30 Amazing Anti-Burnout Vacations for Doctors 2018
30 Amazing Anti-Burnout Vacations for Doctors 2018
The destinations suggested here may be just what you need to repair frazzled nerves from burnout and regain the space to reconnect with friends and family, engage all of the senses, and feel renewed enthusiasm for your career. Some of the spots were picked for their outright isolation from harried civilization, others for memorable experiences. Among the 30 are natural wonders that serve as reminders of man's relative place on earth; tropical beaches and wellness-oriented destinations (ideal for taking slow breaths); havens for adventure that will get the endorphins pumping; and mind-expanding trips focused on culture and creativity. Some of the places that made the final cut are suggestions from Medscape readers.
30 Amazing Anti-Burnout Vacations for Doctors 2018
Tulum, Mexico
Tulum, 2 hours south of Cancun on the Yucatan peninsula, used to be a sleepy town but is now a popular destination for celebrities and jet-setters who seek out the area's stunning waterfront, high-end hotels, gourmet restaurants, dozens of yoga- and wellness-centric resorts, and pervasive earth-friendly credo. Tulum and its surrounding area—encompassing powdery white sand beaches and a thick jungle landscape dotted with Mayan ruins—has a fair share of all-inclusive, adults-only, and spa lodging offering everything from massage to energy healing, meditation, and drum and fire circles. Picture open-air restaurants illuminated by candlelight, thatched-roof sleeping cabanas on the beach, and treehouse lodging. A half-hour north of Tulum lies Coba, the highest pyramid in the Yucatan. Tour the Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the largest protected area in the Mexican Caribbean. Visitors can snorkel the reserve's barrier reef.
30 Amazing Anti-Burnout Vacations for Doctors 2018
Rent a Houseboat on Lake Powell
Just getting to Lake Powell, situated on the Arizona-Utah border, is an adventure. Most travelers fly into Las Vegas and make the 300-mile trek across the red rocks desert to Page, Arizona, the jumping-off point at the southern end of the lake. Staying on the water is a great way to experience the lake, a reservoir on the Colorado River created by the Glen Canyon Dam in 1963. The lake has an astounding 1900 miles of shoreline, punctuated by dramatic slot canyons, quiet coves on crystal waters, and soft sandy beaches. Houseboats are so easy to operate that previous boating experience isn't required. Rentals range from 45 to 75 feet in length and come with a full tank of gas, a kitchen, a grill, and air conditioning, and can sleep 6 to 12 people. Experienced houseboaters suggest also renting a kayak, jet ski, paddleboard, or even small powerboat to enhance the experience. A hike from a remote beach could be rewarded with a trip back in geologic time, plus sightings of ancient petroglyphs or even dinosaur footprints.
30 Amazing Anti-Burnout Vacations for Doctors 2018
Sifnos Island, The Cyclades, Greece
Not much beats a Greek island for a fantasy getaway. And tiny 9 x 5–mile Sifnos, 3 hours from Athens by high-speed ferry, checks all the boxes. Psychiatrist Karen Ni, MD, says that as an American living in Europe, she's found nothing more relaxing than Sifnos. "To look at the white and blue buildings with the background of the bluest waters of the Aegean Sea was as nourishing as the natural and most tasty tomatoes, fresh feta cheese, Greek yogurt, Kalamata olives, lamb, and goat," says Ni. On drives and hikes, Ni "had much-needed time in solitude and introspection." Sifnos, long known for its talented local chefs who cook in the island's famed ceramic pots, has become a destination for foodies. With 366 churches, many perched on rocky hillsides, the island is loaded with Instagram-worthy shots. Sifnos has sandy beaches and coves with flat rocks, perfect for laying on or for easing one's way into the cerulean sea to go swimming, snorkeling, or scuba diving. Sifnos offers 62 miles of hiking trails over its rocky expanse, many of which connect with ruins and end at convenient places to cool off.
