Best Moving Company in Hilton Head Island

Chamber Restaurant Week is the perfect time to try out a new restaurant or enjoy a special menu at an old favorite on Hilton Head or in Bluffton at a time of the year when restaurants are less crowded with tourists.

Dozens of restaurants are participating in the 15th annual event that runs from Saturday, Jan. 28, through Saturday, Feb. 4.

In most cases, chefs have created prix fixe menus that offer a two- or three- course meal for a fixed price. For example, diners might choose one appetizer from a list of three, one main course from a list of three and one dessert from a list of three for a lower total price than it would typically cost for a meal at the restaurant.

Prices generally do not include beverages or a tip for your server.

Hours vary depending on the restaurant, and, in many cases, reservations may be necessary. This year, the sponsoring Hilton Head Island-Bluffton Chamber of Commerce is offering the ability to make reservations through its website for many of the participating businesses.

Following are the restaurants included on the chamber website’s list of Restaurant Week participants as of Wednesday, Jan. 18. We’ve linked to the menus that were available online at that time. This story will be updated as more restaurants and menus are announced.

The deal: Three courses for $54

Main course options: Sauerbraten, pork schnitzel or rainbow trout

Address: 807 William Hilton Parkway, Suite 1200, Hilton Head

Phone: 843-341-3117

The deal: Details not available

Address: 69 Pope Ave., Hilton Head

Phone: 843-785-7700

The deal: Details not available

Address: 27 Dr. Mellichamp Drive, Bluffton

Phone: 843-757-0380

The deal: Three courses for $32

Main course options: Crab-stuffed flounder, braised short ribs, shrimp and grits, Chardonnay chicken or bacon-wrapped shrimp

Address: 86 Helmsman Way, Hilton Head

Phone: 843-842-2016

The deal: Details not available

Address: 37 New Orleans Road, Hilton Head

Phone: 843-785-6261

The deal: Three courses for $42

Main course options: Poulet, truite almondine or boeuf bourguignon

Address: 37 New Orleans Road, Suite J, Hilton Head

Phone: 843-785-3200

The deal: Adult rodizio for $42.50, children 6-12 for $19.95, under 5 free

Main course options: 16 USDA Prime cuts of beef, lamb, pork and chicken

Address: 1000 William Hilton Parkway, Unit B-6, (The Village at Wexford), Hilton Head

Phone: 843-715-3565

The deal: Details not available

Address: 8 New Orleans Road, Hilton Head

Phone: 843-785-9277

The deal: Two course menu for two people plus 90-minute standard simulator rental for $99 (additional $19 per person for menu up to four people)

Main course options: Hawaiian flatbread, shrimp scampi, shrimp pomodoro, pasta and meatballs, or chicken parmesan

Address: 59A New Orleans Road, Hilton Head

Phone: 833-987-GOLF

The deal: Three courses for $35

Main course options: Crabmeat-stuffed jumbo shrimp, chicken alfredo pasta, grilled salmon or Southwestern New York strip

Address: 104 William Hilton Parkway, Hilton Head (Jarvis Creek); 149 Lighthouse Road, Hilton Head (Harbour Town)

Phone: 843-681-5021 (Jarvis Creek) or 843-363-2722 (Harbour Town)

The deal: Three courses for $35

Main course options: Blackened Carolina catfish, seafood pasta, Carolina shrimp and polenta or Cast Net (shrimp, oysters and flounder)

Address: 11 Simmons Road, Hilton Head

Phone: 843-842-2267

The deal: Two courses for $25

Main course options: Shrimp and chicken gumbo, fried shrimp platter or Lowcountry boil

Address: 1 North Forest Beach Drive, Hilton Head

Phone: 843-342-3474

The deal: Details not available

Address: 1301 Main St., Hilton Head, or 26 Discovery Drive, Bluffton

Phone: 843-682-4455 (Hilton Head) or 843-767-3423 (Bluffton)

