Perched in the Pacific northwest, for some attuned to interdimensional energies, Seattle has a liminal quality which makes it rather special.
And the popularity of cross-faith communities like the Center for Spiritual Living suggests that the quest for answers about life’s big questions inspires and unites many Seattleites.
So if you’re based in the Emerald City and yearning for global good vibes, here are five spiritual vacays for Seattle travelers.
1) Peruvian Ayahuasca retreat
You can fly from Seattle to Lima in under 12 hours with one layover, but you’ll enter a completely new world by taking an ayahuasca vacation with specialist tour firm Arkana Spiritual Center.
Nestled in a stunning location in the Andean Sacred Valley, you’ll learn about the cathartic qualities of this iconic substance in supervised conditions — but please mitigate risks by researching thoroughly beforehand.
2) Jamaican Rasta retreat
Rastafari is the Jamaican-born religion which came to the consciousness of the world through the words, sound and power of reggae music.
And you can learn all about Rasta beliefs on everything from diet to the iniquities of Babylon by visiting the Rastafari Indigenous Village at Porto Bello near Montego Bay. It’s an enlightening experience which touches on everything from drum making to herbal horticulture and only takes a nine hour flight from Seattle.
3) Wonder of the Neolithic world
England’s Stonehenge has had a magnetic attraction for pilgrims and pleasure-seekers for thousands of years.
And visiting the site on an official English Heritage Stonehenge tour takes you back 4,500 years to the Neolithic era when this mystical prehistoric monument was first raised heavenward.
With London roughly nine hours non-stop from Seattle, this is one location that’s not too tricky to tick off from your spiritual bucket list.
4) Ice-cool shamen
The Norwegian Sami are Europe’s most northerly indigenous people and their culture is steeped in shamanism and a deep respect for the symbiotic relationships that rule the natural world.
At sites like Karasjok and Kautokeino, you can join a Sami dog sledding expedition, learn to lasso the Scandinavian way, feed reindeer and enjoy some of the region’s best fishing.
And there’s every chance you’ll witness the wonderful Northern Lights too — this is a prime spot for viewing the Aurora Borealis.
5) Kung Fu monks
The journey from Seattle to China’s Zhengzhou will take the best part of a day and a couple of connection flights.
But the trek is worth it — it takes you to YungTai Mountain, the spiritual homeland of the Shaolin Monks.
And you can do more than marvel at their acrobatic moves by signing up for classes from the masters at shaolin-yuntai.com. By the time you return home, you’ll be perfectly balanced and possibly able to break bricks with one finger.
Getting there
Find the best flights to any of the above locations at Kayak.com and for a stress-free start to your spiritual vacay, stow your car serenely with Seattle airport parking provider Looking4.com.
If you’re a vibesy Seattleite, these five fab vacays will recharge your spiritual batteries beautifully.
Do you have any tips for spiritual Seattle travelers? Share them in the comments section below.
