As I mentioned at the start of my journey – with 16 weeks to plan a wedding, get married, move across country, and prepare to be a Master’s student in coastal management at Duke after an eight-year hiatus from school — my life is about to get very busy. So, in the midst of all the chaos, I want to make sure I have strategies at the ready for getting back to a centered, healthy place.

Since I’ve been back, I’ve been putting some of the advice I got along the way into practice, and feel more focused and invigorated than ever (it’s also nice to sleep in my own bed!).

Here’s how I’m keeping it healthy at home, and how you can, too:

New arrows in my wellness quiver: pulsating facial brush, Seranagen, and phytonutrient multivitamins. (Photograph by Shannon Switzer)

Listen to your body. ”Dr. Brad” advised me to stop and take a deep breath when I start feeling frantic and overwhelmed. It sounds simplistic, but it works — especially when I envision exhaling my mind’s clutter along with the CO2. As for getting a good night’s sleep, Brad suggested taking a natural supplement (he recommended Serenagen) to quiet my mind and implementing a “No Blue Screen” rule before bedtime to let my body unwind. After trying the combo many times now, I can say that it does the trick without any groggy side effects.

Take care of your face. I used to wash my face with hand soap before my Road to Wellness road trip, but never realized just how damaging it could be. Each esthetician I met told me that hand soap’s relatively basic pH strips my face of all its natural oils, drying out my skin and tricking it into producing excess oil to compensate. Every one of them prescribed the same facial regimen trifecta: a face wash with the proper pH, a toner, and a hydrater. They also recommended using a pulsing brush (like the Clarisonic) to clean my face, and including Vitamin C in my daily routine to keep my skin plump and revitalized. Since putting these new learnings into practice at home, I’ve definitely noticed a difference.

Feed your brain. Beau MacMillan, the executive chef at elements, the fine-dining restaurant at Sanctuary on Camelback Mountain, introduced me to a whole new take on “brain food.” He recently teamed up with neurologist and dementia specialist Dr. Marwan Sabbagh to create The Alzheimer’s Prevention Cookbook, a collection of recipes that have been shown to improve mental acuity and prevent debilitating mental diseases. Chef Beau uses many of the same ingredients at his restaurant, and says they’re just as easy to add to meals at home. I’ve been challenging myself to eat at least three of these brain foods — like cinnamon, pomegranates, and leafy greens — every day.

Repeat after me: Treating yourself to a facial or a day at the spa isn’t silly. (Photograph by Shannon Switzer)

Stretching is a lifestyle. After a few thousand miles on the road, I began to swear by certain stretches to keep my body feeling good. Since sitting in a car isn’t much better for you than sitting in front of a computer, I’ve kept them up at home. I start with the simple side bend to stretch out my obliques, twisting side to side to loosen up my spinal cord, and touching my toes to isolate my hamstrings (the trick is to avoid rounding your back). To finish off, I do my favorite cobra pose, which safely stretches my abs, chest, and shoulder muscles at the same time, then shift to the downward dog position to stretch my calves. This mini muscle-wake-up session hits all the main muscle groups in about ten minutes.

It’s okay to treat yourself once in a while. Not only is it okay; it’s necessary. I have no problem splurging on a nice dinner occasionally, but I used to view anything that resembled pampering as over-indulgent nonsense. Now I know better. In addition to being restorative and energizing, a quality massage or facial offers a chance to hit the pause button on life and avoid getting stuck in a 9-to-5 rut.

While my experience on the the Road to Wellness confirmed that there is no magic bullet when it comes to lasting health, it also taught me that there are little things we can do every day that can make a big impact. So what’s the downside, right? Especially during the lulls between life’s big adventures.

How do you stay healthy and balanced in your everyday life? Share your advice with the Intelligent Travel community by leaving a comment!

There were so many options at each location that I didn’t even know where to begin. In the end I chose treatments that reflected the location and personality of each resort in some way, and ones that represented emerging trends on the wellness scene.

Here’s a roundup of the most unique treatments I experienced on my Road to Wellness adventure: 

1. Honey Heaven 

The Bee Beautiful treatment at Carmel Valley Ranch, along with the salt scrub and lavender poultice massage I experienced first hand, are prime examples of the trend toward farm-to-spa treatments. The idea is to have guests collect the ingredients that will be used in the treatments they receive — or at least witness the collection process as it happens. In the case of Bee Beautiful, guests don bee-keeping suits to visit the hives, then are wrapped in a warm cocoon of freshly harvested honey later that day.

This is followed by a facial massage with royal jelly (the nutrient-packed magic potion excreted by worker bees that female bees eat to become queens) derived from the same hives, and topped off with a honey and shea butter body massage. While Carmel Valley Ranch is helping to lead the way in farm-to-spa treatments, I think this trend will continue to gain momentum in the wellness world.

