Travel Tips

Travel Tip: Swimming Vacations

Swimming in Robert H. Treman State Park. Photo credit: New York State Office of Parks and Historic Preservation

Locations in this article:  Charlotte, NC San Francisco, CA

If you’re an avid swimmer, going on a trip doesn’t mean you’re stuck doing laps in the hotel pool. In fact, there’s a whole trend of open-water experiences where swimming IS the vacation.

A company called Swim Vacation operates a seven-day trip in the Virgin Islands and in the Belgrade Lakes Region of Maine.

You spend a week on a sailing yacht, and go on guided swims each day. You can also participate in clinics to work on your technique or try other water-based sports like kayaking.

Pacific Swims’ safaris include 1 to 3 miles of guided swimming a day, but also incorporates cultural activities. We’re talking cave tours, volcano hikes, and visits to local villages in places like Fiji and Vanuatu.

Feeling especially athletic? Liquid Training is a company in Bora Bora, French Polynesia dedicated to fitness vacations. Try combining swimming with underwater rock running!

Of course, if you’re not sure you’re prepared, look for open-water lessons a little closer to home, with groups like Swim Art in the San Francisco Bay, or the YMCA on Lake Norman near Charlotte, North Carolina.

For more water-based vacations, check out our water sports archives.

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