30 Amazing Anti-Burnout Vacations for Doctors 2018
Glacier National Park, Montana
Situated in the far northern Rocky Mountains, the million-acre national park is known for its granite snow-capped peaks, some 700 icy cold mountain lakes, abundant wildlife and wildflowers, and glaciers, of course. It adjoins Alberta's Waterton Lakes National Park. The park's famed glaciers, however, are disappearing at an alarming rate. July and August are the peak times to go. Wildlife—including grizzly bears, moose, and mountain goats—is easily seen, whether from a car, on a hike, or in a campground. You can take on all or part of the Highline Trail, a strenuous walk that quickly has hikers on a knife edge, looming hundreds of feet above the Going-to-the-Sun Road. Those with a fear of heights can ride one of the park's famed 1920s-era open-air red buses for a guided tour. Take a boat tour (or rent a kayak and go fishing) on Lake Many Glacier, Two Medicine Lake, Rising Sun Lake, or Lake McDonald.
30 Amazing Anti-Burnout Vacations for Doctors 2018
Treasure Cay, The Bahamas
This spit of land jutting off the midsection of Great Abaco Island is a boating and beaching paradise. Treasure Cay is "small and unspoiled," says Alton Thomson, MD, an ob/gyn. "Rent a boat and explore the adjacent islands for great food and fun in the sun," he says. The Abacos are part of the Bahamas' "out islands"—the 700 or so mostly uninhabited cays that make up the majority of the country outside of the more frequently visited Grand Bahama (Freeport) and New Providence (Nassau) islands.
Bahamian islands are known for wonderfully clear water, and Treasure Cay is no exception. Treasure Cay beach is a 3.5-mile stretch of powdery white sand. There are two large resorts on Treasure Cay with golf, tennis, snorkeling, bonefishing, sailing, and kayaking, as well as bike, scooter, and car rentals. Condos and villas are also available to rent. Hit a beach bar for some cracked conch and a Goombay smash. There's history to be discovered: The Abacos were a landing point for British loyalists fleeing the American Revolution, and Treasure Cay itself was the site of a 1783 loyalist settlement.
30 Amazing Anti-Burnout Vacations for Doctors 2018
Palm Island, Florida
Not to be confused with Little Palm Island off the Florida Keys, this Palm Island (also known as Don Pedro Island) is on the Gulf of Mexico, halfway between Sarasota and Fort Myers. The barely developed 7-mile-long barrier island is somewhat cut off from civilization; the only way to access it is by a 5-minute ferry ride. The preferred mode of transportation on the island is golf cart or bike, although you can bring your own vehicle. Palm Island features just one resort, which rents out villas and private homes around its marina and 1.5-mile-long beach. Once on the island, there's no reason to leave, unless you've got a hankering for golf, available on the nearby mainland. Tennis, fishing, kayaking through mangrove swamps, snorkeling, scuba diving, yoga, and nature trails are available at various spots. Rent a small boat for a trip down to the pristine Cayo Costa Island State Park and Cabbage Key, where Jimmy Buffett reportedly was inspired to write "Cheeseburger in Paradise."
30 Amazing Anti-Burnout Vacations for Doctors 2018
Smith Mountain Lake, Virginia
Four hours south of Washington, DC, and 2 hours north of Raleigh, North Carolina, this 40-mile-long manmade lake, nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains, boasts 500 miles of shoreline. Douglas K. Holmes, MD, an ear, nose, and throat surgeon in Raleigh, calls the lake "the best," especially for boating and for being with family and friends. It's "somewhat isolated, serene, fun, relaxing" and has cool water during the heat of summer, plus an "incredible night sky without city lights," says Holmes. Peak season is June through August, but fall is a great time to go, as the foliage reaches peak. Accommodations include resorts, condos, hotels, and bed and breakfasts, as well as cabins and campgrounds at Smith Mountain Lake State Park. In addition to a vast array of water sports are five nearby golf courses, miniature golf, arcades, hiking, antiquing, and shopping. Ample retail and restaurants can be found as well. There's even a nearby distillery, craft brewery, and winery.
