Sometimes, you really want to get away and go crazy and shake off every last, stifling bit of the office drone you pretend to be for 40 hours of every long, long week. You want to scream and dance, make out with strangers, drink fruity drinks with more sugar in them than a pint of Ben & Jerry’s and go wild with exploration. Yes, sometimes this is what we all need. And I can assure you that you will find no shortage of resources to point you in the right direction, you little hedonist.
However, if your cup of tea happens to be no more thrilling than, say, an actual cup of tea, then you might not want to spend your coveted vacation time on the Vegas strip.
Truth be told, finding a place for an easy-does-it trip is as simple as looking for the right ingredients: lack of party people, abundance of beautiful natural features, delicious food, comfy accommodations…you don’t need much else. If you’re like me, you might also want to learn something, soak up a little culture. Lucky for you tranquil trippers, there are tons of peaceful getaway spots all over the world. I’ve narrowed it down to 5, to get you started:
Canon Beach, Oregon Coast
I’m going to have to say that the Pacific Northwest is, generally speaking, the all-around chillest place in the States. Specifically, Canon Beach is a hit if you’re looking to sneak away for a little lovefest or a solo spirit quest (I just like saying “spirit quest”. I’m not sure what I mean by it. My “spirit quests” usually involve exploring the bottom of a bottle of whiskey but hey, to each his own.) Miles of undisturbed beachy greatness, antique shops, art galleries, cafés and all of those great little things that you hardly have to wake/sober up to enjoy.
Cumberland Island, Georgia
I once biked for an hour on this little tag of land and didn’t see another person. I know they were there, I just didn’t see them. And that’s pretty lovely if you’re looking to steal a little peace and quiet on your vay-cay. Oh, oh! And there are turtles! Tons of turtles. It’s amazing. Okay, seriously, this Southernmost of Georgia’s barrier islands is warm, sparsely populated in the off season, and exceptionally relaxing.
Rock House Hotel, Negril, Jamaica
Perhaps it’s the ridiculously turquoise water (and other similarly insanely lush natural surroundings) or maybe the locals’ notoriety for indulging in a vast array of herbal delights, but Jamaica is one of those places that’s known for being laid-back. The problem is, when you get there, it’s often anything but. That place can be raging with party vibes and people galore if you go at certain times and to certain places. There are, however, other places where the serenity lives. The Rock House Hotel in Negril is one. Cliff-side, ocean-perched, sunset-situated, rock bungalows. Need I say more? How about that it’s relatively cheap, too?
Mallorca
So, if you can’t get your happy on in a place that gets 300 days of unbridled sunshine per year, some of the most beautiful beaches in the Mediterranean, amazing monasteries, 700 year old cathedrals, general Spanish historical wonder, and a world-class museum with paintings by Picasso and Dali…well, I have nothing more to say to you. If you can’t relax on this island, I’m pretty sure you can’t relax anywhere.
Mission Beach, California
I know everyone has their own personal favorite slice of California, so maybe you think you know of an even better beach town for unwinding and whatnot. But I pick Mission Beach. Why? Because this little south-of-San-Diego surfing town is always spot on with the easy livin’ every time I visit. It’s completely un-pretentious, has delicious eats, cozy packed-together beach bungalows, and no shortage of sexy surfer guys and gals who would probably trade a few beers for an afternoon of surf lessons and flirting.
By Chloe