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64 SHAPE.COM MAY 2020

bestrong+well

T

oday’s most popular get-

aways go much deeper than

sightseeing or relaxing.

“People are using travel to

explore their connection

to the earth and to one another and

even the meaning of life,” says Beth

McGroarty, the VP of research for the

Global Wellness Institute, which has

seen a major surge in spirituality-based

trips. “Travel is now about experienc-

ing the magic of nature and finding

something more purposeful in this

world. There’s an openness to all kinds

of experiences that help us reset our

minds—sound baths, chakra balancing,

visiting an igloo in the Arctic to dis-

connect from news, emails, and texts.”

Resorts, hotels, and destinations across

the U.S., and around the world, are

infusing spirituality and the natural

world into their offerings. “For a lot

of people, nature is their spirituality,”

McGroarty says. These four places will

inspire and revitalize you in different

and exciting new ways.

Trips that connect you with nature

help build a sense of peace and fulfillment—

and can transform your body and

mind. Here’s how to experience a supremely

meaningful vacation. By Pam O’Brien

TAKE A

SPIRITUAL

JOURNEY

Brockloch Treehouse

DUMFRIES AND GALLOWAY,

SCOTLAND

Feel at one with the trees and the stars

at Brockloch Treehouse in southern

Scotland. Located on a working farm

in the middle of a bluebell forest, this

off-the-grid escape in the treetops will

give you an instant sense of tranquility.

During the day, light streams in through

many tiny windows, creating the effect

of dappled sunshine, and skylights

above the bed and sunken bathtub let

you luxuriate while marveling at the

sky. But the real draw is the celestial

bodies that come out at night. Scotland

has some of the largest expanses of

dark skies in Europe, and the nearby

Galloway Forest Park was the first

Dark Sky Park in the U.K. There, you

can head to the Scottish Dark Sky

Observatory to participate in the Night

Sky Experience, visit one of the pan-

oramic viewing points, or simply lie on

a blanket and stargaze. The planets and

stars are so plentiful that they light up

the sky and look close enough to touch.

It inspires awe, and it will make you feel

more connected to the planet—and the

entire solar system—than you thought

possible. (brockloch.co.uk; $192 a night,

2-night minimum)

getaway

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