Unwinding on Relaxation Day
Connolly: There are a number of opportunities to relieve stress.
National Relaxation Day is Aug. 15, and the Orlando area offers a number of opportunities for kicking back and unwinding for a day, even amid a pandemic.
2020 has been a stressful year for all of us. With the coronavirus disrupting life around the country and world, plus a news cycle that can feel relentless, the toll of these last few months can be felt far and wide. While none of these ideas are a replacement for therapy, they can provide temporary escapes for a laid-back day of relaxation.
Some options include socially distant outdoor recreation by laying in a hammock, swimming in springs or paddling Florida’s waterways. Visit one of Central Florida’s spas for a pedicure or a massage, or simply stay in and plan a relaxing movie night.
Here are some suggestions on how to spend National Relaxation Day in Central Florida.
Plan a spa day
Florida’s spas have been open again since May, and many are taking coronavirus-inspired precautions by asking visitors to wear masks and increasing sanitization procedures. Get pampered with a manicure or pedicure, or go right for the very relaxing array of massage options — from Swedish to deep tissue to hot stone — available at local spas.
Orlando-area day spas include The Spa Orlando, The Woodhouse, The Ritz-Carlton (with 40,000 square feet of spa space), Allora Day Spa, Spavia and A Royal Pampering, just to name a few.
Order your favorite food from a local restaurant
Are tacos your favorite meal? Treat yourself during National Relaxation Day by checking out local joints such as Tin & Taco, MX Taco, Black Rooster Taqueria, Tako Cheena, Hunger Street Tacos or Gringo Locos.
Maybe barbecue is your jam, so order some 4 Rivers or Pig Floyd’s. If Cuban sandwiches are your best friend, contemplate eating a meal from Old Cuban Cafe, Black Bean Deli or Zaza New Cuban Diner. If sushi tickles your fancy, investigate offerings at Wa Sushi, Kabooki Sushi, Bayridge Sushi or Sushi Pop.
Grab carry-out beer or drinks from an Orlando business
While Orlando’s bars have been closed again since late June (unless they serve food), many establishments are open and serving drinks to-go for offsite consumption.
Grab to-go brews from Rockpit Brewing, Hourglass Brewing, Sideward Brewing, Ten10 Brewing Co., Tactical Brewing Co., Orlando Brewing, Ivanhoe Park Brewing Co. and Redlight Redlight, just to name a few Orlando-area hotspots for craft beer.
For cocktails and mixed
drinks to take home, consider Hunger Street Tacos (sangria by the quart or gallon), Tori Tori, Tamale Co. Mexican Street Food (half-gallon margaritas to-go), Reyes Mezcaleria or The Courtesy.
Enjoy time outside
Even amid the Florida summer heat, socially distant outdoor recreation continues to be a safe way for Sunshine State residents to relax outside.
Strap up a hammock at a scenic Central Florida outdoor hangout, go for a paddle on the area’s beautiful waterways or enjoy a socially distant hike or bike ride.
With sweltering summer weather, cooling down in one of Florida’s many springs provides a welcome respite from the heat. If you like underwater exploration, snorkeling is a great option to see one of Florida’s pristine waterways.
Find peace of mind with yoga or meditation
Yoga and meditation are two activities that have been known to help relieve the stresses of modern-day life for those who practice them regularly. Find a good online yoga class or tutorial to help stretch out anxiety and pressure, or visit one of Orlando’s studios that are currently open and hosting socially distanced classes.
From the comfort of your home, you can also download one of several popular meditation apps, such as Headspace, Calm, Aura and 10% Happier.
Curl up with a good book
National Relaxation Day might just be the perfect time to curl up with your latest read. Have you been re-reading the entire
Harry Potter series while staying home? Spending some quality time with Lord of the Rings again?
Find a new bingeable book series to read while spending more time around the house.
Have a movie night
Since many of Central Florida’s indoor theaters remained closed, sit back and relax by hosting an at-home movie night.
The area’s drive-in theaters are also open and showing classics on their screens.
Plan a beach day
The Sunshine State’s beaches are known far and wide as destinations for relaxing. Even better, public health experts have said that the beach can be a safe destination for enjoying time outdoors, as long as social distancing and safety guidelines are being observed.
Central Florida’s sandy shores are open and largely unrestricted, although some are enforcing social distancing and groups of less than 10 people.