The deal: Details not available

Address: 50 Shelter Cove Lane, Hilton Head

Phone: 843-785-4144

The deal: Details not available

Address: 430 William Hilton Parkway, Hilton Head

Phone: 843-802-2424

The deal: $3 fat reduction donut shots and $2 off shake and tea combo

Address: 841 William Hilton Parkway, Hilton Head

Phone: 843-298-3169

The deal: $3 margaritas

Address: 1000 William Hilton Parkway, Suite J6, Hilton Head

Phone: 843-842-5282

The deal: Three courses for $39.99 (includes entertainment fee)

Main course options: KOB Surf and Turf, Queen’s Half Rack Baby Back Ribs, Johnny Cash Ring of Fire Salmon or “Glades Night” Chicken and Waffles

Address: 19 Dunnagans Alley, Hilton Head

Phone: 843-686-2868

The deal: Any 10-inch classic pie and salad for $16, two 10-inch classic pies for $17, or any 16-inch classic or featured pie and appetizer for $26

Address: 55 New Orleans Road, Hilton Head; 15 State of Mind St., Bluffton

Phone: 843-842-7437 (Hilton Head) or 843-837-7437 (Bluffton)

The deal: Three courses for $39

Main course options: North Carolina brook trout, fried chicken, shepherd’s pie, pappardelle pasta

Address: 841 William Hilton Parkway, Unit A, Hilton Head

Phone: 843-715-3215

The deal: Three courses for $42

Main course options: Ravioli di aragosta, gnocchi di patate alla boscaiola, vitello alla saltimbocca, cotolettoa di maiale or salmone con pistachio

Address: 37 Orleans Road, Suite L, Hilton Head

Phone: 843-785-6272

The deal: Three courses for $35

Main course options: Farmstand bowl, shrimp and grits, Dr. Joe’s Duck Hash, Coastal Hospitality Burger or pan-roasted salmon

Address: 35 Office Park Road, Hilton Head, or 207 Bluffton Road, Bluffton

Phone: 843-682-2337 (Hilton Head) or 843-706-2337 (Bluffton)

The deal: Three courses for $30

Main course options: Salmon Oscar, potato-encrusted flounder, Greek pork loin, honey pecan triggerfish, butchers flat iron steak or brisket bolognese

Address: 9 Park Lane, Hilton Head

Phone: 843-686-2920

The deal: Three courses for $39.50; add Veneto wine flight for $29

Main course options: Ravioli all ‘aragosta, costatelle di vitello, branzino puttanesca or cotoletta di pollo alla parmigiana

Address: 18 New Orleans Road, Hilton Head

Phone: 843-715-2172

The deal: Four courses for $35

Main course options: Chef’s daily catch, dayboat scallops, curried shrimp pasta, petite filet mignon or smoked pork ribeye

Address: 101 Marshland Road, Hilton Head

Phone: 843-681-6040

The deal: Details not available

Address: 1 Greenwood Drive, Suite 7A, Hilton Head, or 104 Buckwalter Parkway, Suite 1A, (in Berkeley Place), Bluffton

Phone: 843-682-6262 (Hilton Head) or 843-816-6262 (Bluffton)

The deal: Three courses for $30

Main course options: 16-ounce bone-in pork chop, seared fish or crispy BBQ tofu

Address: 1 South Forest Beach Drive, Hilton Head (at Beach House)

Phone: 843-785-2900

The deal: Three courses for $38

Main course options: Seared swordfish, veal osso bucco or pesto tortellini

Address: 38 Shelter Cove Lane, Suite 121, Hilton Head

Phone: 843-341-3838

The deal: Three courses for $29.99

Main course options: Chicken Milanese, Guinness slow-roasted beef short ribs or herb-butter roasted grouper

Address: 7D Greenwood Drive, Hilton Head

Phone: 843-842-4414

The deal: Three courses for $30

Main course options: Outrageous Chimichanga, burrito, blackened mahi, pork chop verde or stuffed portabella

Address: 807 William Hilton Parkway, Suite 700, Hilton Head

Phone: 843-785-3838

The deal: Three courses for $40

Main course options: Sauteed cod, grilled mahi mahi, Low Country kebabs, Mediterranean salmon, shrimp and grits, chicken with cranberry buerre blanc or grilled pork loin chop