30 Amazing Anti-Burnout Vacations for Doctors 2018
Ocracoke, North Carolina
You have to be determined if you want to get to Ocracoke, one of the barrier islands that make up North Carolina's Outer Banks. It's a 5-hour drive from the nearest airport in Raleigh to Hatteras, where visitors catch the 40-minute free ferry, the only way to get to the island. Those who stay will be rewarded with 16 miles of completely empty shoreline—all part of the Cape Hatteras National Seashore—and nothing much more to do than cook, eat, swim, fish, crab off of the town marina's dock, play games, read, try to find the island's wild pony herds, and go birdwatching (more than 400 species have been spotted on Ocracoke). Massages and other spa services are available, as are four-wheel-drive vehicles to take on the beaches. The only restaurants are in the only settlement, Ocracoke Village. History buffs can learn about the Ocracoke Lighthouse, the second oldest in America. Edward Teach, aka Blackbeard the pirate, met his demise near Ocracoke in 1718. The village's Ocracoke Alive theater runs a Blackbeard-themed history show every summer.
30 Amazing Anti-Burnout Vacations for Doctors 2018
Santa Teresa, Costa Rica
With its dramatic, super-wide, and wild palm–ringed Pacific Coast beaches; thick rainforest with treetops full of howler monkeys and brightly plumed tropical birds; and a laid-back vibe, it's no wonder that Costa Rica is a favorite for getting off the grid. It also helps that six major US airlines have direct flights to the capital, San José. But that's where easy accessibility ends. To get to Santa Teresa, on the tip of the Nicoya Peninsula, requires a 5-hour drive over rugged roads (four-wheel drive is a must) and a ferry crossing—unless you choose a puddle-jumper from San José to the nearby Tambor airstrip. Like many other towns on the Peninsula, Santa Teresa has its share of expatriates who've brought boutique hotels, sushi, tapas, Italian pastries, smoothies, and organic fare. Santa Teresa is a surfer's haven, and luxury is largely of the barefoot variety. Dining, yoga, massage, and showering in the open air are typical. Ride horses on the beach, learn to surf, hike to jungle waterfalls, zipline, take a yoga class, or rest in a hammock.
30 Amazing Anti-Burnout Vacations for Doctors 2018
Baden-Baden, Germany
Baden-Baden, located in a valley on the edge of the Black Forest in southwestern Germany, is an old-world luxury spa experience. For centuries, since the time of the Roman Emperor Caracalla, Baden-Baden has been the place where royals, celebrities, and the rich have come for the restorative waters—and gambling. James Bond would feel at home at the opulent Casino Baden-Baden, built in the 1830s to absorb gamblers left in the cold by Paris' decision to shutter its casinos the same year. The town continues to be popular with foreigners. The ruins of Roman baths are still visible in the city center, next to the Friedrichsbad and Caracalla Therme, two public bath houses still in use. The Friedrichsbad, a Roman-Irish bath opened in 1877, offers a 17-station experience. Just 25 miles from Strasbourg, France, Baden-Baden is also known for its cafes and chic shopping. The town also boasts Europe's second-largest festival hall, the Festspielhaus, which hosts some of the world's best symphonies, opera singers, and ballets.
30 Amazing Anti-Burnout Vacations for Doctors 2018
Kauai, Hawaii
The circular, 550-square-mile Kauai, the oldest and most northwestern of the Hawaiian islands, is known for its otherworldly lush tropical rainforests and valleys, cascading waterfalls, and cliffs and canyons draped with greenery. Mount Waialeale is known for having among the greatest rainfall amounts on earth. The Na Pali Coast and Waimea Canyon are just two of the internationally known natural wonders. Relaxation is a way of life on Kauai, but options abound for those who want to hike, kayak, play tennis, or engage in other activities. The Na Pali Coast is best explored by boat, helicopter, or by hiking the famed Kalalau Trail. Kauai's beaches are numerous and stunning. Take a visit to Kauapea Beach, where you will find smooth sand and black rock tide pools.
