Vacations with a Cardio Workout

We’ve got a great list of outdoor activities that will get your heart pumping and get you to some of the best sights of Opal destinations at the same time.

Hiking Lake George [Lake George, NY]

For one of the highest and closest around Lake George, Black Mountain Loop is the hike to take – a 2,665-footer whose trailhead on Pike Brook Road is just across the lake in Clemons, New York (a 47 minute drive north from The Sagamore, but worth it for the view). As the highest summit around the lake, this gently sloping 6.7-mile, half-day hike takes you into the remote wilderness, by several ponds, and to a spot with an arresting vantage point of the entire 32-mile-long lake.

What to bring: A bathing suit for a dip (or two) in cool mountain waters, plus binoculars for sightseeing Lake George from on-high.

Where to Stay The Sagamore Resort

Kiteboarding the Keys [Key West, FL]

More than 275 square miles of warm, shallow waters make Key West the ideal playground for first-time kiteboarders. It’s a multi-step, challenging sport with a steep learning curve, but getting up to speed will work everything from your core to your glutes, thighs, and upper back. All told, your intro to the sport here makes for a unique and muscle-toning way to see the aquamarine shallows of the Keys.

What to bring: A comfortable, flexible life jacket for your aerial aerobics, and a willingness to put in the effort needed to truly master kiteboarding.

Where to Stay Sunset Key Cottages

Mountain Biking the Adirondacks [Lake Placid, NY]

Sitting at the foot of the Lake Placid Lodge‘s doorstep is a trailhead to the 125-mile Jackrabbit Trail – which doubles as a cross-country ski network in the winter. With a complimentary resort mountain bike rental, guests can hit the trails and choose from gentle beginner paths to steep, curving descents for experts. The resort was also named one of the “Top 10 Hotels that Takes Fitness to the Next Level” by Condé Nast Traveler in its 2015 Gold List, so you can exit the front door and find exercise most anywhere.

What to bring: A repair kit and CO2 cartridge in case you get a flat on the rocky trail.

Where to Stay Lake Placid Lodge

Kayaking Maine’s Craggy Coast [Bar Harbor, ME]

Sea kayaking is one of the few exercises offering a simultaneously relaxing and strenuous experience, and that’s not mentioning the terrific sightseeing. Join a guided tour and embark on a seven-hour journey that slips between rocky islands and past striped lighthouses, catching sight of circling ospreys and playful porpoises while working your arms, shoulders, and back muscles.

Where to Stay West Street Hotel | Harborside Hotel, Spa & Marina

What to Bring: A waterproof bag to keep the ocean off your belongings.

Wheeling Along The Ream Wilson Trail [Clearwater Beach, FL]

This soon-to-be-completed 11.5 mile trail will connect Clearwater to Safety Harbor, effectively affording in-line skaters, bicyclists, and skateboarders a freshly paved path from one end of the Florida peninsula to the other. Even now, the 4.4 miles of open trailway gives you a chance for an invigorating workout with views of bustling Clearwater and the beach, one that should conclude at Pier 60 for people-watching and a well-deserved snack.

What to bring: An iPod, charged phone, or portable sound system to give yourself the sunny soundtrack your skate deserves.

Where to Stay Sandpearl Resort | Opal Sands Resort