2. 02 Radiance 

The lantern-laden entryway to the Ojai Valley Inn & Spa. (Photograph by Shannon Switzer)

Like most life on Earth, I can’t survive without oxygen. But I had no idea it could be used to plump out my pesky crow’s feet and worried-brow wrinkles. Thankfully, Cavallo Point is in on the secret and offers this refreshing treatment along with a growing number of spas that have realized how to tap into the element’s health benefits.

After opening up the pores on my face with steam, my therapist, Gail, used a special machine that puffed 100 percent oxygen into them, then applied a mix of fermented pumpkin, phytonutrient-rich algae, minerals, and vitamin C to my face. After that cocktail of goodness I felt like I was glowing. Because the treatment is all natural, Gail described it as “gentle enough to have that afternoon and be able to go out the same evening, but still effective enough to see visible results.”

3. Ancient Healing 

Many people who are uneasy about the fact that we’ve lost touch with Mother Earth are looking to ancient practices to reconnect — and this is most certainly true in the wellness community. From shamanistic drum circles to tribal sweat lodges, timeworn wisdom has found its way on modern spa menus. Case in point was the Kuyam Experience at the Ojai Valley Inn & Spa, which claims to be the only treatment of its kind offered in the U.S. Kuyam translates to “a place to rest together” in Chumash, and if you opt for the group session this is exactly what you do.

Attendants slathered three mineral-rich desert clays — each with slightly different properties – all over our bodies. Lemon grass essential oil was infused in the dry, hot air that we inhaled as we lounged on chaises in a tiled, Morrocan-themed room. Once we got settled in, Chumash elder Grey Wolf led us in a meditation. I sweated buckets while Grey Wolf’s soothing voice washed over me. And though I never saw the bright white dot of enlightenment, my skin was soft for days.

4. Watsu Therapy 

Though the Sanctuary at Camelback has an Infinity pool, the watsu treatment is performed in a smaller heated pool near the spa. (Photograph by Shannon Switzer)

Of all the treatments I experienced, watsu was by far the strangest — in a good way. “It’s very difficult to describe,” my practitioner at the Sanctuary on Camelback Mountain, Jill Sclease, conceded. ”It’s kind of like massage and yoga combined, but submerged in water.” After I stepped into the tub of warm water, she said she’d be leading me through a series of stretches and would listen to my body and breathing to make adjustments as she went. Next, she had me face away from her, close my eyes, and relax into her arms. Then began the dance.

I went through a series of stages. At first, I felt like part of a figure-skating duo as she moved my body into different positions and twirled me around in the water. As I became more relaxed, I had the sensation of floating in a womb, then, towards the end I felt like a seal twisting and arching my body as I shot through the ocean (this was my favorite part). When we had finished, Jill said: “Some people describe it as an out-of-body experience.” While I didn’t quite get there, I definitely felt light and limber — a feeling that lasted all day.

5. Biofeedback 

No matter how you pronounce it, perscentoelogy is a mouthful. It’s a method — created and refined by Marie Bernat at CopperWynd Resort near Phoenix — of analyzing personality type by reading toes. Yes, toes. But that’s not the only body part that enters into the equation. As soon as I walked into the treatment room, she told me that the shape and placement of my ears show leadership ability, that my downturned nose suggests I’m not quick to trust, and that my forehead screams “adventurous but calculated.”

Using biofeedback to discover and manage personality quirks has been gaining in popularity in spas and (albeit a more clinical version) medical institutes. Marie explained that what the physical body tells us about our personality allows us to “nip our faults in the bud before they cause issues both personally and inter-personally.”

During my session, Marie explained that the big toe is the “life toe,” the one next to it is the “community toe,” the middle toe is the “anger toe,” next to that is the relationship toe, and the pinky is the “security toe.” As I recently became engaged, I was intrigued when she told me that the position of my relationship toe revealed that I needed to take extra care not to be too critical of my partner. That night, when I recounted all of this information to my fiancé over the phone, he thought it was all a bunch of mumbo jumbo, until I got to that part. “She’s got a point there you know,” he concluded.

Shannon is driving a Ford C-MAX Hybrid on her Road to Wellness tour. Follow the Curious Traveler’s adventures on Twitter @CuriousTraveler and on Instagram @ShannonSwitzer.

My packing reflected this. The day before I was scheduled to take off, I was whipping clothing, camera gear, water bottles, you name it into a frenzy, hoping that whatever I needed would magically land in my suitcase. This was not a good strategy.

Eventually, I got my head on straight and thought about what I might really need. In the end, here’s what made the cut:

Carry-On Suitcase: This may seem like a no-brainer, but on my first Curious Traveler road trip I regretted packing all of my clothes in one large suitcase that I then had to lug in and out of different hotels every day. This time I kept only the clothes I thought I would need — depending on the weather and which activity I anticipated doing at each stop – in a smaller, lighter suitcase that I wheeled around with ease.

Running Shoes: I debated bringing heavy-duty hiking shoes AND running shoes, but in the end went with my pair of New Balance Minimus trail runners. They were a great choice. They’re so versatile I could wear them for hotel fitness classes, off-roading in national parks, and solo runs. Another bonus: they dry super quickly, which is nice after crossing unexpected streams or jogging through snow.