Address: 807 William Hilton Parkway, Suite 1000, Hilton Head

Phone: 843-785-9990

The deal: Three courses for $30; takeout meal serves two

Main course options: Classic chicken pot pie, filet mignon pot pie, lasagna

Address: 12 Capital Drive, Hilton Head

Phone: 843-682-3663

The deal: Details not available

Address: 397 Squire Pope Road, Hilton Head

Phone: 843-681-3663

The deal: Details not available

Address: 2 Hudson Road, Hilton Head

Phone: 843-785-3625

The deal: Three courses for $28

Main course options: Half rack of ribs, chicken and ribs, Butt & Bones or grilled salmon

Address: 34 Palmetto Bay Road, Hilton Head

Phone: 843-842-4227

The deal: Four courses for $30 or four courses for $38

Main course options: Veal Verona, chicken pancetta, flounder piccata, Naples style snapper, shrimp pesto tortellini or veal saltimbocca

Address: 15 Executive Park Road, Hilton Head

Phone: 845-785-7006

The deal: Three courses for $29 or three courses for $35

Main course options: Carne asada, coastal shrimp, Grande Plato, salmon, chicken fajitas, chimichanga, Tio’s Burrito or ropa vieja/roasted pork

Address: 40 Shelter Cove Lane, Suite 181, Hilton Head; and 7 Venture Drive #106, Bluffton

Phone: 843-842-8467 (Hilton Head) or 843-757-8467 (Bluffton)

The deal: $8 burger and fries

Burger options: Classic Tavern burger, mushroom Swiss burger, bacon cheeseburger or black and bleu

Address: 13 Harbourside Lane (in Shelter Cove Marina), Hilton Head

Phone: 843-785-5600

The deal: Three courses for $40

Main course options: Chicken cordon bleu, shrimp and crab scampi, hanger steak frites or vegetarian perloo

Address: 1513 Main St., Hilton Head

Phone: 843-842-8866

Fountain Painting, a Hilton Head Island painting contractor, provides high-quality, fast, affordable commercial and residential painting services.

HILTON HEAD ISLAND, SC, UNITED STATES, January 19, 2023 /EINPresswire.com/ -- Painting can improve commercial and residential properties on Hilton Head Island by providing a fresh, clean appearance and increasing curb appeal. As a result, it can attract potential buyers or tenants and increase the property's value. Painting can also protect the surface of the building from damage caused by weather and wear and tear, thus increasing its longevity. Additionally, painting can be used to create a specific aesthetic or theme, such as for a business or a particular room in a home, which can enhance the overall ambiance and functionality of the space in a Hilton Head property. Although DIY painting may seem like a cost-saving option, it isn't easy to achieve a professional finish without the proper tools and experience. Fountain Painting is an experienced Hilton Head painting company that can assist homeowners and business owners with color selection, interior and exterior painting, timely completion, and complete client satisfaction.

Whether it's business or home, freshly coated paint can improve the exterior and interior of a building and restore its former glory. Painting a home's exterior has many benefits, including protecting it from the harsh weather conditions of the South. Several environmental factors might damage the exterior of a structure. Wind, rain, and sunlight are just a few examples. However, a new coat of paint provides a protective barrier that helps preserve a building's structural and cosmetic integrity for years to come. So hiring a professional exterior painting service like Fountain Painting every few years is a good idea for preserving the beauty and functionality of residential and commercial properties on Hilton Head Island.

A professional painting contractor on Hilton Head Island can advise customers on complementing the island's mix of historic and modern structures through color, material, and style. Interior and exterior painting require a versatile set of skills and an awareness of the newest innovations in the industry. For example, a reputed interior painter on Hilton Head Island, Fountain Painting, says interior painting requires meticulous planning to avoid damage and costly repairs later. The planning phase involves understanding customer expectations, removing furniture and objects, hands-on trim painting by hand, and making careful style adjustments.

