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COURTESY FREEIMAGES.COM
According to new research offered by Project Time Off, just one in four (27 percent) of employees surveyed actually unplug on vacation. Here are five places where hitting the off button won’t be a problem.
1. Explore ecosystems in Central America’s Belize
Experience the calming effects of nature within this Central American gem where rainforests and expansive barrier reefs are a part of the 87 distinct types of ecosystems. Snorkel and dive in coastal areas or go inland for dense greenery and the chance to see colorful native birds. Stay at the Lodge at Chaa Creek for early morning bird-watching tours, to visit the Blue Morpho Butterfly Farm and for medicine trail tours where you’ll learn about the native plants that provide globally significant remedies.
Contact: ChaaCreek.com; TravelBelize.org.
2. Relish the sea breezes in Assateague Island
This magnificent stretch of beach on the Assateague Island National Seashore, Berlin, Md., is perhaps most well known for the wild Chincoteague phonies that make their annual swim across the Assateague Channel. The Seashore, a part of the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge, is also home to more than 300 species of birds as well as miles of trails for biking and hiking. Make time for beachcombing, kayaking, swimming and keeping an eye out for eagles overhead and dolphins in the water.
Contact: nps.gov/asis/index.htm
3. Porch sit at Singletree Gun & Plough in Danbury, N.C.
Check in to the lodge or secluded cabins at this elegantly rustic resort and your digital detox has begun. Guests are encouraged to turn off their technology and become “intoxicated with nature” during their stay through hiking, relaxing on the lawn or earning a degree in “the fine art of Southern porch sittin’,” all while surrounded by 1,000 acres of wilderness. After a game of Pick-Up Sticks or Parcheesi, wander toward the riverfront and cast a line in the Dan River or visit the adjacent Hanging Rock State Park.
Contact: singletreegunandplough.com/index.php
4. Discover the wilderness of Dubois, Wyo.
Wade into the vast Wyoming wilderness where high mountain lakes, miles of hiking, cross-country ski and horseback trails and magnificent views provide a stellar experience. Stay at Brooks Lake Lodge where one- and two-bedroom rustic but restored cabins are nestled among the spruce and pine trees of the Pinnacle Mountains. Enjoy the sweet smell of the forest from under your goose down comforters. Or consider an overnight pack trip into the backcountry to deepen your experience and to sleep under a star-studded sky.
Contact: BrooksLake.com
5. Turn back time at Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill, Ky.
Settle into your guest room or cottage tucked within 13 historic buildings and let the discovery begin. The 3,000-acre site is home to the country’s largest private collection of original 19th century buildings (including 34 original Shaker structures) and is the largest National Historic Landmark in Kentucky. The whole family will want to beeline to the farm to meet four-legged friends, for lessons in sustainability and organic gardening tips. Later, take a ride on the Dixie Bell Riverboat or explore the Kentucky River Palisades via kayak or canoe. Be sure to access the 40 miles of family-friendly trails where bird observation blinds and Shaker mill sites provide added interest.
Contact: shakervillageky.org
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