And hey, maybe this vacation, we won\u2019t come back with the usual extra pounds\u2026<\/p>\n
![\"Chimpanzee](\"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Chimpanzee-in-Mahale-National-Park-Tanzania-650.jpg\")
<\/a>Chimpanzee in Mahale National Park, Tanzania. Photo: Tanzania Specialists at Audley Travel<\/p><\/div>\n
Shh, Don\u2019t Disturb the Wild Chimpanzees<\/h3>\n
For those of you looking to get closer to nature, Tanzania offers a chance to see wildlife. If you sail or fly to the Mahale Mountains National Park\u2014that\u2019s right, there are no roads within this national park and the only way to get there is by boat or aircraft\u2014you may observe chimpanzees.<\/p>\n
The Mahale Mountains National Park provides one of the best opportunities in the world to see wild chimps at a close range. Researchers have been studying these chimps for more than 40 years, but nevertheless, visitors must stay quiet, wear a mask to avoid transmitting diseases, and stay at least 10 meters away from the chimps. Mahale Mountains National Park is also one of the only places where chimps and lions coexist, not to mention the elephants, giraffes, buffalo, and fish that you might also find. Check out the chimps at\u00a0Audley Travel<\/a>.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re looking for even more adventures in the Mahale Mountains National Park, hike up the highest point, Nkungwe (8,069 feet), which is sacred to the local Tongwe people. You can also snorkel, fish, and see the sunset on Lake Tanganyika. While you\u2019re spotting the gorillas, hiking, and fishing, you\u2019ll have forgotten all about how many steps you\u2019ve gotten in for the day.<\/p>\n Photo: Courtesy of Rainbow Ryders<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n If trekking through the wilderness to spot chimps isn\u2019t quite the relaxing trip you had in mind, maybe a calm hot air balloon ride through the sky will do the trick. As the hot air balloon capital of the world, Albuquerque, New Mexico, offers rides on a daily basis. With cloudless skies and moderate weather, Albuquerque is the ideal place for floating through the sky. And you’ll be able to find the perfect experience because companies like Rainbow Ryders<\/a> offer private sunset, sunrise, and champagne rides. You can even drift through the night sky. If you happen to visit in October, be sure to go to the International Balloon Fiesta<\/a>, which is the largest hot air balloon festival in the world and features nearly 600 balloons.<\/p>\n As you glide over Albuquerque, you\u2019ll get a bird\u2019s eye view of the Rio Grande Valley, Bosque, Sandia Mountains, and maybe even the Petroglyph National Monument. You might even spy jack rabbits, hawks, roadrunners, and coyotes. These serene skies will surely clear your mind and let you focus on the nature around you.<\/p>\n Morocco. Photo: Federico Gutierrez<\/p><\/div>\n Fancy the nomadic lifestyle rather than wandering through the sky? Travel to Ouarzazate, Morocco, and journey through the Sahara Desert, which is to the east of this city, and the Atlas Mountains to the west. Whether you’re riding on a camel, rolling through on a 4×4, or good old-fashioned walking, you’ll be treated to views of sand dunes in all directions. It\u2019s a fantastic opportunity to get away from the everyday hustle of life. It would be quite difficult to think about bills and work in this silent and sandy landscape. You can even camp out under the stars for the night and wake up with the sun. Find more information at MuchMorocco.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n Don’t miss out on seeing the city of Ouarzazate, which is featured in many movies and is also home to film studios. And for good reason: palm trees, sand, and architecture made from stone and brick are the building blocks of this city.<\/p>\n St. Lawrence River. Photo: Courtesy of Quebec Tourism, Marc Loiselle<\/p><\/div>\n Most of us have kayaked, but what about kayaking with whales? You read that right. Take a kayak tour on the Saint Lawrence River in Qu\u00e9bec, Canada, and see humpback, fin, minke, and beluga whales\u2014not to mention harbor porpoises and white-sided dolphins. Qu\u00e9bec is home to 13 species of whales, dolphins, and porpoises and these aquatic mammals swim in the Saint Lawrence River.<\/p>\n Les Bergeronnes is a fantastic place to kayak with whales and also offers camping facilities. Imagine waking up, gazing at the river, and spotting or even hearing whales. Venture to Baie-de-Tadoussac and you might kayak with belugas and minke whales. If kayaking sounds more like a chore than a vacation activity, why not try a whale watching cruise? And if you have a change of heart, you can always kayak because cruise companies may also offer this. Qu\u00e9bec Original <\/a>and Qu\u00e9bec Maritime<\/a> offer useful guidance for planning your visit to Qu\u00e9bec.<\/p>\n For those of you who can\u2019t quite decide on just one animal to observe, another option is to sail through the wetlands of Florida, on an airboat and keep an eye out for alligators, turtles, birds, and large mammals. The airboat, a small, open boat that\u2019s low to the water, will allow you to feel closer to the living creatures, plants, and marshy landscape around you. Airboat rides are to be found throughout Florida such as in Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, Orlando, St. Augustine, Ft. Myers Beach and more.<\/p>\n<\/a>A Sky Tour<\/h3>\n
<\/a>Who Says Beach Vacations Are Lazy?<\/h3>\n
<\/a>Kayaking With Whales<\/h3>\n
Glide Through the Wetlands<\/h3>\n