Poipu Beach, a tourist favorite, is in a developed area on the South Shore, where you can also find Kauai Coffee, a working coffee plantation. Check before booking a trip; Kauai was hit hard by torrential rain in April 2018, and some areas of the North Shore were damaged by mudslides.
30 Amazing Anti-Burnout Vacations for Doctors 2018
Sawtooth Mountains, Idaho
The Sawtooths offer all of the scenic drama, wildlife (including bighorn sheep, black bears, and bald eagles), and outdoor activities of the more popular Rocky Mountain destinations like Jackson Hole and Yellowstone, but without the crowds. An hour north of the glitzy Sun Valley is Stanley, a Wild West, one-stoplight town (population 100) that serves as a gateway to the 756,000-acre Sawtooth National Recreation Area, which contains four mountain ranges, hundreds of lakes, miles of streams, and at least 40 peaks over 10,000 feet in elevation. Hiking, backpacking, mountain biking, kayaking, canoeing, and fly fishing are the main pursuits. Take a picnic and have your lunch alongside a crystal-clear lake nestled among 8000-foot peaks. Stay on Redfish Lake or on a dude ranch, or camp in the recreation area or one of the nearby state forests. Enjoy one of the legions of natural hot springs in the area. Vacationing in the Sawtooths is a rustic, no-luxury experience—just beautiful scenery, local trout for dinner, and watching the stars blanket the night sky.
30 Amazing Anti-Burnout Vacations for Doctors 2018
Walk England From Coast to Coast
The coast-to-coast walk across England was first described by British accountant Alfred Wainwright in 1973, after a life spent documenting his nation's countryside on foot. His A Coast to Coast Walk is still used as both inspiration and bible for those following in his footsteps. The 190-mile journey, usually completed in 12 to 15 days, crosses through history and time, starting in northwest England at the village of St. Bees Head on the Irish Sea; passing through Lake District National Park, home of England's highest mountains; Yorkshire Dales National Park, with its small villages and welcoming pubs; and on through the heather-covered highlands of the North York Moors. Walkers sup and sleep in villages that look as if time has stood still. It's an often-strenuous trip, with patches of challengingly bad weather, but hikers are constantly rewarded with gorgeous pastoral scenery, historic sites such as Roman ruins and Viking rune stones, and cozy inns.
30 Amazing Anti-Burnout Vacations for Doctors 2018
Slovenia
The fairytale nation of Slovenia, with its castle-dotted mountain landscape, has become a hot destination for Europeans. The size of New Jersey, Slovenia perhaps has become best known most recently as the birthplace of First Lady Melania Trump. The former Yugoslavian territory is clean, safe, and modern. It's an inexpensive gateway to the Alps, nestled between Italy, Austria, and Croatia. Slovenia offers an outdoors enthusiast an encyclopedia of choices—from sailing on the Adriatic Sea to rafting on the Soča River, to caving in Karst to backpacking to a high mountain hut in the Julian Alps. Circumnavigate the alpine Lake Bohinj, where cattle graze on fields of wildflowers, or kayak to the Gothic church that dominates the tiny island in the middle of the postcard-perfect Lake Bled, where former dictator Tito's summer home has been turned into a tearoom with a stunning view. Slovenia has a well-touted wine industry, with more than 50,000 acres of vineyards under cultivation.
30 Amazing Anti-Burnout Vacations for Doctors 2018
Nova Scotia
One of Canada's Maritime Provinces, the 360-mile-long Nova Scotia was first called Acadie by French explorers. The name "Nova Scotia" ("New Scotland" in Latin) arose from Scottish claims to the region in the 1620s. The island offers deep pine forests, dramatic oceanside cliffs, lobster dinners, and rugged and wild adventure experiences: biking, hiking, canoeing, kayaking, camping, fly fishing, and "tidal bore" rafting the massive high tide (among the highest in the world) in the Bay of Fundy. Many adventure seekers make their way to the northernmost part of the island, Cape Breton and its Cape Breton Highlands National Park. There, a mash-up of Aboriginal, Gaelic, and Acadian cultures presents a feast for the eyes and ears through pow-wows, fiddle music and step dance, and French- and Native-influenced cooking. The 186-mile Cabot Trail, a loop that winds its way around the tip of Cape Breton, is rated by Lonely Planet as among the top four things to do in Canada. Driving is one way to complete the loop, but many take 5 to 7 days to circumnavigate by bike.
