9 Travel Destinations That Help You Reach Your Health and Fitness Goals

Written by: Pavita Singh 

Do you feel the desire to travel but fear that your health and fitness may suffer as a result? It’s certainly a valid concern. Depending on where you’re going, you might have to spend hours sitting in a plane, a train, or a car. If you’re going to a new place and immersing yourself in an exotic cuisine, you might struggle with portion control, at least initially, depending on how long you’re gone. And of course, traveling can also affect your sleep cycle. However, as we discussed in last week’s blog, traveling is also correlated with numerous health benefits, including stress reduction, better mood, weight loss, and lower risk of heart attack.

While last week we focused specifically on Costa Rica, there are several other destinations around the world where health and fitness are significant aspects of the local culture and are embedded into the lifestyle. If you want your next vacation to include as many fitness and healthy living opportunities as possible, consider planning a trip to one of the following 9 cities.

1. Copenhagen, Denmark: Is your morning or evening commute stuck in the midst of rush-hour traffic the bane of your existence? If so, you’ll probably enjoy a visit to Copenhagen, where you’ll experience a different type of traffic—pedestrian and bicycle traffic. Pedestrian traffic accounts for 80% of all traffic in Copenhagen. Commuting to work and school by foot or bike is the norm here. In Copenhagen, you will find the Dronning Louises Bro bridge, which has the busiest bike lane in the world. The city has more than 300 km of designated bike paths. Tourists are encouraged to bike as well with “free token bikes.” A law was recently passed that requires residents to be able to reach a park or a beach within 15 minutes of walking, so you will find plenty of green space and outdoor recreation in Copenhagen. When it gets cold and icy in the winter, residents and visitors alike will skate around the city.

2. Singapore: Singapore is known to be the cleanest and one of the safest cities in Asia. Known as the Garden City, you will find several parks, gardens, and mountain trails all over. The Park Connector Network is made up of 200 km of pedestrian- and bicycle-friendly paths linking parks and green spaces. Singapore’s mass transit system, SMRT, is comprehensive and carries more than 2 million passengers every day. Sporting events such as marathons and mass cycling rides are also common in Singapore.

3. Tokyo, Japan: Tokyo has one of the best if not the best public transportations in the world, which contributes to a healthy and active lifestyle. Contrary to popular opinion, the city has plenty of open green spaces with beautiful cherry blossoms, and it is common to see people of all ages stretching, exercising, and playing outside. In addition, the Japanese emphasize a well balanced diet, which typically comprises rice, fresh fish, and vegetables.

4. Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN: There are parks for everything in the Twin Cities—biking parks, walking parks, ball parks, and dog parks, just to name a few. There are also several golf courses where adults can enjoy a good game and playgrounds for kids to get active and have fun while doing it. You will find a number of farmer’s markets in the Twin Cities, where you can get unprocessed and fresh produce. People in the Twin Cities love the outdoors, and for this reason, biking is very common. The Twin Cities have one of the lowest levels of air pollution in the US, and have the highest overall rate of physical activity in the US.

5. New York, NY: Almost everybody walks in New York. And if they’re not, they’re probably using the subway, an easy and inexpensive way to get almost anywhere in the city. The city hosts many world-famous walks and marathons in such beautiful locations as Central Park and the Brooklyn Bridge. The city is filled with parks, each with its own personality. You could spend each day you’re in New York in a different park or even different parts of the same park depending on your mood. What’s more, the city has passed various anti-smoking laws and laws restricting the sale of cigarettes, making the air and your lungs happy.

6. Sydney, Australia: With Sydney’s good weather all year round, you can’t help but enjoy spending time outside. There are parks and trails all around the city where you can get some exercise or just enjoy the fresh air. The government is also committed to the planting and maintenance of trees around the city. Bicycling is common in Sydney. After hosting the Summer Olympics in 2000, the city opened up gyms and sports and fitness facilities to the public.

7. Hong Kong: Traveling by foot is common in Hong Kong, which keeps you in shape and reduces air pollution significantly. The island is surrounded by mountains, the ocean, and other islands, all of which are great locations for recreational activities. Because of Hong Kong’s proximity to the ocean, it is easy to get fresh fish and produce right off the ship. In public squares all throughout Hong Kong, you will find people of all ages practicing Tai Chi, which combines physical exercises and stretching with mindfulness to relieve stress and anxiety, increase energy and stamina, enhance flexibility, and reduce blood pressure.

8. Vancouver, Canada: In 2011, Vancouver adopted The Greenest City 2020 Action Plan, which is designed to make it the most environmentally friendly city in the world by 2020. And it’s certainly on the right track. Vancouver is surrounded by stunning mountains, lush forests, and an ocean, and you can breathe in the cool, fresh air. Its surroundings make it a popular location for outdoor recreational activities.

9. Helsinki, Finland: In 2012, Helsinki was chosen as the World Design Capital. The entire city’s design reflects it commitment to green living. It is estimated that there are only 390 cars per 1000 residents. The city is great for walking and biking, and you will find residents doing so even in the bitter cold of the winter. How’s that for commitment?

Have you been to any of these cities? Do you want to go? Do you have others to add to this list? If you’ve answered yes to any of these questions, join Konversai. Konversai is a global knowledge platform that allows for one-on-one live video conversations between anyone, anywhere, about anything. It is the perfect way to get personalized, tailored information on exactly what you’re looking to learn about a given topic, and to get paid to share any and all knowledge, skills, and experiences you have. Konversai was founded on the premise that everyone in the world has valuable knowledge, skills, and experiences to share that can benefit people elsewhere in the world. Users are encouraged to be both providers and seekers of knowledge on any and as many topics as they wish. Join Konversai today and take the first step towards enriching your life and the lives of those around you. What are you waiting for?

Sources:

1. Cities Journal. Check Out These 18 Healthiest Cities in the World.
2. FitCity. (2016). 5 of the World’s Healthiest Cities to Explore.
3. Flint, Sunshine. (2013). Living in: The world’s healthiest cities. BBC.
4. Health Fitness Revolution. (2013). Top 10 Healthiest Cities in the World.
5. PPCorn. Top 8 Healthiest Cities Around the World.
6. Smedley, Tim. (2012). The world’s top five healthiest cities? The Guardian.   

SaveSave