Getting a workout while getting away from it all

Vacation time doesn't come often enough for me. I've tried a lot of different ways to use time off, but this vacation, my husband and I hit the jackpot.

An 11-day trip to the coast of Maine and the mountains of New Hampshire gave a whole new meaning to the term "vacation." You travel to the East Coast at this time of year to see the fall colors. It's beautiful and most of all relaxing.

Mostly, we did nothing but relax, and when that got boring, we started hiking. The hills in Maine are smaller, but not necessarily easy. Several climbs that were classified moderate were similar to the climb up Mount Whitney.

One three-hour climb was so difficult that we had little time to look around us while we hiked because the rocks and tree roots were a constant problem. If your aerobic endurance is good, you can out-climb your leg muscles and end up like we did, with a few sore places the next day.

We stayed at bed-and-breakfast places, the last one the most interesting. It was a private home run by a local artist, who was also a Master Gardener and master chef.

When we weren't eating, we were taking pictures or hiking. We discovered snowmobile trails. They were wide, well- marked, quiet and reasonably easy with gradual elevation. It gave us a chance to look at the tree colors and take pictures while we hiked.

Staying four and five days at each place afforded us time to investigate the coast of Maine, eat lobster, and sample the local nightlife. Things are different in the East: you may not be able to order your meat anyway but crisp, and seat belts are mandatory only for kids, not adults.

We walked or hiked each morning, rested in the afternoon, and got up early to go again. The three-hour time difference threw us the first day and for two days on our return. If anyone tells you that travel and time changes won't affect you, they have a different internal clock than mine.

You can get your exercise when you vacation. Just consider taking it outdoors in a more enjoyable form - a little relaxing, a little walking and lots of good food.

Oh, yes, we are now officially "Leaf Peepers." That's the East Coast term for fall-color tourists.

• Jerry Vance is owner of The Sweat Shop/Wet Sweat. She offers classes through Carson City Recreation and Aquatics Center and is a fitness instructor for the Carson City Senior Citizens Center.