30 Amazing Anti-Burnout Vacations for Doctors 2018
Raft the Colorado River Through the Grand Canyon
Most people lucky enough to see the Grand Canyon do so from a crowded vantage point on the South Rim. But that affords only a tiny sense of the massiveness of this natural wonder, with its billion-year-old magenta-, red-, and brown-hued rock faces. The Colorado River cuts 266 miles through the Canyon. The National Park Service limits the number of people who can experience the Canyon by boat each year; 16 companies are authorized to lead multiday trips. Once in the Canyon, the world disappears. There is no cell service or Internet. Days are spent floating placidly, occasionally grabbing on for life in a Class IV or V rapid (V being the highest), taking side hikes to swimming holes, and viewing the ancient petroglyphs and ruins at Nankoweap, a Pueblo Indian structure. Nights are spent telling stories around the campfire. The trip is not for the faint of heart. Travelers are expected to carry a 30-pound backpack, help set up and break down camp, and be able to rollick and roll in the waves. Snakes, biting and stinging insects, and sunburn are all constant threats.
30 Amazing Anti-Burnout Vacations for Doctors 2018
The Maldives, Indian Ocean
A nation of 1200 atolls, the Maldives, 400 miles south of Sri Lanka, are a top destination for celebrity and luxury travelers. A super-pampering tropical island vacation is the draw at the more than 80 resorts. Over 1 million tourists visit each year for the unparalleled turquoise waters, powdery sand beaches, snorkeling and scuba experiences, world-class cuisine, and fantasy resorts that have overwater private villas with infinity pools and indoor-outdoor bathrooms. The islands probably have more underwater restaurants, nightclubs, spas, and wine cellars than anywhere else on earth. Divers flock to the coral atolls for the diversity of marine life, including manta rays, turtles, sharks, and whale sharks. The UNESCO Baa Atoll Biosphere Reserve is a popular underwater destination. Alcoholic beverages are served only in resorts, where hedonism is the daily lifestyle. Some political unrest in February caused the State Department to issue a travel warning, but travel experts note that it is safe to visit the resort islands.
30 Amazing Anti-Burnout Vacations for Doctors 2018
Sea Island, Georgia
Halfway between Savannah, Georgia, and Jacksonville, Florida is Sea Island—with its Spanish Moss–draped huge old oak trees—which has represented old-school Southern luxury since the late 1920s. Jack Ende, MD, immediate past president of the American College of Physicians, says he loves Sea Island because of the variety of activities and because it "is a good family place as well." Sea Island has five miles of private beach, five pools, a beach club, tennis and squash centers, a yacht club, a shooting school, three championship golf courses, and a golf performance center. Sea Island was designed by Addison Mizner, a noted architect of Mediterranean Revival and Spanish Colonial Revival mansions and resorts in Palm Beach and South Florida. The resort's main building, The Cloister, is in that tradition, with interiors straight out of Southern Living magazine. Sea Island is a multiple-year award-winner by the arbiter of luxury travel, the Forbes Travel Guide. It's the only US resort ever to have hosted a G8 summit and several US presidents.
