Are you suddenly feeling tired of tired of your day-to-day existence? Work got you down, even if it’s the profession you thought you always wanted? Do you find yourself regretting the things you never did? Are you pining for the days of your lost youth? You may be going through a mid-life crisis.
While it can be considered a common tv sitcom trope or a proverbial red letter to mark unusual thoughts or behavior, it’s nothing to be embarrassed about. You’re not alone. In fact, most people will likely experience some form of it in their life time. But how do you handle it? Maybe you’re thinking of buying a new car. Something fast and flashy that says to the world “I’m still here and I’ve got a lot to show off”.
Maybe you’ve always wanted to learn to speak a second language, learn a new skill set or study abroad. Maybe you just need to escape and start over. The key to solving the mid-life crisis is to find out what works best for you. Maybe even try to find the real you. Travel has always been considered a great way to broaden one’s self, so why not take a trip tailored to your personality and needs? Here are a few suggestions to help you along your way.
Decadent Locales
If you’ve got some extra cash saved up and are craving bright lights, high-stakes and living the “suite life”, you might consider one of these locations:
Monaco
This beautiful Mediterranean country—while being the second smallest next to the Vatican– is home to not only stunning museums and the Monaco Grand Prix race featured in Iron Man 2, but also a grand cathedral where Princess Grace and Prince Ranier III were laid to rest. It is is also notably the location of a gold and marble-clad casino where a certain 00 agent has been known to play baccarat. But if you want to rub elbows with the high-rollers there, keep in mind there is a strictly enforced dress code.
Video from CMX Event Management
Dubai
Located on the Southeast coast of the Persian Gulf, Dubai is both a major business hub in the Middle East and the pinnacle of decadence. You can rent a sports car to drive through the sand dunes just outside the city, grab lunch at the 160 story Burj Khalifa tower and take a tour of the city scape by helicopter or hot air balloon.
Be sure to bring a camera! You won’t want to miss taking a snapshot of the Palm Jumeirah, one of three planned man-made islands shaped like—you guessed it– a palm tree. Dubai contains amusement parks suited to meet anyone’s taste, from water slides to Bollywood themed parks and even a Ferrari park. If that doesn’t scream fancy, not much will.
Las Vegas
Few places are as well kinown for their flashiness as Vegas. One thought of as a mob-run den of sin, this little desert haven in Nevada has become much more family friendly in recent years. While many of the casinos and burlesque shows are still there, you can also take in musicals, magic shows, all kinds of conventions and see some of your favorite musical acts perform live any day of the week. If sporting events are more your thing, you can catch a major boxing event one of several venues including Mandalay Bay.
Spiritual Journeys
Perhaps you’ve always wanted to go to a place with deeper meaning. People from all around the world flock to ancient holy sites in search of something greater than themselves. Whether you’re religious or not, there are many places to visit that hold a great sense of wonder and beauty.
Angor Wat
Originally constructed as a Hindu temple in the Siem Reap region of Cambodia, Angkor Wat was converted to a Buddhist temple city over the centuries. Although it has been heavily damaged by war, weather and other ravages of time, the complex still remains a magnificent site to behold with its unique architecture that has been captured by many traveling artists over the years.
Legend tells of pilgrims whispering secrets into holes in the rocks near the temple and covering the holes with mud to forever keep that secret hidden. A romantic notion brought to the silver screen in Wong Kar-wai’s film “In the Mood for Love”.
Kinkaku-ji; The Golden Pavilion
Famous long before it was written about by Yukio Mishima, this temple in Kyoto, Japan was built as a villa for Ashikaga Yoshimitsu during the Muromachi Period. It was destroyed in a fire in 1950 but because of its popularity and cultural significance, was later rebuilt on the same site. The temple is indeed gold and is surrounded by a beautiful forest, pond and gardens and houses Buddhist relics.
The Vatican
Ruled over by the Catholic Church with the Pope as its sovereign, the Vatican is the smallest independent state in the world land and population-wise. It has been a destination for many Catholics world-wide for centuries. But its cultural significance has been recognized long before Christianity. The Roman emperor Caligula held chariot races there in Nero’s Circus and even brought the famous obelisk in St. Peter’s square all the way from Egypt. The stunning architecture alone is worth the trip.
How about a road trip?
Sometimes the importance of a journey isn’t in the destination, but in the journey itself. In an effort to find yourself, you may want to just hop in your vehicle and hit the road like Jack Kerouac, Hunter. S. Thompson and Clark W. Griswold. In the United States alone, there are so many different cultures and sites to experience.
Food
Take a trip along the Mississippi Delta and enjoy fine Southern dishes such as hot tamales, fried catfish, lutefisk, barbeque and many other tasty treats as you make your way from the Gulf of Mexico all the way to Minnesota. Speaking of barbeque, you can take a trip from Tennessee through the Carolinas, St. Louis and even into Kansas City and Texas sampling a plethora of different styles along the way the whole way. The American Southwest has countless dishes to savor as well, from Tex Mex, to chili, to Vietnamese food in Dallas one thing is for sure: you’ll never once want to stop for fast food.
Backpacking
Hike along the Appalachian trail from Georgia to Maine and take in all the beauty that nature can provide. The Wonderland Trail in Washington state will take you through the wilderness in a 93-mile loop with the inactive volcano, Mount Rainier always in sight. Venture through the national parks like Yosemite and Yellowstone. Witness the power of Old Faithful, a natural geyser in Yellowstone that erupts several times a day. See the buffalo roam along Americas Great Plains. Just be careful of the occasional stampede!
Movies!
Hollywood is well known for being a major film studio location, but be afraid to think outside the box if you want to see some great locations from classic films. You can take a tour through Philadelphia to many of the places where Rocky was filmed. From the Kensington area where the character of Rocky Balboa lived, tthough the Italian Market where he jogged, to the Philadelphia Zoo where he proposed to Adrian and of course to the Philadelphia Art Museum where he ran to the top of the steps and raised his fists above the Philadelphia skyline in one of cinema’s most triumphant moments. If you like westerns, travel along Highway 163 through Monument Valley which was immortalized in John Ford films like Stagecoach. You might also recognize it from movies like Forrest Gump, Thelma & Louise and National Lampoon’s Vacation. While you’re in the West, you could visit Vasquez Rocks, where Blazing Saddles, Bill and Ted’s Bogus Journey, and Army of Darkness were filmed. Or see the entrance to the Bat Cave also known as Bronson Caves—which is actually located just below the Hollywood sign.
Whatever you’re seeking in your mid-life crisis; whatever you’re missing, you may have to make the escape to find it. Get out there! Find the real you. You may be satisfied with taking a few days or weeks to do so, or you may find that you want to keep the journey going for as long as possible. Whatever the case, there is something out there for you. You just need to start looking.
If you are planning a vacation, getaway, or just need some time to yourself, you can step-up the experience by being taken to your destination in a fantastic ride! A1A Limo offers the best in luxury cars and party busses. Take a look at our fleet and book your ride!
We can be reached by phone at 561-622-2222 or by email at Dispatch@a1alimo.com of course if you are ready to Book Now, head over to our reservation page and get ready to experience the best of luxury.
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