Professional Hilton Head painting services can also help repair the walls or ceilings before the painting begins. Additionally, professional painters often have access to high-quality paints and equipment that can provide a smooth and even finish, enhancing the overall look of the space. They also have experience painting different types of surfaces, such as drywall, wood, and metal, which can help ensure that the job is done correctly and efficiently. Furthermore, professional Hilton Head painters like Fountain Painting provides a warranty on their work.

About Fountain Painting

Fountain Painting is a full-service painting contractor on Hilton Head Island, providing professional interior and exterior painting services for commercial and residential properties. The company's goal is to provide reliable painting services at a fair price and promptly, with the help of a dedicated staff that works closely with customers to guarantee their happiness.

Fountain Painting 7 Water Thrush Pl, Hilton Head Island, SC 29926, United States +18434227512

As usual, thousands of wreaths were placed on graves at Beaufort National Cemetery in December as part of the Wreaths Across America program.

But the tributes turned into a mountain of a problem after arrangements to dispose of the wreaths — all 26,000 — fell through at the 11th hour.

“There is a mountain (literally) of wreaths still sitting at the back of the cemetery,” Wreaths Across America Beaufort said on its Facebook Page Monday. “We need to keep on good terms with Beaufort National Cemetery and take care of this asap.”

On Tuesday morning, two days after the Saturday “retirement” ceremony for the wreaths, when more than 100 volunteers showed up to remove them from the grave markers, there was still a huge pile of green wreaths stacked in the back of the cemetery. A backhoe was being used to load the wreaths into a garbage truck.

The mix-up is expected to be resolved later this week, but it initially had volunteers scrambling and seeking assistance from the public.

“We ran into a little obstacle,” David Edwards, location coordinator for Wreaths Across America Beaufort, told the Beaufort Gazette and Island Packet Tuesday morning.

Edwards struggled to make arrangements, he said, for a waste removal company to bring dumpsters on Saturday. The company that had previously provided dumpsters and hauled the wreaths to the landfill — Edwards would not say who that was — was unable to do it this year, leaving no place to dump 26,000 wreaths.

“I’ve always had people to dispose of them,” Edwards said. “This year I got slapped in the face.”

Wreaths Across America Beaufort put out an urgent plea for help on Facebook, saying “our work is a long way from done!! If anyone is around and can spare an hour we need help!!! If you have a pick up truck and trailer we can load wreaths into that would help too.”

Residents with trucks and trailers began showing up and started loading. “Holy guacamole!” the group said on Facebook. “Our family and friends never stop surprising us!”

The robust response forestalled a launch of a GoFundMe campaign to cover the estimated $3,000 cost of disposal, which had been considered.

“We’ve had a lot of people,” Edwards said, “jumping on board since we put the plea out.”

Edwards said Tuesday he was in discussions with waste hauling companies about removing the remaining wreaths, but the cost remained up on the air.

Edwards was hoping that the wreaths will be removed without a significant cost to the all-volunteer organization. Details still were being worked out.

In 1992, Morrill Worcester, owner of Worcester Wreath Company of Harrington, Maine, made arrangements for a surplus of wreaths to be placed at Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, D.C., in one of the older sections of the cemetery that had been receiving fewer visitors.

Wreaths Across America, a non-profit, started in 2007 to expand the effort around the country.

Today, each December on National Wreaths Across America Day, wreath-laying ceremonies are conducted at more than 3,700 additional locations including Beaufort National Cemetery. Groups organize wreath sponsorships, with each wreath costing $15.

Wreaths Across America Beaufort coordinates the wreath-laying and retirement ceremonies with 44-acre Beaufort National Cemetery, which is operated by the Veterans Administration’s National Cemetery Administration.

For the past two years, Edwards said, enough wreaths have been sponsored to place one on each of the 26,000 interments at the cemetery. In some instances, wreaths are placed on both sides of the markers. That’s up from 8,640 in 2017, which at the time was a record.

“With the help of Beaufort, Beaufort County and families throughout the United States,” Edwards said, “we’ve been able to accomplish it.”

