While Thanksgiving and turkey hype are an American tradition, its sentiment and celebration are practiced worldwide. From Germany’s Erntedank in early November, and Grenada’s Thanksgiving in October, to Japan’s Kinro Kansha no Hi on November 23rd, humans around the globe make an effort to get together with their families and loved ones to eat copious amounts of food – or they flee.
It doesn’t matter if you fall into the cliché of being afraid of facing your family or afraid of disappointing them, you’re getting on a plane and getting out of Dodge. Since we all share your sudden wave of wanderlust, the airports are packed this time of year, flights are jammed, and I’ll bet you wish you just had some utter peace and quiet.
I’ll further bet that if you knew you were destined for that ethereal release of responsibility and all the physical rest and relaxation you dream about day-in and day-out at the office, you’d be the picture of having found your inner Zen; you’d be Buddha.
Here are some suggestions for destinations that will help you achieve that.
- Doubtful Sand, New Zealand
is a very large and naturally imposing fiord in Fiordland, in the far south west of New Zealand. It is located in the same region as the smaller but more famous and accessible Milford Sound. The fiord is rich in flora and fauna, New Zealand Fur Seals and Fiordland Crested Penguins can be seen on many of the small islets at the entrance of the fiord. Doubtful Sound has some splendid waterfalls, particularly during the wetter seasons. In the Hall Arm, the Browne Falls cascades 619 metres; Helena Falls at Deep Cove tumbles 220 metres. Wildlife is another reason to visit this fiord – keep an eye out for bottlenose dolphins, too!
- Kiso, Japan
The Kiso Valley is home to the Nakasendo trail, one of only five Edo-period highways connecting Edo (Tokyo) and Kyoto. Travelers during this time made this long-journey on foot and, as a result, the Kiso Valley is dotted with historic post towns where travelers once rested, ate, and slept along the way. It’s possible to walk a section of this old highway, between mountains and through thick forests, as well as visit some of the well-preserved post towns.
- Lake Baikal, Siberia
Lake Baikal is an ancient, massive lake in the mountainous Russian region of Siberia, north of the Mongolian border. Considered the deepest lake in the world, it’s circled by a network of hiking paths called the Great Baikal Trail.
