Originally posed in Regarding Luxury | Nov 12, 2024
By Mark Keast
How stressful was that? Regardless of your political affiliation, this election cycle was exhausting and anxiety-inducing. With U.S. Thanksgiving around the corner, many are already worried about political differences making family gatherings feel tense. Liberals and Progressives have been losing their minds, if social media is any indication. There are stories out there about people on the Left who intend to shut out family members who voted Donald Trump at holiday gatherings, other stories about women who are cutting off men entirely – no dating, no sex, none of it. Some are online, posting videos, cutting off men while cutting off their hair. Nutty times indeed.
Now, with Trump announcing his cabinet, no doubt the tears on the Left will turn to anger. If you are distraught about the outcome or just need to decompress after months of junk mail, divisive campaign ads, robocalls, and spam, here are 12 luxury vacation ideas to escape the noise and hit the reset button.
Explore AZ by Luxe RV
Ready to explore Arizona’s most iconic landscapes, from Sedona’s red rocks to the awe-inspiring beauty of Monument Valley? Blacksford offers brand new, premium RV rentals. This 5-day itinerary from Phoenix to Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park is full of adventure and natural beauty.
And while you are there – Bisbee, Arizona, is a town steeped in history, a mining town with origins in the late 19th century, located just 11 miles north of the Mexico border, 97 miles southeast of Tucson. When you drive into Bisbee, a town with a population just under 5,000, located in the Mule Mountains of the state, and head through its quaint downtown, you’re first struck by its Victorian-style buildings and preserved architecture, and the colourful homes built into the hillsides. It’s like driving into a time machine, tapping into Bisbee’s mining heritage, going back to the late 1800s.
Places that are renowned for historic charm. Southern Arizona, for one, offers so much more for those people looking to hop in a luxury car and take a road trip, and go have those experiences. There’s no better way to just disappear for days, or weeks. Disconnect to reconnect is a big theme now. Turn off the phone, turn off the news.
Amazon birding adventure
Sacha Lodge, an easily accessible 5000-acre private ecological reserve in the Ecuadorian Amazon, is thrilled to announce an array of NEW private birding itineraries. Highlights include the only Canopy Exploration Crane in the Amazon, nighttime expeditions, the Yasuni Parrot Clay Lick, the 940-foot-long Canopy Walk, the 360-degree panoramic Kapok Tower, and more.
Death Valley bikepacking
Ride the heart of the Mojave Desert, from Death Valley National Park to Red Rock Canyon. On this five-day bikepacking tour, navigate the wide valley floor, sunbaked foothills and stacks of boulders, stopping to visit historic sites accessed by 1930s-era Civilian Conservation Corps roads.
Early season Antarctica
Avoid the turbulent waters of the Drake Passage and reach Antarctica faster by booking an early season fly-and-cruise expedition through Adventure Life. Begin the eight-day trip in Punta Arenas, Chile, then fly two hours to King George Island, board the Magellan Explorer and cruise among the icebergs, penguins, seals, and whales of the white continent.
Road Trip 2.0
Nothing is better than jumping in your car and heading out on a road trip. AdventureGenie is the world’s first AI-powered, end to end system for planning road trips. It offers the most immersive, innovative, and intelligent adventure travel planning solution for road trippers. Whether starting from a curated GenieTrip or creating a fully customized and personalized journey from your own ideas, AdventureGenie’s got you covered.
Yellowstone Horseback Fly Fishing
Travel by horseback into Yellowstone National Park’s interior and cast for trout on seldom-fished streams guided by the experts at Flying Pig Adventures. Whether it’s for a few hours or a full day, a family or a group of friends, Flying Pig will handle all the details for a unique Yellowstone fishing excursion.
Jackson Hole glamping
Wyoming’s Fireside Resort offers 25 luxuriously outfitted tiny house rental units designed by Wheelhaus just a short distance from Grand Teton National Park and the Jackson Hole ski slopes, making it the perfect place to stay for a fall getaway or winter ski trip.
Galapagos getaway
Fall is one of the best times of year to visit Ecuador’s Galapagos Islands, particularly when it comes to wildlife and weather. The Finch Bay Galapagos Hotel has joined forces with Scalesia Galapagos Lodge to offer a new weeklong program that includes day trips aboard the yacht Sea Lion, glamping in luxury tents on Isabela Island and visits to remote locations that highlight the incredible diversity of the archipelago.
Big Sky escape
A visit to Big Sky, Montana, and stay at The Wilson Hotel offers the opportunity for fall adventures in Yellowstone country. With elk bugling and pockets of aspen trees turning golden amid the green forest, hike and mountain bike the trails surrounding town, fish the Gallatin River or take one last tour of Yellowstone National Park’s natural wonders before roads close for the season
Alaska Northern Lights adventure
On Gondwana Ecotours’ eight-day Alaska Northern Lights Adventure, guests will get a dose of local culture by day, then photograph the aurora borealis at night. Highlights of the tour include dogsledding through snowy forests, taking curling lessons from locals, enjoying a meal with homesteaders, soaking in a geothermal hot spring, learning how to photograph the aurora borealis, snowshoeing on private land, having tea with a family of reindeer herders and more.
On the Canada front, the folks at Mount Logan EcoLodge, nestled at the foot of the Mount Logan mountains in the Yukon, are talking about how it’s an ideal time to come see the Northern Lights, also known as the Aurora Borealis. They are particularly spectacular against those northern Canadian skies, due to the vibrant colours and dynamic patterns they create.
Roxanne Mason, co-owner and general manager of the lodge, says they are seeing a noticeable uptick in bookings from big cities like Toronto and Vancouver, and beyond Canada’s borders, in large part because of these winter experiences that are unique to places like the one they are based in. Mason says they’re offering direct flights into the area now, to help expedite people’s arrivals there. The Yukon is one place where people are heading to experience the “healing power of nature”.
Since 1992, we at Escape Adventures have been blessed to shape and lead adventure travel vacations through some of the most awe-inspiring natural destinations in the world. Each successive season, our passion for adventure grows through memorable moments with our guests. Fresh air, faith, fitness and friends are the building blocks for our ventures, the treasured experiences that keep us moving forward. For those of you who have trekked and traveled with us over the past quarter century, Heather and I express our sincerest gratitude. The memories are priceless.