Edwards has been the coordinator for the Beaufort National Cemetery wreath laying for the past 14 years. He loves the job, describing it as a bit like organizing a music concert, with a lot of logistics to handle, including the disposal of the wreaths.

In a perfect world, said Michael Brophy, the Cemetery Administration’s assistant director-in-charge at Beaufort National Cemetery, all of the dumpsters needed to dispose of the wreaths would have been on hand Saturday. Brophy described the oversight as a “minor inconvenience.” “Just a little hiccup,” he said.

Additional dumpsters, Brophy said, are expected to arrived Thursday to deal with the overflow.

This story was originally published January 17, 2023 12:46 PM.

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C., Jan. 19, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- South Atlantic Bancshares, Inc. ("South Atlantic" or the "Company") (OTCQX: SABK), parent of South Atlantic Bank (the "Bank"), announced that its Board of Directors has declared its first cash dividend of $0.10 per share on its common stock. The dividend will be payable on February 15, 2023 to shareholders of record as of February 1, 2023.

Commenting on the dividend, K. Wayne Wicker, the Company's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, remarked, "The payment of South Atlantic's first cash dividend marks an important milestone in the evolution of our Company. While South Atlantic has previously paid three stock dividends in our Company's history, we are pleased to offer to our shareholders who have supported our growth over the years a cash dividend in celebration of our 15^th anniversary. We continue to view ourselves as a growth company, and we remain focused on maximizing shareholder value. We feel that now is an appropriate time to provide our shareholders with a return on their investment through this cash dividend. We sincerely thank all of our shareholders for their continued support in our Company."

About South Atlantic Bancshares, Inc.

South Atlantic Bancshares, Inc. (OTCQX: SABK) is a registered bank holding company based in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. The Company's banking subsidiary, South Atlantic Bank, is a full-service financial institution spanning the entire coastal area of South Carolina, and is locally owned, controlled and operated. The Bank operates twelve offices in Myrtle Beach, Carolina Forest, North Myrtle Beach, Murrells Inlet, Pawleys Island, Georgetown, Mount Pleasant, Charleston, Bluffton, Hilton Head Island and Beaufort, South Carolina. The Bank specializes in providing personalized community banking services to individuals, small businesses and corporations. Services include a full range of consumer and commercial banking products, including mortgage, and treasury management, including South Atlantic Bank goMobile, the Bank's mobile banking app. The Bank also offers internet banking, no-fee ATM access, checking, certificates of deposit and money market accounts, merchant services, mortgage loans, remote deposit capture, and more. For more information, visit www.SouthAtlantic.bank.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains, among other things, certain statements about future events that constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including, without limitation, statements with references to a future period or statements preceded by, followed by, or that include the words "may," "could," "should," "would," "believe," "anticipate," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "plan," "project," "outlook" or similar terms or expressions. These statements are based upon the current beliefs and good faith expectations of the Company's management team and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties that are subject to change based on various factors (many of which are beyond the Company's control). These risks, uncertainties and other factors may cause the actual results, performance, and achievements of the Company to be materially different from the anticipated future results, performance or achievements expressed in, or implied by, the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause such differences include, but are not limited to, general economic conditions, the impact of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic (and any current or future variants thereof), changes in market interest rates, the persistence of the current inflationary environment in our market areas and the United States, the uncertain impacts of quantitative tightening and current and future monetary policies of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, regulatory considerations, competition and market expansion opportunities, changes in non-interest expenditures or in the anticipated benefits of such expenditures, the receipt of required regulatory approvals, changes in tax laws, and current or future litigation, regulatory examinations or other legal and/or regulatory actions, including as a result of our participation in and execution of government programs related to the COVID-19 pandemic and any current or future variants thereof. Although the Company believes that the assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements are reasonable, any of the assumptions could prove to be inaccurate. Therefore, the Company can give no assurance that the results contemplated in the forward-looking statements will be realized and readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements contained in this press release. The inclusion of this forward-looking information should not be construed as a representation by the Company or any person that the future events, plans, or expectations contemplated by the Company will be achieved and readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements contained in this press release. Any forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date hereof, and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect circumstances or events that occur after the date the forward-looking statements are made, except as required by law. All forward-looking statements, express or implied, included in the press release are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement.

