Many of us have spent the month of December gorging on office snacks and holiday treats, so in January, the resolutions to get back in shape come out in full force. To help it along, take a trip to a health spa or fitness retreat. Canyon Ranch is a well-known fitness and health spa with locations in Arizona, Massachusetts and Florida, and offers special packages for couples or friends looking to get in shape together. Another option is Two Bunch Palms in Palm Springs, California, which offers the chance to pamper yourself and soak in healing mineral waters.
If you live in a cold climate, going on a vacation where it's cold may seem less than appealing. But it may just give you a chance to actually enjoy all that snow. January can be a slower time for ski resorts, so they often roll out ski packages that are hard to pass up. In 2007, resorts across the United States began celebrating Learn to Ski and Snowboard Month, encouraging people to take up the sport. Check out some of the biggies, like Vail's January ski packages, or Learn to Ski package at Alta Ski Area in Utah. Even if you don't ski or snowboard, you can still enjoy sledding, tubing and ice skating in a beautiful mountain environment.
It may seem counterintuitive, but the winter months are some of the cheapest times to visit the islands of Hawaii. Air tickets during this time are as low as $200 from the west coast to Oahu in 2011, compared to several hundred more during the warmer months. Hotel accommodations and food on the island are never cheap, but if you plan far enough ahead, you could land a killer package deal. With the warm breezes and laid-back atmosphere, it's hard to say no to the Aloha lifestyle.
Don't underestimate the local favorites during this time. Reserve a room at the bed and breakfast you've been eyeing for the past few years, or rent the wilderness cabin that typically only gets summer visitors. Get your friends together and rent a hotel room in your own city, then hit the town like tourists, going to clubs or restaurants that seem too far away when you're in the swing of things at home. The key here is to break from your routine and to enjoy what you have right under your own nose.
