by Brian Vandenbroek

Created on: August 25, 2009

When you're trying to live healthy, vacations can put a crimp on your diet and exercise regime. And why not? After all, vacations are supposed to be fun. The only problem is, when it's time to go home, settling back into your old regime can be hard. The trick is to get some exercise while on vacation without losing out on the fun. fortunately, there are activities to be had that can give you a chance to exercise while still having fun.

First, try renting a bike. If you're in a new city and want to explore, cycling is a great way to do it. Cycling is a great calorie burner and it's low impact. And what I love about cycling is you can make great time, unlike walking. If you don't want to bring a bike with you, every city has rental shops where you can rent your bike by the hour, day, or week. When you go to rent your bike, don't forget to ask for a map of local bike trails. Bike trails can help you get around town without being hassled by too much traffic.

If you're not in the mood for cycling, try getting in a round of golf. What with golf being as popular as ever these days, there's no shortage of courses a short drive from wherever you're staying. If you don't want to go too far from your hotel, try municipal courses. My friends who golf tell me municipal courses are getting better and better as they try to compete with courses outside of town. If you don't feel like playing a whole round, hit the putting range. Or if you have family, try mini golf.

If golfing isn't your idea of a good walk, there are plenty of ways to get a walk in while on holiday. If you're visiting a big city there are probably municipal parks with plenty of scenic hiking trails to enjoy. Or, you could try a walking tour of the city you're visiting. The local tourism office can point you towards a wide variety of guided and self guided walking tours. Try looking for tours of historic areas, famous places, or even local spooky tours complete with ghost stories. And if you've brought friends and family with you, go back to the parks and take advantage of the basketball or tennis courts.

Sometimes it's nice to go swimming, especially if you're staying somewhere warm. If you have access to a lake, ocean, or other fresh water source, take advantage of the public swimming areas. If you do happen to be staying near a lake or ocean, look into renting a boat, kayak or jetski. Or rent a boat and go waterskiing. No fresh water nearby? No problem, just hit the local swimming pools. Go during public hours or look into some of the water based exercise programs. Sometimes, water polo can be more fun than it looks.

Finally, round out your vacation exercise regime with the little details. When you go to and from your hotel room, take the stairs. Leave the car behind and take the bus. All that walking from bus stop to bus stop adds up, especially if you get off the bus one stop earlier than you need to. When you go sightseeing find two or three attractions that are close enough together to walk to. Get creative and you'll find there are plenty of ways to get that exercise in while having fun on your vacation.

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