INTRO
One of the joys of the second half of life is travel. I think every Midlife Symphony has an element of travelling in it - locally, nationally, or internationally. Today I thought I'd share a post on some really interesting travel destinations that are a little off the beaten track. I'm finding that now days when I holiday I'm wanting to get away from the noise and crowds more and I enjoy discovering new places where I can kick back and relax in the peace and quiet.
If you're like me and you like hearing about places that are a little off the tourist track, here's 5 destinations that you might want to follow up.
Disclosure: This was a collaborative post that I feel is of interest to Midlife women.
FINDING AN ALTERNATIVE TO THE NOISE
For a lot of us, now that we’ve reached Midlife, the parties and endless socializing are behind us. We love good company, but we dread noisy, crowded places. Our idea of fun usually means quality time with our loved ones, when we put away the phone and give one another undivided attention. We still love to travel and explore, however, we’ve become more selective when it comes to where we spend our time.
In this post, I would like to introduce 5 places that are great for travel in Midlife. They give you the option of being far away from the crowd, but it’s not quite the middle of the desert, because everything you need for a great holiday is still within easy reach.
PEMUTERAN, NORTH OF BALI
Bali is a well-known destination for Aussies. However, most of the time, people will only stay around Kuta, Seminyak or Canggu. I urge you to explore the North and North-West of Bali, where “a different Bali” awaits. There are a number of private villas there, and unlike those in the South, the villas are situated on expansive land, surrounded by peaceful nature. The pace of life is much slower than that in the South. You will get to experience the rural, authentic side of the island. And while being off-the-beaten-path, there are still restaurants and spas around, just enough for a convenient stay, and most of the time, you can get everything arranged for you at the villa. All that’s left is to have a
really good time enjoying the beauty of nature, the pool and your family.
TWIZEL, SOUTH ISLAND, NEW ZEALAND
There are so many beautiful locations on the South Island of New Zealand – in fact I could recommend the whole island! While most people have already heard of Queenstown and Wanaka, there’s so much more to the South Island. Twizel is a small town popular amongst the locals. The area is known for its picturesque scenery with plenty of short, easy hikes. On a clear night, you will be able to observe a blanket of stars above. Mount Cook Aoraki National Park is just a 45-minute drive away.
PANGKOR, MALAYSIA
Similar to Twizel in New Zealand, Pangkor may not be the most popular holiday destination in Malaysia, but it’s definitely worth checking out. This island is just off the West coast of Malaysia Peninsula. While it is quite small, there are a number of things to do here like snorkeling, diving, enjoying the beach, and visiting historical sites like Fu Lin Kong Temple. The island is so under the radar that you’ll feel like you can have the beach all to yourself. The restaurants here are known for their fresh and tasty seafood.
NAGANO, JAPAN
Nagano Prefecture covers a large area, so you can get quite a number of options here. During Winter, you can find a number of ski locations like Hakuba, Nozawaonsen and Karuizawa. Each of these locations boasts soft, powder-like snow. But once Winter has passed, Nagano transforms into a vibrant area bursting with colours and life. You can find waterfalls, hiking trails, lush forests, museums, shopping centres, shrines, churches and more. You can choose to stay in one of the resort areas, as there are plenty of chalets and vacation rentals around, many recently opened to cater to tourists. Alternatively, you can check out Nagano city, the largest city in the prefecture which makes a convenient base to explore surrounding areas.
HAKONE, JAPAN
About a 1.5-hour train ride from Tokyo, Hakone is a mountainous town known for hot springs. Unlike the busy Tokyo, Hakone is quaint, quiet and sleepy where you can reconnect with nature. While staying in Hakone, you can check out Sengokuhara Pampas Grass Field, a vast field of tall grass that covers part of the mountain slope. The view is simply peaceful. There will be some tourists as it’s a popular spot in Hakone, however, everyone usually whispers amongst themselves, the only thing you can hear is the sound of the never ending winds. Besides the grass field, you can also check out Lake Ashinoko, famous for scenic views of Mount Fuji, Hakone Shrine and Owakudani, an active volcanic zone with sulphuric fumes and hot springs. Do note, though, the sun sets quite early in autumn and winter, and it can get quite dark and quiet after 5 pm.
WHAT ABOUT YOU?
All five of these holiday destinations are great options during Midlife, when we want to be somewhere relatively quiet and tranquil but with enough activities and attractions so we don’t get bored. Have you visited any of them or do you have any recommendations to add to the list? I'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments.