30 Amazing Anti-Burnout Vacations for Doctors 2018
Koh Lanta Yai and Nearby Andaman Sea Islands, Thailand
Thailand has long been a hot spot for beautiful beaches and general enjoyment, played out in glitzy international party destinations like Phuket and Koh Phi. But 18-mile-long Koh Lanta Yai on Thailand's southwestern coast harkens back to a more unspoiled time. It has dramatic palm-fringed beaches on its western shore, a jungle interior, and a rocky east coast with pinnacles jutting out of the crystalline sea. Once you've settled in to your island paradise, explore all it has to offer: kayaking, swimming in coastal caves, and top-notch scuba diving and snorkeling. You can rent a moped—traffic is mercifully light on the island—and tour the Mu Ko Lanta National Park, with its coral reefs, lush waterfalls, and abundant wildlife and tropical birds. Or take a Thai cooking class. Or sign up with one of the many island-hopping boat tours, which stop at uninhabited islands in the Andaman Sea. Getting to this Thai paradise is not easy; the recommended route is a flight from Hong Kong or Kuala Lumpur to Krabi International Airport and then a 2-hour ferry ride to Koh Lanta Yai.
30 Amazing Anti-Burnout Vacations for Doctors 2018
Eleuthera Island, Bahamas
The 110-mile-long Eleuthera, with its 200 miles of coastline, is a pristine paradise of pink and white powdery sand beaches, see-through waters, and an unfailingly friendly vibe. Many celebrities and royals have made a beeline for Eleuthera's swanky Harbour Island, a tiny cay off the north side, but more laid-back resorts await those who are willing to explore this locale that's a short flight from Miami, Fort Lauderdale, or Nassau. Eleuthera was the first settlement in the Bahamas, founded in 1648. Outside of Harbour Island, Eleuthera is rustic, with one main road and small settlements populated with turquoise, yellow, and green houses. Small, private resorts, along with quaint cottages and sprawling beachside compounds, dot the island. There are no golf courses or big-name resort properties. You can get your fill of pineapple from the many plantations on the island, as well as conch, grilled grouper, mahi-mahi, stone crab claws, and lobster, all pulled fresh from the ocean. Snorkeling and diving at the Devil's Backbone reef (which has wrecked more ships than anywhere else in the Bahamas), the Blue Hole, and the Train Wreck are fantastical.
30 Amazing Anti-Burnout Vacations for Doctors 2018
Safari in Namibia
The West African nation of Namibia—bordered by the Atlantic Ocean, Angola, Zambia, Botswana, and South Africa—is home to a multitude of stunning landscapes, including the oldest desert in the world, the Namib, as well as mountains, beaches, grasslands, and savannahs. It gained its independence from South Africa in 1990. English is the official language, although German, Afrikaans, and a number of tribal languages will also be heard. Namibia has built an environmentally conscious tourism business that includes 11 national parks and abundant private conservation reserves. Many wildlife-watching safaris are centered around the 14,000-square-mile Etosha National Park, renowned for its desert-adapted animals, including Africa's largest population of free-ranging black rhinos; some 2300 elephants; lions; giraffes; cheetahs; black-faced impala; and herds of gemsbok, wildebeest, and zebra. Many of the 30 or so lodges in the park are located near watering holes.
30 Amazing Anti-Burnout Vacations for Doctors 2018
Mendocino, California
Mendocino, perched on the Pacific Coast 155 miles north of San Francisco, is an escapist's dream. Mendocino County offers virgin redwood forests, verdant seaside headlands overlooking giant broken-off rocky crags with thundering surf, organic farm-to-table meals in quaint villages, vineyards in the Anderson Valley, antique shopping, a performing arts center, and, with marijuana legal in California, cannabis-related tours. From November through April, gray whales can be spotted off Mendocino. Logging was king until the mid-20th century when artists, craftsmen, and Hollywood found the area's charms too hard to resist. The Victorian-era town of Mendocino can be jammed on the weekend, but the county offers enough remote locations for anyone looking to check out of civilization. Stay at a cliffside spa hotel, a Victorian B&B, a luxury resort nestled in a working cattle ranch, or go "glamping" (high-end luxury camping) at Mendocino Grove. Explore MacKerricher State Park and its Glass Beach, a former dumping ground that's now a sea glass–collector's paradise.
