One way to quiet your mind and hit the mental reset button is to change your surroundings, which can include going for a walk, leaving the house, visiting a friend, or trying a new coffee shop. Sometimes, those changes of scenery aren’t enough to provide the reset your body and mind need. Taking a trip can provide that larger change in scenery that successfully pulls you out of burnout, disconnection, or a long stretch of sameness. Whether you’re looking for calm, clarity, or something to jolt your sense of wonder back to life, these destinations offer more than just a break—they offer renewal.
1. The Blue Zones: Costa Rica’s Nicoya Peninsula
Life in Nicoya moves at an unhurried pace with slow mornings, fresh meals, and warm communities. A few days on this Costa Rica peninsula can serve as a reminder to live simply and fully. Spend your days on the beach, exploring jungles, or chatting with locals whose lives prioritize connection. Nicoya is also known for its large population of centenarians, many of whom credit their longevity to the relaxed lifestyle, strong social ties, and connection to nature. When you’re here, time feels slower—and somehow, more meaningful.
2. Western Caribbean Islands
When you want to reset without thinking about logistics, taking a cruise to the Western Caribbean can be the perfect solution. Visit spots like Roatán and Grand Cayman, float over coral reefs, and return to your cabin as the sun sets. Sometimes, having everything taken care of is the rest you need. The rhythm of life on a ship with days spent between turquoise waters and white sand beaches offers a gentle structure that invites you to let go. Between savoring tropical fruit on deck and snorkeling through quiet coves, the Caribbean has a way of coaxing you into relaxation.
3. Kyoto, Japan
There’s a stillness to Kyoto that invites reflection. Temples tucked into forested hills, quiet tea houses, and cherry blossoms all seem to whisper: slow down. Some options to help you relax while visiting Kyoto are walking the Philosopher’s Path, sitting beneath a maple tree to take a break from walking, attending a traditional tea ceremony, and visiting moss-covered Zen gardens. Each moment in Kyoto seems designed to bring you back to the present.
4. Iceland’s Hot Springs and Black Sand Beaches
Few places feel as cleansing as Iceland. Take a dip in a geothermally heated spring, hike behind waterfalls, and stare across vast, lava-covered landscapes. These experiences in nature can help your shoulders relax, unclench your jaw, and clear your mind from all the stress and overwhelm you’ve been experiencing at home. If you’re not feeling the outdoors, you can also take a drive and still enjoy the scenery of Iceland. Spending time in nature both directly and via a drive through the country can provide the reset you’re looking for.
5. Sedona, Arizona
Famed for its red rock formations and spiritual energy, Sedona has long attracted those in search of clarity. Whether you believe in vortexes or not, the desert light, hiking trails, and star-filled skies do something restorative to the soul. Take a sunrise hike through Cathedral Rock, visit a wellness retreat for yoga and journaling, or simply sit in silence at the edge of a canyon. The dry air and vast views make it easier to leave the noise of everyday life behind.
6. Ubud, Bali
Ubud draws creatives, yogis, and travelers seeking a deeper connection. Wake up to jungle views, take a writing or meditation retreat, and rediscover what brings you joy. There’s a softness here that encourages self-discovery. From sunrise yoga sessions to temple visits, each day in Ubud offers chances to reconnect with your inner world. The local culture encourages mindfulness, and you may find healing in ways you didn’t expect.
7. Scottish Highlands
Rolling hills, misty mornings, and lochs that seem to stretch into the unknown—this is a landscape made for solitude and wonder. Stay in a stone cottage, sip tea by the fire, and let the quiet recalibrate your senses. Long walks in the heather or stargazing under an endless sky can bring a rare sense of peace. The slower pace here doesn’t ask anything of you except presence.
8. Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
Remote and wildly beautiful, this part of Canada is where you go when you need distance—from cities, stress, and even phone service. Watch icebergs drift by, hike coastal trails, and listen to the wind instead of your inbox. Visit fishing villages where time moves slower and community ties run deep. With its cliffs, lighthouses, and raw, untamed energy, Newfoundland doesn’t just offer a reset—it demands it.
Let the destination meet you where you are
You don’t need to be in crisis to seek renewal. Sometimes, a quiet shift is enough. Whether you choose to cross an ocean or simply float along calm waters, what matters is giving yourself space to feel different—and maybe, finally, at ease. A true reset doesn’t always come from grand gestures. Often, it arrives in the small, quiet moments where you feel yourself exhale and know you’re exactly where you need to be.