GIVE HER PERSPECTIVE
Seeing things from a different perspective can be the most transformative experience of all, especially when a summit - literal or figurative - is involved. For the active traveler, a vacation with hiking on the itinerary is often the best kind. New Zealand is a paradise for tramping (that’s Kiwi-speak for hiking), and home to some of the most accessible and inspiring multi-day hiking routes in the world including the epic Milford and Routeburn Tracks. And since conditions in the spectacular Southern Alps have a tendency to change on a dime, no matter what time of year you visit, layering is a must. The Rock Ridge Jacket is made with eco-insulation to keep you toasty warm while protecting the earth (thanks to recycled fabrics) as it protects you. It’s sleek and lightweight at the same time - just the thing to have along for those medium and high-intensity hikes. And you’ll be navigating the trails with ease in the Headlands Hybrid Cargo Tight. For a pleasant mix of coastal and inland trails on this side of the Pacific, head to California and SLO (San Luis Obispo County), where 315 days of annual sunshine make it all the more inviting for a hike off the beaten path.
Steven Pan
GIVE HER STILLNESS
What better gift is there than one that encourages the recipient to bask in the stillness of natural beauty while indulging in some proper pampering at the same time? For a vacation that delivers jaw-dropping views along with a decadent wellness escape, consider the Six Senses Douro Valley in Portugal. Defined by rolling hills covered in vines cut through by the Douro River, the landscape here breathes serenity. Resort programs range from daily pilates and yoga classes to tree-climbing adventures and beauty product workshops using natural ingredients, so you can be as active or mellow as you like. Keep your style casual and uber-cozy between activities with the Cozy Karma Longer Wrap or Criss Cross Back Hoodie Sweatshirt - once you feel their remarkably plush interior softness on your skin, you’ll never want to take them off.
And for a focus on body treatments and wellness treatments that will have you donning a plush bathrobe, head to Mexico’s inimitable Gem Spa at Grand Fiesta Americana Coral Beach Cancun. The 40,000 square foot spa has a hydrotherapy circuit that surrounds you with Italian mosaics, black granite and other evocative materials meant to soothe and pamper you alongside treatments inspired by the healing properties of natural gems.
Jay Kolsch
GIVE HER GOOSEBUMPS
There’s a saying in the world’s coldest places that there’s no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing. And when you’re properly dressed for the chill of winter in the wonderlands of Norway and Alaska, you can fully bask in the rare icy beauty that’s relegated to some of the world’s most extreme latitudes. Find your zen while watching the Northern Lights dance across the night sky during a reindeer sledding excursion across a frozen fjord in Arctic Norway. And in Alaska, scout for the Aurora from the warmth of outdoor natural thermal pools at Chena Hot Springs Resort, east of Fairbanks. The new Snow Down Jacket packs down easily and cocoons you in warmth, complete with a drawstring hood to cinch tight against the chill. Layer it with the fitted merino-blend Foresthill Turtleneck underneath and even the Arctic chill doesn’t stand a chance of interfering with your adventure.
Tom Craig
GIVE HER THE WORLD
If the world is your oyster, then finding yourself in a new-to-you city is like uncovering the pearl. Solo or with friends, Copenhagen, with its palpable spirit of hygge (loosely translated as “coziness,”) is a joy to explore. Do like the Danes and pedal a rented bike to explore the city’s flat terrain and cool neighborhoods like Vesterbro and Nørrebro. The Mid-Cut Sneaker by New Balance and Kinetic Sneaker by Sorel both strike an appropriate urban chord while keeping you comfortable for the hours of walking that Copenhagen is sure to inspire. For a closer getaway, New Orleans can feel like a revelation to people who’ve only ever associated it with Mardi Gras. Casual cool can be found beyond the famous French Quarter in less-touristy neighborhoods like Marigny and Bywater and the Lower Garden District. You’ll be perfectly dressed in the Metro Track Trim Jogger and matching Circa Track Jacket, both of which make a seamless segue from the street to an art gallery or one of NoLa’s many cafes.
Now that your wanderlust has been properly stoked, enter for your chance to win a next-level wellness retreat to Aro Hā resort in the magical Southern Alps of New Zealand.