Bikini: Okay, I didn’t have to think twice about this staple. Spas, pools, hot tubs? I definitely wasn’t going to miss out on that action. Plus, it was handy to have while changing in the ladies locker rooms at the spas to appease the prude in me, who’s not entirely comfortable being in her birthday suit around complete strangers.

Don’t leave home without a small suitcase and some quality maps! (Photograph by Shannon Switzer)

Quality Maps: These Nat Geo gems gave me a detailed overview of each national park I’d be visiting and allowed me to plan which areas and trails to hit ahead of time. I also got to beef up on the interesting information peppered throughout each map before I arrived, which fueled my curiosity and help kept me sane on some of those long hauls between stops. Even though there are tons of great map apps out there, there’s something satisfying about the real deal.

Comfort Clothes: I have a confession. I don’t own a single piece of Lulu Lemon. However, I still appreciate comfortable workout clothes. Since I knew I’d be doing a wide variety of activities, I wanted to keep it simple and versatile, so I grabbed two of my tried-and-true top-bottom combos. These were the only four workout items I wore the entire trip, which leads to my next confession: I didn’t do laundry a single time while on the road. Pew!

Baby Carrots: Seriously, they are the perfect road food. Packed with vitamins A, C, and K as well as potassium, phosphorus and magnesium, they provide a refreshing on-the-go snack that can be left unrefrigerated for days at a time. Pair them with hummus or even peanut butter to add a little protein boost and turn them into a mini-meal.

A Visor: A visor won’t make you the most stylish person on the block, but I think they’re due for a comeback. Either way, I find them entirely more conducive to exercise than your typical ball cap. Mine (the 2XU run visor) stays put beautifully through wind and rain, while still giving my hot head room to breathe. And of course they protect from the sun, which my face always thanks me for.

Phew! I made it without running out of gas. (Photograph courtesy Shannon Switzer)

A Water Belt: This puppy can go in the “unfashionable-yet-useful” category, right next to the visor. REI’s Amphipod water belt fits around my waist, allows me to carry two water bottles hands-free, and provides a little pocket for my hotel key so I don’t have to worry about getting locked out. It’s perfect for a long run or hike when you don’t want to be weighed down like a pack mule.

Good GPS: Besides the obvious fact that it’s useful to have a car on a road trip, my C-MAX hybrid went above and beyond being a mode of transport. One of my favorite gadgets was a cool little feature called Sync with MyFord Touch. I could tell my buddy Max to find the nearest gas station, Whole Foods, or even day spa, and he instantly pulled up the nearest options, along with directions for how to get there.

Yoga Mat: You knew this one was coming! I couldn’t go on a health and wellness road trip without a yoga mat…so I borrowed one from my mom. As you might have read earlier, yoga hadn’t yet found its way into my heart when I set off, so I hadn’t invested in my own mat. My mom’s came in very handy, and after passionate individuals I met along the way shared their love of the practice with me, I can now say with full confidence that I’m ready to invest in one of my own.

Shannon is driving a Ford C-MAX Hybrid on her Road to Wellness tour. Follow the Curious Traveler’s adventures on Twitter @CuriousTraveler and on Instagram @ShannonSwitzer.

The island décor in the Paradise Point lobby. (Photograph by Shannon Switzer)

The island is home to a resort called Paradise Point, and despite the cooler, cloudier weather, I found it to be just that: a perfect paradise, surrounded by the Pacific on all sides.

It was the perfect homecoming. I was so ecstatic to see the ocean, it caught me off guard since I’d only parted ways with it for a few weeks.

I watched kite-surfers from my room as they zigzagged across the bay and began wondering why people are so drawn to the big blue and if it had any measurable health benefits.

A name popped into my head: Wallace J. Nichols. I’d read about him and his work at the California Academy of Sciences in an article in Outside magazine awhile back. A marine biologist, Nichols was on a mission to motivate the neuroscience community to prove this human-ocean connection by studying the ocean’s effect on our brains.

Dr. Michael Merzenich, a pioneer in the field of neuroplasticity, along with other notable scientists, agreed that there was value in the research Wallace proposed. Merzenich suggested that part of the ocean’s allure stems from it being flat and lacking physical markers. While on land, we might be constantly scanning for danger on the horizon, gazing at the tranquil sea has a calming effect — similar to closing one’s eyes.

So, as I opened the siding glass door and soaked in the expansive (though, at the moment, not so flat!) surface just outside my room, I realized that if any of this was true, I would be getting a double whammy punch of health while in paradise.

The bamboo tools used for my sticks and stones massage. (Photograph by Shannon Switzer)

Not only would I be reducing my cortisol levels (which I learned could help ease headaches, back pain, sickness, and insomnia), by relaxing but I would also be activating my brain’s pleasure center simply by being next to the sea. And all of this without the hassle of a long, expensive plane ride.

