. We’re always looking for your great ideas on how to enjoy Abalone Bay.
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Very impressed with your overview on this topic! Thanks for your advice!