30 Amazing Anti-Burnout Vacations for Doctors 2018
Antarctica
One of the last largely unexplored continents of the world, Antarctica resembles nothing else on earth. For many, the never-ending expanse of the Antarctic ice is a stark reminder that humans are but a speck on the planet. Antarctica is "nature at its maximum," says Roberto Esposito, MD, university professor of infectious diseases in Italy. And it has become increasingly popular. Most visitors travel from Southern Patagonia on boats that offer onshore excursions. Trips can only be made when the pack ice has receded, usually from late October through early April. It's best to use IAATO-certified tour operators to ensure a safe and environmentally responsible trip. Being in good physical condition is recommended for onshore trips, usually made on small rubber Zodiac boats that require a confident sense of balance. Antarctica offers so many visual delights—calving glaciers, otherworldly colored waters and icebergs, penguin colonies, breaching humpback and killer whales—that it's no surprise that photography is one of the main pastimes.
30 Amazing Anti-Burnout Vacations for Doctors 2018
The Berkshires, Western Massachusetts
Just a few hours by car from Boston and New York, the wooded, rolling terrain of the Berkshires, with their New England quaint towns, feels much farther away. With a wealth of history and art museums, music performances, parks, lakes, ponds, and hiking trails, it's a great choice for someone who doesn't want to dig out a passport or sit on a beach. Pick a town to use as a base—Pittsfield, Great Barrington, or Lenox, for instance—and start exploring. Summer is the time for Tanglewood, the indoor/outdoor concert venue that's the summer home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra and also hosts top-name acts. Detox in luxury at the famed Canyon Ranch in Lenox or in a more ascetic style at the nonprofit Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health. Or get inspired to pursue your inner creative self at the Norman Rockwell Museum or the new Museum of Dog (M.O.D.), which features dog-inspired works of art. Discover deep-forest cascading waterfalls at Race Brook Falls in Sheffield or Bash Bish Falls State Park near Mount Washington.
30 Amazing Anti-Burnout Vacations for Doctors 2018
Porto and the Douro Valley, Portugal
Porto, the second largest city in Portugal, sits at the mouth of the Douro River. It's a working city steeped in history and culture, tracing its roots to 300 BC. Porto is a showcase of Roman, Gothic, Romanesque, and Beaux-Arts architecture, with a helping of picturesque terra cotta rooftops, but it also exhibits a growing slice of modernity that appeals to Europeans on weekend holidays. Many of the city's old industrial spaces are being made into hip shopping and eating destinations. Independent bookstores, with luxurious library-like interiors, thrive. Food and port wine—which originated here—are some of the main draws. The Vila Nova de Gaia neighborhood has more than a dozen port "lodges." Shop for artful ceramics, household wares incorporating native cork, and locally designed clothing from the city's burgeoning fashion scene. The waterfront Ribeira area is a cobbled maze of alleyways chock full of taverns and small shops. Porto is also a great departure point for the Douro Valley, one of Europe's oldest wine-producing regions.
30 Amazing Anti-Burnout Vacations for Doctors 2018
Discover Pueblo Culture in the American Southwest
Connect with America's true origins. A driving loop takes you through red rock desert and the ruins of three Pueblo civilizations. Chaco Canyon, Mesa Verde, and Canyon de Chelly are anthropologic and archaeologic gems in the Four Corners area, where Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, and Utah meet. Fly into Albuquerque, rent a car, and make a 3-hour beeline northwest to the Chaco Culture National Historic Park. It is considered the center of Puebloan culture, a Native American civilization that existed from AD 100 to 1600 in the Four Corners area. Next, head 3 hours north to Mesa Verde National Park, which protects 600 cliff dwellings from the 7th to the 14th century built into a mesa 8500 feet above a valley. Take a ranger-led tour of Balcony House or Cliff Palace, a massive dwelling that, at its peak, contained 150 rooms. From Mesa Verde, drive to Canyon de Chelly, entirely within the Navajo Reservation. The best way to see Canyon de Chelly is with a Navajo guide, which requires reserving with an officially recognized tour operator.