That afternoon, as I entered the spa at Paradise Point, which offers island-themed body treatments, massages, and facials, I concluded it was in fact a health trifecta. I could’ve gone with Bali, Fiji, or Thailand, but on this afternoon, I decided to go with the traditional Hawaiian Lomilomi “sticks and stones” massage.

In Hawaiian culture, authentic Lomilomi is infused with prayer, called pule, and intention. The technique also emphasizes forgiveness and letting go, known as ho’oponopono.

Although I can’t attest for the prayer part, I could definitely sense my attendant Lea’s focus and intention as she explained each step of the massage. “The bamboo and rattan tools are used to wake up your muscles,” she said. “Then the heated volcanic river rocks increase circulation and blood flow, which is great for releasing toxins.” She was by far the youngest attendant I’d had during the trip, and I was hoping some of her glow would rub off on me.

After the massage, I felt the island juju wherever I roamed on the property, but especially at the Barefoot Bar & Grill where I was mesmerized by the leopard sharks and sting rays cruising around a nearby lagoon. Just a short walk away, Brett and Gavin at the marina got me set up in a rented 18-foot sailboat so I could explore the bay and soak up more of that ocean healing.

The lounge outside Baleen. (Photograph by Shannon Switzer)

The sail, followed by some good old-fashioned pool lounging, piña colada in hand, and later a fresh seafood dinner at Baleen, the resort’s fine dining restaurant, definitely had me feeling relaxed. My server convinced me to order what he called “the best scallops you’ve ever tasted.” I was skeptical, as I’d had my fair share of delicious ones, but the tangerine glazed bivalves, nestled on a bed of corn and bacon pudding and topped with wood-roasted mushroom salad, may have won the blue ribbon after all.

Finally, what better way to complete my relaxation regime than making s’mores over a beach bonfire right out in front of my hotel room? The island market run by the resort made it easy by selling firewood and a kit complete with chocolate, marshmallows, graham crackers, and roasting sticks. They were so tasty and fun to assemble that I had them for breakfast the next morning — the last one in paradise on my Road to Wellness tour.

As I munched, I readied myself for life off the road. I took stock of all I’d learned while traveling and thought about how to apply it at home.

I was pretty sure s’mores for breakfast wouldn’t make the cut, so I savored every last gooey bite.

Shannon is driving a Ford C-MAX Hybrid on her Road to Wellness tour. Follow the Curious Traveler’s adventures on Twitter @CuriousTraveler and on Instagram @ShannonSwitzer.

I bumbled around the geodesic dome trying to snap photos with my big SLR as my host explained the properties of the quartz bowls he would be playing in the sound bath, the “signature experience” at the Integratron.

“Please take pictures after I have left, and you have the place to yourself,” DJ Neuron instructed. “Also, please take off your shoes,” he added with a frown.

I followed his gaze down to the dusty footprints my flip-flops had left on the shiny wood floor. I frowned, too.

Hoping to change the subject, I asked my host how long he had been involved with the Integratron. He told me that his long relationship with the structure began in 1979, a year after its creator, George Van Tassel, died suddenly.

The Karl sisters bought the Integratron in 2000. (Photograph by Shannon Switzer)

Van Tassel had conceived of the structure as a “rejuvenation machine” that could keep people young — based on instructions he claimed to have received from aliens from Venus.

Though this all sounds a bit out there, Van Tassel was actually a respected aeronautical engineer who worked for powerhouse companies like Lockheed and Hughes Aviation (Howard Hughes himself contributed funds to help build the extraordinary dome) — and scientists have measured a significant spike in the Earth’s magnetic field in the center of the Integratron.

As I sat in the belly of his creation letting all this information sink in, DJ Neuron voice broke through the silence.

He demonstrated the three sound effects that occur in the Integratron: one at the center (when I spoke it sounded like I had a jar over my head), another while sitting directly across from another person in the center (it sounded like I was talking through a tin can on a string), and a third (similar to an echo across a canyon) that occurred when standing anywhere else in the dome.

“Each bowl plays one of the seven major notes of the scale up to G, and they correspond with the seven major body chakras, as well as to the colors of the spectrum,” he said. I listened quietly, nodding along as he talked, hoping to earn back some trust.

I slowly succumbed to the soothing, but somehow intergalactic sounds the bowls produced. I closed my eyes and waited for something to happen, though I wasn’t sure what.

After the session ended, I had the opportunity to chat with Joanne Karl, one of three sisters who bought the Integratron in 2000 after having made pilgrimages there since the ’80s. “You can’t really own something like this,” she said. “We bought it for you and everyone who visits, we just pay the mortgage.”

Like DJ Neuron before her, Joanne emphasized that she didn’t want to kill the mystery surrounding the Integratron by talking too much about what it was. “Why see it through my filter?,” she asked. “I mean, what if you have an experience I can’t even fathom?”

The eclectic decor at Spin and Margie’s. (Photograph by Shannon Switzer)

And according to Joanne, people have their own reasons for visiting the dome in the desert: to get married, have babies, heal chronic ailments, practice yoga, meditate, summon extraterrestrials, you name it.