Available Information

The Company maintains an Internet website at www.southatlantic.bank/about-us/investor-relations. The Company makes available, free of charge, on its web site the Company's annual meeting materials, annual reports, and quarterly earnings reports. In addition, the OTC Markets Group maintains an Internet site that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding the Company (at www.otcmarkets.com/stock/SABK/overview).

The Company routinely posts important information for investors on its website (under www.southatlantic.bank and, more specifically, under the Investor Relations tab at www.southatlantic.bank/about-us/investor-relations/). The Company intends to use its web site as a means of disclosing material non-public information and for complying with its disclosure obligations under the OTC Markets Group OTCQX Rules for U.S. Banks. Accordingly, investors should monitor the Company's web site, in addition to following the Company's press releases, OTC filings, public conference calls, presentations and webcasts.

The information contained on, or that may be accessed through, the Company's web site is not incorporated by reference into, and is not a part of, this press release.

Member FDIC

SOURCE South Atlantic Bank

Ever feel like you need a vacation after you take a vacation? Perhaps you might consider wellness tourism as a framework for your next break. Wellness travel is essentially a form of self-care: It involves intentionally unplugging from life’s stressors to recharge your batteries, and keeping health and well-being in mind so you can reenter daily life feeling rejuvenated and refreshed.

Wellness tourism looks different for each individual. Some travelers might sign up for a yoga and meditation retreat, stay at a hot springs or spa resort, camp and hike to connect with nature, or even create a DIY itinerary with healthy activities to enhance a preplanned business or family trip. Others might plan a staycation where they find a local Airbnb or hotel to simply get away from their usual environment and rest up for a few days. And others might opt for immersion-based wellness travel, like a pilgrimage, intensive yoga training, or a visit to a humanistic integrative education center to deepen their self-inquiry path.

Unlike other forms of travel, wellness tourism differs from your typical vacation in that well-being remains the primary focus. And beyond offering an opportunity to reestablish healthy habits like sleeping better, eating well, and exercising daily, it may offer other potential physiological and mental health benefits, too.

“Wellness getaways are a prime opportunity to achieve a mental, physical, or emotional reset,” says Lisette Cifaldi, the director of behavioral health at Hilton Head Health, a weight loss and wellness resort on Hilton Head Island in South Carolina.

After retreating to a place with well-being-supportive environments and activities that suit your budget and interests, you may return home happier and less stressed, more motivated to tweak unhealthy behaviors and improve your heart and brain health over time.

Just keep in mind that many of the potential benefits of wellness tourism are anecdotal. Most research focuses on the health benefits of general travel instead of wellness tourism specifically. That said, here are some potential perks of wellness-inspired travel that may last long after you get home.

1. It May Boost Happiness

Do you return from vacation feeling happier than before you left? Research suggests this mood boost may have long-term mental health benefits — provided you keep up your travel habit. In a past study of 1,500 women, those who vacationed twice a year were less likely to suffer from depression and chronic stress than women who vacationed less frequently.

There are many reasons why regular time off makes you a happier person. One explanation may be that travel offers a change of scenery, sparking brain activity that has a positive effect on mood.

For example, the authors of a study published in 2020 in Nature discovered that people with more variability in their daily environment were often happier than those who tended to stay put. They also took brain scans of the study participants, and found that people who changed up their location more often also had greater hippocampal-striatal brain circuit activity. The hippocampus is an area of the brain that’s linked with spatial location and the detection of novelty. According to past research, exposure to new environments lights up the hippocampus and releases dopamine, a feel-good brain chemical.

Plus, there’s a lot of learning that takes place on vacation. You get the opportunity to try new foods, experiences, and cultures, “which is the opposite of when you’re living your ordinary life at home,” says Michael Brein, PhD, a travel psychologist living on Bainbridge Island, Washington. With new stimuli come new decisions you have to make about where to go, what to eat, and what to do. Every time you make a “good” (read: healthy) decision, you’re rewarded with a boost in self-confidence, Dr. Brein notes. This sense of accomplishment may lift your mood and inspire you to make changes in your daily routine.

