The benefits of visiting a beach for relaxation are many, from the salty air and the natural scenery, to the warmth and sunshine, visitors can switch off and gain more mental clarity as well as physical benefits too. The study demonstrates just how valuable relaxation and daily wellness is, with it being a primary reason that many people make the trip to one of the beaches ranked.
This golden strip of sand, fringed by turquoise waters, is part of the popular Abel Tasman National Park on Tasman Bay (also known as Te Tai-o-Aorere) at the top of the South Island. Awaroa Beach is nothing if not beloved. So much so that in 2016, almost 40,000 Kiwis banded together to buy the beach from a private entity for more than $2 million and donated it to New Zealand's Department of Conservation.
Country Club Plaza area is one of the best neighborhoods to stay in when visiting Kansas City as a first-time visitor. Modeled after Seville, Spain, it's packed with fountains, Spanish-style architecture, and high-end shopping- plus there's easy access to the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art and the Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art.
As for what makes us produce more of these happy hormones, the team said that a destination's annual sunshine was a "key factor" as "natural light boosts serotonin and helps regulate mood." They also assessed each destination's sleep quality, measured via noise and light pollution, with "quieter, darker environments shown to support dopamine balance and lower stress hormones." Great food and easy access to nature were also at the top of that must-have list.
The United States is known for its lovely national parks. But Canada - that place is like one big park. Nearly half of that huge country is covered by forest, most of it publicly owned and lots available for exploring. Folks who want to experience Canada's wild should beeline to one of its famed preserves. And this month, National Geographic released a handy list of "10 national parks in Canada you need to visit," with details on each place's attractions and best seasons.
The warm, blue-green water and the pristine white beaches of the Gulf create South Padre Island's Caribbean comparison, with average temperatures around 74 degrees year-round.
Caruso, A Belmond Hotel, Amalfi Coast, is an 11th-century palace with terraced gardens and features a new pool club La Piscina, offering limoncello-making classes and live orchestra performances.
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