“What we have here is a ‘Do-ocracy,’” she said. “Everybody chips in to keep it running, and we go shoulder-to-shoulder to make things happen.” Joanne said that, from the very beginning, her favorite thing about the Integratron was the people she encountered there. “They think outside the box, because out here there was never a box to begin with,” she said.

No, there is certainly no box, I thought as I gazed at the geodesic dome for the last time. DJ Neuron and Joanne had done their job of preserving the mystery well; I left more perplexed than when I had arrived.

When I retreated to my digs in Joshua Tree after my sound-bath session, I was pleased to find they were equally intriguing. Spin and Margie’s Desert Hideaway had playful surprises around every corner — a wheelbarrow full of succulents here, an abstract barbed-wire sculpture there.

That evening, sitting in a lime green chair by a bocce ball court under a full moon, I looked out over the desert and wondered, if I could just stay up late enough, what interesting things I might encounter.

Shannon is driving a Ford C-MAX Hybrid on her Road to Wellness tour. Follow the Curious Traveler’s adventures on Twitter @CuriousTraveler and on Instagram @ShannonSwitzer.

I would be learning about Reiki, the technique of directing “universal energy” through the hands to promote healing. But there’s a twist. My instructor would be showing me how to practice Reiki…on horses.

I’d found Sandie Miller through Camelot Therapeutic Horsemanship, where she teaches a clinic. When I arrived, I noticed it was different from most therapeutic riding centers I’d seen, where riders were usually led around an arena. No one was leading these kids, and they were wearing ear-to-ear grins.

Sandie demonstrating how to sense Rosie’s energy field. (Photograph by Shannon Switzer)

When Eileen Szychowski founded the organization 30 years ago, she vowed to keep the services free. And it’s a promise she’s managed to make good on thanks to a team of more than 40 dedicated volunteers.

After taking a quick tour of Camelot’s facilities, Sandie and I made our way to Santolina Farm, where she usually practices. As we walked, she gave me a primer on energy work. “It’s the same idea whether you’re doing it with people, dogs, or in this case horses,” she said.

Sandie explained that she pairs other techniques that borrow from Chinese and Indian traditions with Reiki — along with a healthy dose of her own intuition.

But when she mentioned that there was a way to scientifically prove that “thoughts can be measured as energy and that energy has the ability to manipulate energy,” my ears perked up.

I’d been trying to keep an open mind about all the energy talk I’d encountered so far, but found the abstract concepts difficult to grasp or even believe at times. So a reference to the scientific method struck a chord.

A long-lost thought from college physics resurfaced: If energy can be studied and measured, why does is it sound so fluffy when we speak of it flowing or transferring through touch?

I’d never been able to answer the question to my satisfaction, and Sandie kept things moving forward by posing another question. If, as Sandie claims, she can manipulate her thoughts to impact other beings, that leads to the question of “How do I want to use that power?” ”It’s a big question — a big responsibility,” she said.

With that, she hovered her hands above my outstretched palms and asked me to close my eyes and move my hands toward hers until I felt something.

The first thing I perceived was heat. We repeated this several times, and each time I was able to sense this heat a little farther from her hands. After I’d refined my energy sensor, Sandie had me do the same thing with the horses. I hovered my palms over each horse’s body and stopped when I felt something. For each one (Raisa, Bird, and Rosie), I stopped at a different distance. Sandie explained that this was because they each had their own unique energy field. “Some horses’ energy radiates out for quite a ways and others’ not as much,” she said.

Finally, she told me to stand about seven feet from each horse and just listen. “You have to be aware of all your senses when you do this,” she instructed.

I felt completely foolish standing there staring at Rosie as if I was waiting for her to start talking to me, but after a few minutes, I relaxed. That’s when the thought popped into my head: She’d had major trauma to her hind legs, and had felt frustrated for a long time.

When I shared this with Sandie, she confirmed that the mare had come to Santolina with one leg nearly severed after a costly encounter with a barbed wire fence. She had shown signs of restlessness during her recuperation period — until Sandie moved her to pasture and began using her as a therapy horse for clients.

Next, I stood in front of Raisa and felt the same self-conscious silliness. But this time, the thought came more quickly: She was the matriarch and boss lady, and had once lost a foal. I shared it with Sandie. “Hmmm. Well, that could be. We haven’t had Raisa her whole life,” she said. “Did you get anything else?” I hadn’t.

To end the session, Sandie demonstrated how she channels her good energy and healing thoughts to the animals. She put her hands on both of Rosie’s hips and said: “I let her tell me when she’s had enough. If she’s fidgety and starts moving around, we’re done.”

I watched as Rosie visibly relaxed and lowered her head in response to Sandie’s touch. “I might never be able to prove that this does any good — and we still treat the horses with Western medicine when they need it — but I figure in the end it definitely can’t hurt,” she said.

