I appreciate the way that traveling breaks up my normal schedule, but there are some things that I still like to consider even away from home. If you aren’t interested in working out, this may not cross your mind, but if you do like the familiarity of maintaining a work out schedule, then I totally understand wanting to make sure that you reach your goals while on the road.

If your hotel has a gym, this may not be something you’ve considered, but if you’re looking for ways to incorporate more physical activity without going to the gym, then this is the travel blog for you. Here are alternatives any ladies can try to incorporate more activity within their travel itineraries that allows us to stay active:

5 Ways I Workout While Traveling (without a gym)

Plan a beach day in your itinerary & do some stretches.

There’s no better feeling than stretching out on warm sand in the sun (am I right ladies?) but did you know a few extra movements could help you feel better? Long travel days can leave you surprisingly stiff. Adding yoga to your beach day allows you to get some stretching done with mindful movements in a gorgeous outdoor setting that promotes relaxation. After a long travel day these stretching workouts you do can be a super effective with improving your flexibility and promoting circulation within your body — I will be able to feel the difference. You’re stretching session does not need to be super strenuous, moving with a purpose and easing your body into the positions is a great way to clear your mind and stretch your body without doing more than you are ready for.

Plan to walk between attractions when you’re traveling.

It’s totally understandable if you have a rental car because of the distance between attractions (I do it too), but if you find that some locations are closer than others then I would consider walking to them instead of driving. A simple and effective way to incorporate more physical activity into your travel itinerary is checking Google maps and seeing how far one place is from another, if it seems like a distance you are capable of, then walking would be a great way to stay active during that travel day without needing to dedicate time aside to working out. I’m not saying you have to completely ditch your car, but finding two cool attractions near reach other can make a huge difference with reaching your step goal.

Avoid the escalators/elevators and take the stairs instead in a new place.

It is not uncommon for wherever you visit to have a set of stairs nearby; you can find stairs at malls, landmarks and even around your hotel — I’m sure you will have no difficulty finding a set of stairs on your travel day. Avoiding the escalators and elevators while instead taking the stairs allows you to incorporate a bit more physical activity in short spurts and this change can be extremely helpful to you in the long run. I’m not suggesting that you climb 20 stories high with your suitcases on your back and struggling (unless you want to); I am suggesting that switching up your usual way with another may be beneficial and allow you to stay active without much additional effort. If it were me, I would make sure that I take the elevator/escalator with my suitcases, but at least one time I utilize the stairs until I get the strength to use the stairs more frequently.

Add a bike tour to your travel itinerary.

If you are looking for something a little bit more active, but can still be done at whatever activity rate you are capable of, then I suggest incorporating a bike tour into your travel itinerary. Bike tours are a great mix of being able to sightsee while also remaining active; the perspective of a city on a bike is tremendously different than a car & allows you to catch some more details than just walking. There’s nothing I love more than being able to control my direction while sightseeing and being able to complete a physical activity without that being the main focus. One of my favorite things about bike tours are all of the breaks that you may have and all of the interesting things you would otherwise ignore because they aren’t on your main itinerary; even if a physical activity isn’t your focus, I highly suggest planning a bike tour so that you can discover some things off the beaten path.

Find a pretty local trail to hike while traveling.

One of my favorite things about hiking and sightseeing is that there are different routes for different levels of capabilities; incorporating a hiking trail within your capabilities in a new place is another great way to sightsee while remaining active. Hiking is a great way to get your steps in, enjoy the views & be able to take a break for photos. If you do plan on adding a hike to your itinerary, make sure that you are also packing water – it can be easy to get carried away when you’re admiring a pretty location, but we also want to make sure that you are safe and hydrated while doing so. Sometimes completing a shorter hike emphasizes how strong you are and motivates you to pick a more strenuous option later on; if this isn’t something you normally do, I suggest picking an easier hike so that you can build your endurance from there.

Explore a new local market or mall when you travel.

Believe it or not, having fun does it mean that you are no longer working out: if you plan on getting your steps in at a local market or mall while traveling, it still counts! There’s nothing more entertaining than shopping or window shopping in a new place and getting lost in all of the new items within your reach. Women travelers who are looking to add more activity to their itineraries should plan a few hours of shopping as a way to get some steps while enjoying the eye candy. Who knows, after all of your steps you may actually find a cool place with things worth buying.

How do you stay active while traveling?

Traveling can be a great way to break up your routine, but that doesn’t mean you have to completely step away from your fitness goals. As someone who gets a little bit restless if they haven’t really done anything active throughout the day, I totally understand looking for ways to add more activity to your itinerary without spending an hour at the gym. By adding just a few simple activities to your itinerary, it’s easy to stay active while enjoying your time away from home. Whether it’s walking between attractions or trying out a bike tour, these alternatives are perfect for any women looking to maintain her health and fitness while traveling. I’d love to hear from you— what are some ways you stay active on the go? Feel free to share your tips and suggestions!