Quote of the Month
“Once the travel bug bites, there is no known antidote, and I know that I shall be happily infected until the end of my life.” - Michael Palin
A Note from Heather
Happy December!
Can you believe the year is almost at an end? And what a year it’s been. I started off the year optimistic about travel and it definitely didn’t disappoint. It took well over a dozen trips this year in search of stories and connection and not one destination disappointed. As the year comes to a close, I’m thinking, like most of you I’m sure, about how to make wellness a priority in 2023. The pandemic forced us to stop and take a good look at our lives and one of the standouts was definitely healt: mind, body and spirit. Over the year, I’ve seen how travel can help with it all and I’m looking forward to sharing more of that with you in the year ahead.
Have a wonderful holiday season,
Walkin’ in a Wellness Wonderland
As we move into the winter months, staying healthy can be tough. Flu, Covid-19 and RSV are spreading at work, school and daycare. Everyday stress can hit warp speed with the end of the year looing. And, let’s face it, all of that delicious holiday food is bound to, if left unchecked, leave a dent in your physical health. This month, Globetrotting Mama is focusing on ways to maintain your health and boost your spirits during the holiday season.
What’s new in world of travel?
One of the pandemic holdovers: Valuing our health. And a recent study suggests that many of us are making the connection between travel and wellness.
A fact that became strikingly apparent when the opportunity for travel was taken away.
But no longer. The Global Wellness Institute predicts an $817 billion industry this year and $1. 3 trillion in 2025. That’s a significant jump from both pandemic and pre pandemic levels. In their study, The Global Wellness Institute analyzed the disruptions of Covid-19 on various sectors beginning in 2017. This study shows that the market shrunk by 39.5% during the pandemic, with wellness trips decreasing from 936 million to 601 million. But wellness travel is on the rise again. The Global Wellness Institute projects a 21% annual growth rate through 2025, bringing the value of the industry into the trillions! It seems like our values have shifted towards a desire for mental wellness, connecting with nature, and sustainability moving forward. All good things to keep in mind as gifts for yourself in the year ahead.
What we’re reading at Globetrotting Mama
At GTM, we love to read and enjoy making some recommendations along the way. Sticking with our wellness theme. Whether you’re looking to improve your health or are interested in hearing the details surrounding a pop-culture icon, here are two books that might spark your interest.
You Can Heal Your Life by Louise Hay
In this International bestselling book, Hay offers a more holistic perspective on wellness and healing. The author dives into the mental patterns that create dis-ease in the body and offers exercises and suggestions throughout the book to tackle physical symptoms that might just be rooted in something else.
Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing by Matthew Perry
Speaking of health and wellness, this autobiography by everyone’s favorite “Friend” has quickly become a bestseller. In a candid and vulnerable memoir, Perry shares his lifelong struggle with addiction and the impact it’s had on friendships, romantic relationships, work and more. This book reveals shocking and heartbreaking truths about his struggles with alcohol and prescription drugs but reminds the reader to pay attention to our mental and physical health. Perry’s story is surely a beacon of hope to those whose lives have been impacted by addiction.
5 Spirit Boosting Locales
Looking for some places to boost your holiday spirit this year? These 5 places will do the trick…
Universal Studios, Orlando, FL, USA
A classic holiday story of The Grinch becomes real as you step into the magic of the “Grinchmas” experience in Seuss Landing of Universal Studios Orlando. See the magical decorations, live stage shows, and try food at fun restaurants like Circus McGurkus Cafe Stoo-pendous or Hop on Pop Ice Cream Shop…you’ll feel like you’re in a Dr. Seuss story. Once you’re done, venture out into the rest of the park and enjoy the decorations and festivities! You might even warm yourself up with a cup of hot butterbeer in The Wizarding World.
Santa Claus Village, Finland
Travel to Lapland, Finland to see the home of the big man himself, Santa! Stop by Santa Claus Village to meet Santa, his elves and his reindeer. While here, you can enjoy the Christmas decorations, eat some sweets at the Loft Cafe, do some arts and crafts, or try to see The Northern Lights. If you’re lucky, you might even get the opportunity to go dog-sledding!
New York City, New York, USA
First, you can stop by the iconic Rockefeller Centre to see the enormous Christmas tree featured in movies like Home Alone 2 or Elf. While there, you can grab a hot cocoa or do some ice skating like Buddy the Elf. If this doesn’t get you in the spirit, walk over to Union Square to visit the markets. You can taste the Italian rice balls or German pretzels, get some souvenir model kits or unique owl artwork, and pick up some gifts for the holidays.
Two More Holiday Hot Spots
Want a few more spirit raising locales? Pop over to the Globetrotting Mama Blog for some other festive suggestions.
Stay Tuned…
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