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Leanne
ReplyDeleteReally enjoyed being an armchair traveller via your post today!
SSG xxx
Thanks SSG - I thought some of those spots looked delightful - I could see myself de-stressing on that beach in particular!
DeleteHi, Leanne - I haven't been to any of the exact locations that you mention here, but I have been to Bali, New Zealand, Malaysa and Japan. I know that I am biased, but for tranquility and activity combined, I would add on Vancouver Island. There are some well-known newcomers who just might agree! :D
ReplyDeleteI've only been to Bali Donna but New Zealand is definitely on my list, and any less croweded areas in Japan sound appealing too. Vancouver Island looks magic plus the inhabitants (and famous guests) make it even more desirable.
DeleteHi Leanne,
ReplyDeleteI too like quiet getaways. I haven't been to Indonesia. But I have visited New Zealand (in 2019) and Japan (in 2011) (the travelogue are under the label 'Travel) , but not to the places you have mentioned.
I would like to visit these two nations again, and your post is a good guide on where I should head to. I just bookmarked your post, so that I can locate this later, when I plan my travel. Thank you so much for sharing this.
Take care.
Hi Pradeep - with the way the world is going lately I'm thinking that anywhere away from crowds (and virus carrying people) looks appealing. That's what I loved about all of these - beautiful spots and less people - so win/win. I'll have to check out your post on Japan too.
DeleteI've seen a lot of Bali, but not the north coast. Twizel, I'd agree with, although personally I'd stop a little down teh road at Lake Tekapo. I love posts like this - with more places to add to my must go to list.
ReplyDeleteHi Jo - you've certainly been to lots of places - New Zealand is very high on me list for visiting when we have a few weeks to meander around. I loved that all these destinations look beautiful but aren't overrun with tourists and the clamour that comes with them.
DeleteI love quieter, off-the-beaten-track destinations. All your suggestions sound fabulous. We stayed 2 nights in Hakone 18 months ago and loved it. We stayed in a traditional Japanese Ryokan with it's own onsen (hot pool) and had amazing views of Mt Fuji over Lake Ashi. There's a marvelous outdoor art gallery that I highly recommend. Another suggestion is Rarotonga - there's a beautiful adults only resort called Manuia where you can watch the sunset from your own Bure on the beach. Great article
ReplyDeleteHi Christina - your stay in Hakone sounds amazing - isn't it lovely when you find your little serene place and you feel the stress just roll off your shoulders? I think my own hot pool would be the icing on the cake. I'm definitely looking forward to doing some more travelling in the years ahead and will be aiming for the quieter spots because crowds do my head in these days (you'll never find me on a giant cruise ship!)
DeleteHi Leanne, I also like to spend time alone on holidays, or at least not engage or do group activities. But I do prefer a busy city rather than an isolated beach. I love being around people, but instead of socialising with them I much prefer just observing them! Have a lovely weekend! :-)
ReplyDeleteHi Cheryl - I'm a bit of a people watcher too, but I'd much prefer to do it in a calm and serene environment rather than squished in a crowd, and with all the health risks these days, I think it's a case of the less people around me the better!
DeleteNew Zealand was a lovely place to visit and we did lots of bike riding on the rail trails, so will have to plan another trip one day soon! I've not been to any of the other places so it was interesting to read about them
ReplyDeleteHi Deb - New Zealand is very high on my wish list to visit - cycling the rail trails sounds like a really great way to escape the crowds and enjoy their beautiful countryside.
DeleteLeanne,
ReplyDeleteAll of these destinations seem so appealing and so exotic. Thanks for your good travel advice. It's a pert of the world I have never visited but definitely would like to. Saving this post for inspiration!
Hi Leanne, I've been to Hakone in Japan, staying and eating at authentic Japanese inn as I was with my Japanese friends. It's a beautiful place. Aside from the hot springs, there are also hiking trails for all levels and the views are stunning. I love Japan in general and would love to revisit for a longer stay. #lifethisweek
ReplyDeleteAh Leanne, travel did have a place on my list but now I am not so keen. Interestingly for us, we have settled somewhere we are both enjoying and just having had a night away we are loving being back home.
ReplyDeleteThank you for linking up for Life This Week. Next week's optional prompt is: 11/51 My Neighbourhood 16.3.2020. Hope to see you there too. Denyse.
I loved reading your suggestions for a quieter yet not boring holidays. I will feature this to give pleasure and ideas to other readers of the Blogger's Pit Stop.
ReplyDeleteKathleen