More research is needed to understand why travel boosts happiness, and whether wellness tourism — like dedicating a week to backpacking, spa treatments, or meditating — has unique effects.

2. It May Provide Lasting Stress Relief

It’s well known that stress can create health problems if you don’t find ways to manage it. When you’re constantly stressed, your body stays on high alert even when there’s no real danger. According to MedlinePlus, this can increase your risk of high blood pressure (hypertension), heart disease, diabetes, obesity, and depression or anxiety, among other health issues.

Taking a trip to focus solely on your well-being is one way to manage stress. It gives your mind and body a break from everyday pressures and allows you to participate in relaxing activities and experiences, such as massage therapy, yoga, nature therapy, and meditation. Wellness-focused activities like these bring stress levels down. And you probably won’t have to wait long to notice the effects: According to a nonacademic online survey by Expedia referenced in 2018 by the Global Coalition on Aging, 88 percent of people feel relaxed by day two of their vacation.

Disconnecting for a few days may make your usual responsibilities feel more manageable once your wellness getaway is over. “These experiences help build resilience, allowing travelers to return home feeling refreshed and better equipped to handle day-to-day stressors,” says Jeanette Lorandini, LCSW, a New York City–based licensed clinical social worker and the owner of Suffolk DBT.

A short trip may even reap lasting stress relief. In a study published in 2018 in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20 midlevel executives spent four nights in a hotel outside their usual environment, while a control group of 20 spent their vacation at home. Both groups noticed immediate improvements in stress and well-being. The managers who spent their vacation at a hotel saw greater benefits in improved strain and perceived stress, with the effects lasting 45 days post-vacation.

3. It May Improve Heart Health

The stress-lowering effects of travel may offer good news for heart health.

One small study published in 2019 in Psychology & Health found that full-time workers — participant demographics were 70 percent female and 93 percent Caucasian and earned a middle-class income — who took more vacations over the previous year had fewer symptoms of metabolic syndrome (a group of conditions that occur together, increasing your risk of heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes) than workers who took fewer vacations. In fact, the risk of metabolic syndrome decreased by nearly a quarter with each additional vacation, the researchers noted. The study included only 63 people, which makes it hard to know how these findings might apply to a larger group.

And in another past study, researchers followed more than 12,000 middle-aged men at high risk for heart disease over nine years. The authors discovered that men who reported they had taken a vacation in the previous year were 17 percent less likely to have passed away than men who hadn’t traveled.

While these findings may seem promising, the authors noted that healthier people may be more likely to travel, which may explain why frequent travelers have healthier hearts. More research is needed to determine if and how travel — wellness tourism in particular — could benefit cardiovascular health. According to research published in the Journal of Occupational Health Psychology in April 2021, there may be other barriers to taking time off, like financial restraints and the stress of leaving roles and responsibilities, among others.

4. It May Boost Memory and Creativity

Visiting new environments through travel stimulates the brain, helping you stay sharp, according to the aforementioned report from the Global Coalition on Aging.

In a past study involving more than 2,000 older adults, researchers discovered that those who regularly participated in social or leisure activities such as traveling during the three-year study period had a lower risk of developing dementia, a general term for when the impaired ability to remember, think, or make decisions interferes with everyday life, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Exposure to new stimuli may also get your creative juices flowing. In a study published in 2021 in Frontiers in Psychology, employees — the participant group was 74 percent female, 39 percent had children, and over half had a college degree — rated their work-related creativity as higher post-vacation. The researchers speculated that workers were able to recover and restore their mental bandwidth during vacation, which helped them feel more productive and creative once they returned to work. Other explanations for this creativity boost may have been present, and more research is needed to know how, exactly, wellness tourism offers improved creative function.

In reporting on wellness tourism, we're aware there are challenges to taking formal vacation time, including the cost of travel, lack of paid vacation time, and responsibilities at home and at work, among others.