Beaches are supposed to be tranquil stretches of sand and surf conducive to relaxation and tranquility, but in Belize, a good-natured “battle of the beaches” has been underway since the nation became the trendiest destination in Central America. The contenders for this ongoing debate are Ambergris Caye, the small island known for its party scene, Caye Caulker — idyllic despite offering visitors less beach to…
If the urge to take a pass on dashing through the snow to spend Christmas at home is too strong to resist this year, you can always shop and wrap gifts early and then tell everyone that you’re heading south to get a much-needed break in the sun before the pressures of 2024 begin. Where to go? Belize, of course. It’s affordable and close, plus…
There are plenty of reasons to rely upon regular routines, including staying more efficient, cutting stress, and enhancing happiness. Further, routine keepers tend to avoid procrastinating since routines are known to buffer life’s endless demands and provide much-needed structure. But the downside of routines is that they don’t work for everyone, could trigger boredom and monotony, and can stop us from growing in new and…
Can time spent on a beach make a major difference in the way you approach life and survive the downturns? It can, say doctors who authored and vetted the article about improved mental health for WebMD. Will it replace therapy, drugs, and meditation? Perhaps, they say. And since it costs you nothing to sit on a beach, it makes sense to bury your toes in…
The Harvest Business Review is never short on advice for movers and shakers who want to achieve both business and personal success in today’s world, so when business executive Rebecca Zucker’s article, “Thinking of Skipping Vacation? Don’t!” appeared, readers reassessed their plans to keep working without breaks. What happens to people who think that the only path to success is found through nonstop work? They…
When American Express Travel researchers asked customers whether they prefer “lesser-known” vacation spots to the world’s top destinations, 79% of respondents said “yes!” It seems these savvy travelers love finding spots before they get too popular. Reasons they gave for preferring hidden gems over popular tourist spots include: Wanting to discover trending destinations before they go viral Believing that hidden gems offer more direct cultural…
Analysts at Expedia Group Media Solutions surveyed the world’s youngest generation to see how this demographic influences family travel. They found that a new niche has been added to the list of Baby Boomers, Gen Xs, Millennials, and Gen Zs: Gen Alpha, covering anyone born between 1995 and 2010. By 2025, Two billion kids will comprise the Alpha generation and every one of them is…
The University of Exeter, the British Trust for Ornithology, and the University of Queensland teamed up to conduct a study that got attention from the international mental health community: People living in neighborhoods with a preponderance of birds “are less likely to suffer from depression, anxiety, and stress.” It didn’t matter where study participants lived—urban or suburban neighborhoods. As long as birds show up regularly,…
Given statistics that prove medical care and lifestyle improvements are helping us live longer, it stands to reason that married folks who have found ways to grow together are celebrating more milestone anniversaries than ever before. According to a feature article in the Norfolk (VA) Daily News, the practice of getting married right out of high school has all but disappeared. Over the past 50…
No matter where you live, there’s probably an Independence Day reminder on your calendar. In the U.S., July 4th is sacrosanct because it stands for more than just background barbecues, fireworks, and a day off work. It’s a nationwide salute to the men and women of the 13 states who fought to make sure that an official Declaration of Independence was enacted on July 4,…