A few days later, I got an e-mail from Sandie saying that she’d asked her sister if she was aware of Raisa’s ever having lost a foal. “Oh, yeah, she aborted a foal between 7 and 8 months into the pregnancy right before she came to Santolina,” her sister had responded.

Sandie signed off with “Interesting, isn’t it?”

Yes, interesting was the perfect word.

Shannon is driving a Ford C-MAX Hybrid on her Road to Wellness tour. Follow the Curious Traveler’s adventures on Twitter @CuriousTraveler and on Instagram @ShannonSwitzer.

Stephenie Bjorkman shows me a photo of Four Peaks mine prior to our trip. (Photograph by Shannon Switzer)

“It’s like walking into a giant geode,” said Stephenie Bjorkman, president of the family-owned boutique, Sami Fine Jewelry in Fountain Hills, Arizona. She was talking about the Four Peaks Amethyst Mine we’d be visiting today.

Four Peaks, located in a remote area in the Matatzal mountains, is the only commercially run amethyst mine in North America.

The store organizes tours through the mines twice a year (in April and September), when the owner of the mine, Kurt Cavano, needs to helicopter in supplies and ship out the accumulated amethyst that’s been harvested. Otherwise, the hike out to the mine, which the miners do at least once a month, is a grueling one. 

“We’re like one big family,” Stephenie said. “It’s such a small community, all deals are sealed with a simple handshake.”

I was with three other people — every one of them Phoenix locals who had never been to the mine (less than 300 people have been to the mines so far). “We really just want to share our love for this unique place with the community,” Stephenie said. “It’s amazing to me how few people in the area even know it exists.”

Supplies and visitors are helicoptered in to the mine twice a year. (Photograph by Shannon Switzer)

On our way out to the helicopter, our driver, Dave, said the unique characteristics of the Four Peaks amethyst — namely its intense violet hue. “The purple color comes from a high concentration of manganese, and the magenta flash is from the dense iron ore,” he explained. As far as he knows, he said, this unique combination only occurs in the Ural Mountains — and right here in Arizona.

“Amethysts have been a documented part of life since the Greeks named them amethystos, which means ‘without intoxication,’” Dave continued. “They thought if you wore them while drinking wine, you could avoid getting tipsy, [though] I’ve never been sure why this was desirable,” he finished with a laugh.

After a short but stunning helicopter flight over stark mountains, we touched down and were greeted by Kurt and two miners, Mike and Linus. Kurt explained that the ton of amethyst mined each year only yielded two handfuls of gem-quality stones.

Kurt holds up a good find. (Photograph by Shannon Switzer)

Kurt emphasized that he takes land stewardship very seriously. “We are in the middle of designated forest land, so we try to keep our impact to a minimum,” he said. “That’s why there’s no running water and no electricity up here.”

He led us on a short tour of the mine, including the spot where they’d recently discovered a significant vein, and then instructed us on how to harvest our own gems.

Though Mike and Linus made it look easy, I was a bit discouraged by the crumbly mess I was making with my screwdriver and chisel. Their enthusiasm for the hunt was infectious, and for a brief moment I contemplated living on this small ledge in the cliff and spending my days searching for the perfect amethyst.

We headed back to the helicopter, quarry in hand. When we had arrived safely back at the landing pad, Stephenie offered to take me by her mother’s house. “My mom started selling jewelry from the trunk of her car and eventually built the business into what it is today,” Stephenie explained. “She really believes in the power of these gems and knows all about it.”

The pool area at the Sanctuary, with Camelback mountain in the background. (Photograph by Shannon Switzer)

After a warm greeting at her door, Sami introduced me to her pomegranate tree. It was on its last legs until she encircled it with amethyst chunks from the mine. “As soon as I placed those around the little guy, he perked right up,” she explained. Since that success, Sami has scattered the stones throughout her yard with similar results.

I decided it was time to feel the power of the gems for myself, so I booked an amethyst body treatment with Marie Bernat at the Copperwynd Resort & Club. Bernat specializes in biofeedback using techniques she picked up under the tutelage of Deepak Chopra and other famed healers.

As she started slathering my body in the ground up gems, she explained that amethysts are known as “power crystals” due to the strength of their “healing powers for purification and transition.” After the relaxing and invigorating experience in Marie’s hands, I decided I wanted more.

So I signed on for a luxury gem facial at the Sanctuary at Camelback in Scottsdale. Before beginning, my practitioner placed warm crystals on three of my chakras (my heart, which represents giving and receiving, my solarplex, which represents self-confidence, and my sacrum, which represents relationships), then used temperature controlled stones on my face to decrease and increase blood flow.

When she was through, I felt like the Arizona sun that had bathed the crystals had somehow been transferred to me.

The Curious Traveler is driving a Ford C-MAX Hybrid on her Road to Wellness tour.

Nils Allen from Evening Sky Tours was our guide for the evening. I learned that his romance with the night sky was ignited while back in his college days when he was asked to teach Astronomy 101 for non-science majors. Hooked, he never looked back — only up.