30 Amazing Anti-Burnout Vacations for Doctors 2018
Go on a Writer's, Artist's, or Yogi's Retreat
Sometimes, to truly get away from the day-to-day requires a deep look inward. There's a world of workshops and retreats catering to artists, writers, and those who want to meditate and breathe their way to a new state of creativity, peace, and mindfulness. How about a poetry workshop at a clifftop Irish retreat center? Budding and accomplished novelists join together at the Paris Writer's Retreat twice a year. The Association of Writers and Writers Programs has an extensive list of 1-day conferences and other programs set in locales around the globe. Take a week to paint in Tuscany, guided by two female artists. The International Directory of Art Workshops and Retreats and the Artists Network guide can help direct you. Practice yoga at an 800-year-old farmhouse-turned–luxury villa set in the Italian countryside between Florence and Siena. Near Carmel, California, you can sign up for meditation at a Zen monastery. If you can't swing India, try Sedona, Arizona, which hosts an annual yoga festival.
30 Amazing Anti-Burnout Vacations for Doctors 2018
Alghero, Sardinia
Leave the tourist world behind. Alghero is a lovely medieval city on the northwest coast of the Mediterranean island of Sardinia and is known as the capital of the "Coral Riviera" for its massive coral colony offshore. In the spring in particular, there are "no crowds, nice people, sunning, scuba, hiking, Italian cuisine, and gelato around the harbor," says Keith Raymond, MD, a family and emergency medicine specialist from Hickory, North Carolina. Alghero is also "inexpensive and off the beaten track," he said. It is the more charming, rustic side of Sardinia, away from the glitz and glam of Costa Smeralda. Alghero is a mash-up of Catalan and Italian cultures. Some Alghero residents refer to their city as "Little Barcelona" because of the similarity of architecture and culture. The cuisine reflects both Spanish and Sardinian heritage and is focused on fresh seafood: branzino, eel, calamari, and lobster. Much of the shoreline near Alghero is rocky, with huge headlands jutting into the sea, but several beaches offer sandy stretches and calm waters.
30 Amazing Anti-Burnout Vacations for Doctors 2018
Bariloche, Patagonia, Argentina
Bariloche, a 2-hour flight south of Buenos Aires, is the stunningly beautiful gateway to the wilds of Patagonia. Skiing in July? Yes, and at a fraction of the price of any American or European resort. Bariloche, a town of 127,000, has long been described as a Little Switzerland, with its gingerbread houses, snow-capped granite peaks, mountain lakes, and excellent artisanal chocolates. Cerro Catedral ski resort, the largest in South America, attracts snow enthusiasts from around the globe. Patagonia is cattle ranch country, and grilled meats fill restaurant menus. A large number of European and American expats have made Bariloche their home because of the unparalleled year-round natural beauty and relatively inexpensive real estate. During the warmer months, rock climbing, backpacking, and hiking opportunities abound in the Parque Nacional de Nahuel Huapi; its highest peak is the 11,660-foot Mount Tronador, an extinct volcano. The park is the only place in the world where orange and white–barked Arrayan trees grow.
30 Amazing Anti-Burnout Vacations for Doctors 2018
Waiheke Island, New Zealand
A 35-minute ferry trip away from Auckland is New Zealand's largest city, Waiheke, a laid-back paradise. What began as a bohemian outpost is now an increasingly chic destination, but travelers will still find plenty of alternative culture on the 12-mile-long island. Waiheke is known for its sandy beaches, stunning wineries, organic farm-to-table cuisine, olive groves, and local oysters. It's been called "the Hamptons of New Zealand," partly because of its proximity to Auckland and its growing high-end retail and dining scene, local artists' studios, and art galleries. Waiheke is crisscrossed by walking and hiking trails. The Onetangi Reserve is a good place to see native kauri, nikau palms, and manuka trees, and to look for the North Island kaka parrot. Settle onto the crescent beach at Oneroa Bay with a good book, or head over to Palm Beach, which has all-day sun and safe swimming. Most Waiheke visitors own homes or rent from others, but the island does have a number of luxury and middle-of-the-road hotels as well as some budget-minded places.
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