Destinations

If your New Year’s resolution of losing weight or eating healthy needs a pick me up then this is the place to start. When vacationing, we often throw our diets out the window and indulge in the local fare. But, this indulgence does not have to hurt your waistline. Here are a few tips for staying lean while on holiday:

• Use Public Transportation - If you live in the Bay Area like me then you know public transportation leaves a lot to be desired, but many travel destinations have excellent public transportation like New York, London, Spain, etc. Take the bus or subway and walk to burn off extra calories.
• Sample the Local Fare - Instead of ordering a whole meal, opt for smaller, more frequent snacks or light meals. This way, you can sample the cuisine and still fill in with healthy alternatives like fruits and vegetables.
• Choose Cocktails Wisely - A night on the town can lead to a heavy load of calories, but choose your cocktails wisely. Wine and spritzers have the least amount of calories, around 80 per glass, with beer coming in around 150 calories. Heavy mixed drinks can have up to 500 calories in just one glass! A pina colada is a hefty 260 calories and the trendy chocolatini rings in at a whopping 440 calories.
• Drink Plenty of Water - Staying hydrated can help curb cravings and will flush out toxins.
• Stay Active - Use the hotel gym or plan active adventures. Go for a swim, plan a bicycling or walking tour of the city versus a bus tour, or take a yoga class outdoors.

When people think about vacations in Florida all the typical places come to mind: Disney, Universal Studios, etc. But there is a greener side of Florida that one shouldn’t miss when visiting this beautiful state.

I have visited Florida more then 12 times and I believe these wildlife preserves are some of the most captivating the U.S. has to offer. On my most recent trip I visited the Blue Springs State Park. It is located north of Orlando and west of Daytona where I was staying. It took me about a 45 minute drive from Daytona beach to reach Blue Springs Park. From the parking lot there is an immediate path that will take you along the St. John River. I recommend going in late November early December as this is when the coastal waters cool and the manatees migrate to the river. It is an amazing site! We saw about 40-50 manatees all along the river and this is just from the shore!

If you want to see more incredible sites I recommend taking the St. John River Cruises. The staff is extremely knowledgeable and the views are spectacular. I saw all sorts of wildlife from alligators to turtles to a variety of birds. The cruises are 2-3 hours and they leave daily at 10:00 am and 1:00 pm. They also provide snacks and refreshments all throughout the duration of the cruise. If you’re looking for a different experience from the same old amusement park and going for a more local experience, then the wildlife parks are the prefect alternative.

Also if you take pictures on your visit you can submit them to the Park’s annual photo contest (please visit site for details).

First, a bit about the Kahala Resort. It was exceptional! From the moment we arrived we were treated with excellent service. My room opened to a beautiful view of the Hawaiian mountain and ocean landscape. The rooms were newly redecorated with soft colors and some of the most comfortable beds I’ve ever slept in. The food and service in the restaurants was terrific as well.

The Dolphin Quest is an experience I will remember for the rest of my life. What beautiful and friendly animals! Another highlight of the resort is the spa. I had an incredible massage in one of the private spa suites - VERY relaxing.

If you’re the outdoorsy type, I would definitely recommend a climb to the top of Diamond Head. If you have the time and the ambition, you can begin the hike from the very bottom of the mountain. I didn’t have a lot of time as I had a plane to catch that afternoon, so I took a taxi. The taxi will take you from the Kahala to the park entrance, which is part-way up the mountain. My driver kindly gave me his cell phone number so I could call him to pick me up after the hike and take me back to the hotel. There is a $1.00 admission fee to enter the park and a clearly marked trail leading to the top.