Nils told us we would start by focusing on the two brightest things in the sky that night: Sirius and Jupiter. He turned his hulking telescope on Jupiter and we each took turns peeking through the eyepiece at the planet and its moons, which happened to be in lined up in a perfect row — two above and two below with Jupiter sandwiched between.

Nils telling us about the Whirlpool Galaxy. (Photograph by Shannon Switzer)

“Now, just for fun we’re going to check out what my wife refers to as ‘sky bling,’” Nils said. As soon as I looked through the scope, I knew why. Sirius was twinkling in spasms like a frenetic disco ball.

As coyotes began to add their yips and howls to the night soundtrack, Nils used a laser to point out the constellations that were making an appearance this time of year. He aimed his beam at Ursa Major and Minor, Gemini, Orion, and Leo the Lion, as he spoke of the lore surrounding them.

“Remember everything you’re looking at right now is part of the Milky Way Galaxy,” Nils said, “just like we are.” Then he adjusted his scope, turned to the group and said: “Are you ready to look at the most distant thing you’ll ever see in your life?”

The Whirlpool Galaxy, also known as Messier 51a, is some 35 million light years away. Messier and its buddy NGC 5195 looked like two fuzzy lint balls through the eyepiece, but considering that each of those light years is equivalent to six trillion miles, the underwhelming resolution made a lot of sense.

I had heard that stargazing could be therapeutic — that by taking the focus off the self and projecting it into space, people could quell feelings of isolation — and that the awe it inspired could act as a salve for painful past experiences. I’d been intrigued before, but as I stared up at the distant galaxies, I was inching toward being a believer.

I could see why something so immense could put what seemed to be overwhelming problems into perspective. Especially with an expert by your side who could explain the science behind the magic. I was curious what Nils thought about all this.

“Most folks live busy, focused lives that keep them thinking almost entirely locally and immediately, but there is so much beauty and wonder outside of that myopic mindset,” he said. “For me it’s even a spiritual experience, like I am seeing the face of God himself.”

Whatever your beliefs, Nils remains convinced that “engaging with the broader universe and striving to appreciate it on many different levels” has value — the kind that is “mind-expanding and life-enriching.”

I’d agree with that.

Nils finished up our session a bit closer to home: our moon. I’d never seen it in so much detail before, and while the mountains and craters were familiar from photographs, seeing them with my own eyes was a completely different experience. It reminded me that everything I saw had more dimensions to it than I often realized and that much of life is about perspective.

Thanks for the reminder, Nils!

For more information about stargazing and the effects of light pollution, check out Nightscape, a publication by the International Dark Sky Association.

I arrived in Sequoia National Park on a personal quest.

I had heard about a grove of trees within the Giant Forest that had been dedicated to National Geographic a long way back. As the story goes, Stephen Mather, head of the newly established National Park Service, was on a quest of his own – to secure full protection for the acres that comprise the Giant Forest. Most people assumed the trees there were already safe, but the land was “patented,” which meant that private landowners could open it up to logging if they wanted.

The “General” is tall at 245 feet, but not the tallest tree in the world. (Photograph by Shannon Switzer)

Mather succeeded in securing from Congress a litte over 70 percent of the funding needed to move forward with the buy in 1916. Without the full amount, the forest was as vulnerable as ever. He turned to Interior Secretary Franklin K. Lane, who happened to sit on National Geographic’s board of managers, for help. Moved by the story, the Society decided to issue a grant for the remaining money. To show his gratitude, Mather named a section of the forest “the National Geographic Grove.”

So, to commemorate the Society’s 125th anniversary and to pay homage to an organization that has added so much to my life, I was on a mission to track down the grove that had been dedicated in its name.

What does this have to do with health and wellness, you might ask?

Good question. Like many people I know, I have been drawn to the glossy images hidden between the covers of the Big Yellow Border Magazine for as long as I can remember. Images full of impossible and heartbreaking beauty that told stories of places, people, and wildlife on the other side of the world. It blew my mind. This awe eventually bloomed into a desire to tell those kinds of stories myself. I never imagined that one day I’d doing it for the organization that sparked my curiosity about the planet.

Though I’ve followed a winding road to get here (literally), my passion for storytelling is what keeps me healthy and connected. Though I was hard pressed to find scientific evidence to back up my hunch (if you know of any please share!), I think most of us can say that we feel most alive when we are doing what we love. That’s why finding the grove meant so much.

So off I went, first to “General Sherman,” the largest living tree in the world (by volume), and the rest of the Congress Trail. I tipped my hat to the general, and to the “President,” too (which reminded of a great story I had read about the massive tree in National Geographic Magazine last year), but couldn’t find the grove or any hint of where it might be.

The needle in the haystack! (Photograph by Shannon Switzer)

As luck would have it, just as I was about to give up on my quest, I bumped into a ranger and asked if she was at all familiar with the grove. “Oh, yeah,” she said after a thoughtful pause. “I think that’s over by Round Meadow along the Big Tree Trail. I believe there’s a plaque and everything.”

