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9 Trips to Help You Get Over a Breakup

Insider Guides
by Molly Harris Jul 25, 2017

EACH OF US has our own way of getting over a breakup, but travel is definitely one of the most helpful things you can do — get out of your head and into the world.

1. Go on a Memphis Blues mission.

The blues spills out of clubs and bars across Memphis. Start at Blues City Café; next, stop in Wild Bill’s. End with (good) karaoke at Dru’s Place and a 40oz beer– it’s the only option. If Graceland is a Memphis must, spend the night across the street at the Heartbreak Hotel. Walk through the Blues Hall of Fame the next day and see a professional show at the Orpheum Theatre. After this southern remedy, B.B. King sang it best, “I’m free from your spell.”

2. Treat yourself to a winery weekend.

Grab a friend or two, pack for the weekend, and drive 30 miles south of Portland, Oregon to Archery Summit winery’s Red Hills Estate. Each of Archery Summit‘s 6 wineries has a microenvironment that produces distinct wines. Stay in the Guest House at Red Hills Estate for a 270-degree view of the vineyard and a chance to visit the only natural caves used by a winery in Oregon. After a tour and tasting, shop around downtown Dundee. For something more elaborate, check the winery’s calendar for events like summer dinner parties on the terrace or harvest hikes and picnics.

3. Unplug in Northern Morocco.

Though it isn’t easy, a “digital detox” from your ex and cyber-world will help you re-center. Arrive in Casablanca, exploring the city for a few days. Visit the blue houses of Chefchaouen. Weave through drummers, dancers, healers and fortune tellers on the streets of Marrakech. Kick back on an overnight train through the desert. Leave the cell phone on airplane mode. Be unhindered and present.

4. Look for someone new at Ireland’s Matchmaking Festival.

Need a rebound? Check out the Matchmaking Festival in Lisdoonvarna, Ireland. The month-long singles festival gives you access to Ireland’s last traditional matchmaker (or find your own mate on the dance floor.) With nights out ranging from country and pop to soul and disco, most celebrants are bound to find their musical soulmate if nothing else. Take a break from the onslaught with a drink at Roadside Tavern and a dip in the Spa Well, a natural spring.

5. Go on a health and wellness retreat.

Check into a wellness center for a weekend like Semiahmoo Resort. Center yourself with yoga, then tone up for a confidence boost with exercises like TRX and Barre Pilates. Cool off after the gym with a swim, and sweat out toxins in the sauna and steam rooms. Indulge yourself with a range of spa treatments like customized facials and massages or a mani-pedi combo.

6. Get psychadelic at Festival No. 6.

Festival No. 6 in Port Meirion– a short train ride south of Manchester– is the most slept-on event in the festival realm. Drink in the torchlight procession followed by Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band played in full with a symphonic backing. Be dazzled by the heliosphere spectacle as gymnasts cascade from the sky. On the second day, after carnival no. 6 spills through the walkways, drift over to Judy’s Affordable Vintage Fair to find the perfect new item to expand your closet’s repertoire. Take a walk through the forest and you might be surprised by what you find — maybe a floating dance floor and DJ set on a lily pad-dotted pond.

7. Find Empathy in Zagreb, Croatia.

Start at the Museum of Broken Relationships. This eclectic museum of donated objects from past relationships is narrated by the objects’ former owners. After listening to others’ heartwarming and heartbreaking tales, continue down the street to browse the Museum of Naïve Art. One of Zagreb’s best museums, the gallery of self-taught Croatian artists is full of bright works. On to lower town, pass through Dolac, the open air market, to talk with vendors and purchase handcrafted kitchen tools and tablecloths. End the day at the National Theatre. Catch Giselle for revenge-themed ballet.

8. Push yourself with a weekend of hiking.

Get up into the mountains in a place like Schweitzer Mountain Resort, near Sandpoint, Idaho. Take on a challenge, and hike to put things into perspective. Or you can spend your time on the trail riding horses, bikes, or picking huckleberries. No matter the activity, being in the mountains has a way of reminding us that most of the challenges we face are only temporary.

9. Take refuge in a secluded beach resort.

Breakups always call for a bit of seclusion, introspection. Check into a place like Fairmont Mayakoba just outside of Playa del Carmen, Mexico. Spend time walking the Caribbean shoreline or one of the pools. If you want to connect with other people, sign up for cooking classes with celebrity chef Richard Sandoval, or check out the Mexican craft beer tastings.

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