There’s a lot to be said for chilling on a sandy beach, frosty drink in hand and umbrella overhead – but there’s also a lot that’s fun about more active vacations. Just think about the last trip where you skied your buns off. There’s nothing quite like feeling as though you EARNED those apres-ski cocktails and nibbles!

Fab active vacations don’t have to be limited to the winter, and summer is a great time to take advantage of sunny skies and picture-perfect landscapes to have fun and get in shape on your vacation. This month, we’re featuring a package from New Life Hiking Spa in Killington, Vermont.

This gorgeous Green Mountain getaway just opened for the summer, and to kick things off with a bang they’re offering Spa Week pals a great deal on an 11-Day Weight Loss Retreat.

Book an 11-night Weight Loss Retreat during and receive $200 off the total package or come any 11 nights for the $10 per night discount. Book your 2010 vacation by July 15, 2010 and receive $10 off single occupancy (per night) and $10 off double occupancy (per person/per night). The $10 off discount is valid any night, for any length of stay from now until October 3, 2010.

You get:
• All inclusive price
• Deluxe room
• Three meals a day
• All healthy snacks, water, tea
• Cooking classes
• One massage for every three night stay
• Hiking programs
• Fitness programs
• Evening lectures

Price Details: Regular all inclusive rates are $209-$249 per night. Discounted rates are $190 – $239 based on occupancy and length of stay.

Visit their website for complete information and restrictions, and happy hiking!

The American College of Sports Medicine released its list of the most fit American cities today – and Washington, D.C. topped the list as the healthiest city in the whole US.

The index considers all aspects of health, including disease rates, rates of obesity, consumption of fruits and veggies, outdoor exercise options, and more – and despite its undoubtedly high stress levels, the capital ultimately outraced all other cities thanks to low smoking rates, high numbers of community rec centers, running paths, and swimming pools, and lower than average rates of diabetes and obesity. Not bad for a little ol’ federal district!

The complete list of top 10 cities was as follows:

1. Washington, DC
2. Boston, MA
3. Minneapolis, MN
4. Seattle, WA
5. Portland, OR
6. Denver, CO
7. Sacramento, CA
8. San Francisco Bay Area, CA
9. Hartford, CT
10. Austin, TX

Check out the complete list here – did your city make it?

So it’s that time again – you have to scrape the thatchy growth off your face and endure the nicks, razor burn, and dry scraping that comes with it. While we can’t eliminate the problem by bringing ZZ-Top length beards back in style, we can offer 3 easy tips you probably didn’t know to ensure that your shave is smooth and successful.

1. Never shave dry, unmoisturized skin. Always shave right after a shower. If that’s not possible, wash or splash your face with hot water to open pores – that’s probably the advice you’ve heard before, but what you may not have heard is that applying a dollop of moisturizer post-rinsing will make your shave even closer and smoother.

2. Use a toner right after shaving. A quick swipe of refreshing toner will remove residue and encourage pores to close, resulting in impeccably smooth skin.

3. Battle ingrowns with minimal effort. Using a face scrub once or twice a week (if you want a really low-maintenance DIY recipe, mix 1 part regular white sugar with 1 part avocado or olive oil) will keep dead skin flakes from clogging pores and contributing to painful ingrown hairs. Prevention is the best defense!

Whether you’re a dedicated yogi or a casual practitioner, chances are that laughing doesn’t cross your mind during a class or session. But perhaps it should – at least, those who practice “Laughter Yoga” think so.

Laughter Yoga was begun by an Indian doctor who observed the similar physical benefits of laughter and yoga – both reduce stress and release feel-good endorphins in the body. Yoga also increases flexibility, prevents injury, and helps with circulation. The good doc figured you can’t have too much of a good thing and combined the two practices.

Laughter Yoga works like this:

Laughter is simulated as a body exercise in a group; with eye contact and childlike playfulness, it soon turns into real and contagious laughter.

It’s practiced in hospitals to help patients battling serious illness cope with their situation and keep their strength and spirits up, but even healthy people can get in on the action and laughter – find a Laughter Yoga teacher or class near you!

Eating healthy can seem like an insurmountable task some days – not only is it tough to give up every food indulgence in one fell swoop, but at the end of a long day it can seem so much easier to order takeout than to throw together a healthy meal, especially if it involves unfamiliar or unwieldy ingredients.

So instead of trying to follow all good eating rules at once, why not try to swap out one or two ingredients with turbo-healthy replacements that prepare just as quickly and easily? Today’s swap out – trade rice or starch for quinoa! Despite having a weird name, quinoa is a fabulously healthy grain packed with protein, vitamins, and minerals. It’s an easy substitute for rice or potatoes in a meal with multiple side dishes, or it can create a meal in itself when combined with beans, tofu, or meat.

Basic Quinoa Recipe

1 cup quinoa
1 1/2 cups cold water
Optional: 1/2 tsp salt

1. Soak the quinoa for 15 min in a saucepan or stock pot.
3. Rinse the quinoa well in a colander or strainer. Drain all excess water off.
4. Move quinoa to the pan and add water and salt, if using.
5. Bring to a boil, cover, and simmer for 15 min
7. Remove quinoa from heat and allow to sit five minutes

Quinoa-Vegetable Soup (from allrecipes.com) 

1 tablespoon vegetable oil
2/3 cup quinoa
1 carrot, diced
1 stalk celery, diced
1/2 onion, finely chopped
1/2 green bell pepper, seeded and chopped
2 cloves garlic, crushed
2 (15 ounce) cans chicken broth
3 1/2 cups water
2 large tomatoes, finely chopped
1/4 head cabbage, chopped
salt and pepper to taste
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley, for garnish

1. Heat the vegetable oil in a large pot on medium-high heat. Stir in the quinoa, carrot, celery, onion, bell pepper, and garlic. Cook for a few minutes, until lightly browned, stirring frequently.
2. Pour in the chicken broth, water, tomatoes, and cabbage. Increase heat to high and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium and simmer until the quinoa and vegetables are tender, about 10 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Garnish with parsley before servings.

Sesame-Tofu Quinoa (from Cooking Light)

8  ounces  extra-firm tofu, drained
1  teaspoon  olive oil
1  tablespoon  sesame seeds
1  cup  uncooked quinoa
1 1/2  cups  Vegetable Stock or water
1/4  teaspoon  salt
1/2  cup  chopped green onions
1  tablespoon  low-sodium soy sauce
1/8  teaspoon  black pepper

Place tofu on several layers of heavy-duty paper towels; let stand 20 minutes. Cut into 1/2-inch cubes.

Heat oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add tofu and seeds; sauté 3 minutes. Remove tofu mixture from pan. Add quinoa to pan; cook 3 minutes, stirring frequently. Add stock and salt; bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer 20 minutes. Place in a large bowl. Add tofu mixture, green onions, soy sauce, and pepper; toss.