Part of you wants to check another experience off your bucket list this year. But most of you just wants to unwind and relax.
Hey, it’s okay to embrace the “Joy of Missing Out!” And when it comes to traveling, there’s even a term for it: The calmcation.
What’s a calmcation, you ask? It’s the kind of vacation where you get away from it all and relax. Where you book a comforting place to stay in a unique destination and devote time to leisurely wandering instead of earmarking every minute for one to-do or another. Just imagine a peaceful meal where you linger a while at the table. Or an afternoon on the beach, sitting in quietude as gentle waves ripple over your toes.
A calmcation emphasizes mindfulness and well-being through experiences that refresh your body and soul. It has a lot in common with other popular vacation trends that you might hear about including “slow travel” or “quiet travel.” In each case, there’s a desire to pause from the rat race and explore the natural world. To let your food sit awhile before rushing off to the next stop on your itinerary. To escape the noise of the day to day and replace it with the soothing chorus of the quiet life.
There can even be health and wellness benefits of a Mackinac Island calmcation such as stress relief, better sleep and lower blood pressure. And when you do return to your daily routine, the rejuvenation that comes from a calmcation can boost your mood and energy level so you’re ready to get back at it.
If that all sounds like what you’re after for your next trip, then check out car-free, carefree Mackinac Island. The USA’s Best Summer Travel Destination is the perfect place to kick back and appreciate life’s simple pleasures at a clip-clop pace.
Here are just a few of the quiet places to encounter on your Mackinac Island calmcation:
Serene Mackinac Island Beaches
You won’t find crowded shores full of lounge chairs and umbrellas on the beaches of Mackinac Island. Instead, you might see someone wading through the water, a dog romping through the surf or maybe a family happily skipping stones out toward the horizon.
Explore the beaches of Mackinac Island
Peaceful Mackinac Island Picnic Spots
Even if the diverse restaurant scene on Mackinac Island or al fresco dining on the water sounds relaxing, the scenery on Mackinac Island is so gorgeous that picnicking in a picturesque place can be an even more calming experience to have during your visit. Just order take-out or grab something to-go from Doud’s Market and find your favorite spot to spread a blanket and nibble the day away.
Best places for a picnic on Mackinac Island
Relaxing Mackinac Island Porches
Grand Hotel is renowned for having the world’s longest front porch, adorned with rocking chairs and blooming geraniums. It’s a delight to visit the porch even if you’re not staying there. Many other places to stay also have brilliant porches that welcome you to sit and listen to the clippety-clop of passing carriages.
The scenic porches of Mackinac Island
Welcoming Mackinac Island Lawns
Bocce ball and croquet aren’t quite as popular as they were at the dawn of Mackinac Island tourism, during the Victorian era. But guess what? You can still enjoy a leisurely afternoon of lawn games on the grass at Grand Hotel or Mission Point Resort. Flying a kite, kicking a ball and playing catch are other calming ways to enjoy the vast expanse of green out under the blue skies.
Mackinac Island’s Restful Swimming Pools and Hot Tubs
In addition to beaches where you can enjoy a solitary stroll along the waterfront, Mackinac Island is home to several hotels and resorts with swimming pools and hot tubs. Come find a lounge chair and sunbathe to your heart’s content.
Swimming pools on Mackinac Island
Scenic Sights in Mackinac Island State Park
One of the hallmarks of a calmcation is phone-free time connecting with nature. With the state park occupying more than 80% of Mackinac Island, there is ample space for relaxing outdoor recreation such as birdwatching, geocaching or horseback riding along the park’s 70-miles of trails.
Outdoor recreation on Mackinac Island
Calming Horse-Drawn Carriages Of Mackinac Island
The most popular visitor attraction on Mackinac Island also is one of the calmest. Just sit back and soak in the sights of a horse-drawn carriage tour as your driver narrates fascinating tidbits about the history and culture of car-free Mackinac Island.
7 sights to see on a public horse-drawn carriage tour of Mackinac Island
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