It was getting dark, but I was determined to find it. I hopped in Max, as I’d come to call the Ford C-MAX hybrid that has been my faithful companion for the past thousand miles, and zoomed down the road. When I arrived at the beginning of the Big Tree Trail, I could barely see my hand in front of my face, but I decided to start walking anyway. But after a few painful stumbles over rocks and roots, I decided it was a better idea to return in the morning.

I combed the Big Meadow for the grove, but, even with the sunshine on my side, it seemed like another fruitless mission.

But then, my eureka moment came. A simple brass plaque that blended seamlessly within the cathedral of trees.

Reading it, I learned there was not one, but five dedicated groves throughout the Giant Forest. The words on the plaque made me proud to — in my own small way — be involved with National Geographic. As I stood there looking up at the ancient trees, I went over the list of passionate people I’ve gotten to know there over the years who have inspired me to keep on trucking down the road to wellness — for the sake of my own health and for the health of the planet as a whole.

Related:

• Check out our guide to Sequoia National Park (and its sister park, Kings Canyon)
• Download the National Parks by National Geographic app (we just released guides to five more parks this month!)
• Read a recent post about Nat Geo’s long history with America’s national parks on the News Watch blog
• See a full list of books about America’s national parks from National Geographic

Ron Kauk holding a book he wrote about his experience working with incarcerated youth. (Photograph by Shannon Switzer)

The bona fide mountain man (Ron hiked Half Dome for the first time at age 12) is quick to point out that had he not been introduced to the raw power of the outdoors at a young age by enthusiastic teachers, his life could be very different now.

It all started when his high school organized a 20-day backpacking trip to Yosemite National Park. “This was before litigation had gotten out of control, and our teachers were into it enough themselves to enjoy leading us into nature,” he said. “Now, as an adult, I want to be able to share this same gift with today’s youth.”

And so he does. The famous climber founded Sacred Rok, a nonprofit that brings incarcerated youth to Yosemite, a few years back with help from a few friends — including Yosemite’s chief ranger, Steve Shackelton, and Kenji Hakuta, a professor of education at Stanford.

But, for Ron and everyone else involved, it’s more than just an extended field trip. It’s about confronting a deep-rooted menace in society today: our disconnect from nature.

A double rainbow at Bridal Veil Falls in Yosemite. (Photograph by Shannon Switzer)

The tangible negative effects we suffer as a result of that disconnect can cause psychological and behavioral problems, especially in children, a phenomenon Richard Louv dubbed “Nature Deficit Disorder” in his book Last Child in the Woods. That’s something Ron hopes to change.

“Yosemite is a sacred space, and we mainly try to stay out of the way and let it work on the kids,” Ron explained. Sacred Rok’s ethos is rooted in doing “education nature’s way,” and the belief that learning to respect nature will in turn cultivate self-respect and internal healing.

“The kids get out of their jail cell, often trucked in via a barred van, and come out to this,” he said as he looked up and lifted his arm to the sky and El Capitan.

So Ron’s goal isn’t to give the kids a heavy-handed message, but to get them tuned in to nature and help them find balance again. In his role as a youth guide, Ron insists that humility and compassion are the two most important qualities he can possess. “I try to be like the breeze: subtle, hardly seen, but still having a profound effect.”

After meeting with Ron, I decided to flush out any of my own lingering nature deficiency by doing something I’d never done before, but had always wanted to try: fly-fishing. And I was lucky enough to have Jimmie Morales, owner of Sierra Fly Fisher in nearby Oakhurst, as my instructor.

Jimmie Morales tying some flies to the line. (Photograph by Shannon Switzer)

Jimmie has been fly-fishing since he was 9 and has been guiding trips all throughout the Sierra — from the northern tip of Yosemite to the southern tip of Sequoia — for nearly two decades. “My office is pretty nice,” he mused.

I was a week too early for fishing season in Yosemite, so we donned our waders and scrambled through the gentle rapids at another sweet spot for trout just beyond park limits. Jimmie taught me everything from how to approach the fish from downstream so we wouldn’t frighten them off to why the ”red dots” held such powerful appeal (they were modeled after salmon eggs).

When showing me how to cast the line — keeping the wrist pinned to the rod and only going up with the forearm to a 90-degree angle, then snapping the line forward again gently — he made it look effortless. I was a different story. The harder I tried to keep my wrist flat against the rod the more it rebelled, sending my rod too far backward and allowing the wind to commandeer my line.

By the end of the day, I had earned praise from Jimmie for a nice cast, but I never was able to fool any fish.

But that wasn’t really the point. Like the kids Ron leads into the wilderness, Jimmie and I were being worked on quietly by the river. The water streaming around our legs, the sun shining on our shoulders, and the osprey flying overhead were all telling us a little something whether we heard it or not.

After my day in Yosemite, I decided it was time to listen more closely.

Shannon is driving a Ford C-MAX Hybrid on her Road to Wellness tour. Follow the Curious Traveler’s adventures on Twitter @CuriousTraveler and on Instagram @ShannonSwitzer.