Maybe you have one of those internal thermostats. If your home’s indoor temperature is even 1 degree cooler than usual, you get a chill. And if it’s 1 degree warmer than normal, you register that, too. Whether your body is sensitive to temperature changes or you’re prone to picking up bugs, it’s normal to be a little worried about staying healthy while you travel. After all, you’ll probably be frequently moving from indoors to out, pushing through changes in humidity, and maybe climbing on and off airplanes, where you may be sitting near an infectiously ill person for a long period of time, per Inside Science.

Couple these influences with some natural travel hiccups, such as erratic sleep and unusual food, and it becomes clear that it’s wise to take proactive steps to stay healthy while you travel. Because as fun as travel can be, there’s no denying it can tax your body and play upon a weakened immune system, Complete Care says.

Health experts are remarkably consistent in offering advice, which should bolster your confidence — and ensure you look back on happy and healthy travels.

Conquer jet lag

Jet lag may seem like the absolute worst way to begin a vacation. But actually, it could be worse: Trying to beat jet lag by “knocking yourself out” with alcohol will make it worse, as will pumping yourself up with caffeine, Advanced Infectious Disease Medical says.

Before jet lag triggers a domino effect — from fatigue to sickness — do your best to adjust as best you can to the current time zone. Your goal is to make the adjustment as soon as possible while drinking plenty of water. It will keep you hydrated, along with aiding in digestion and detoxing bacteria from your bladder, Harvard Medical School explains.

Pack a first-aid kit

The guy standing in line with a portable first-aid kit may attract chuckles, much like that kid in grade school who made people laugh with his bulging pencil case. But remember how many people ended up relying on that resourceful kid?

Complete Care recommends following this practical lead by either buying a ready-made first aid kit or assembling your own with over-the-counter pain relievers, anti-nausea meds, sunscreen, hand sanitizer, and anti-bacteria wipes. Bring your usual meds, too, and keep your kit with you rather than tucking it in a carry-on.

Keep your hands clean

Whether you’re at home or traveling, hand washing is the best way to protect yourself from germs, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advises. The necessity for keeping your hands clean is magnified when you’re on the road, since the potential for touching germy substances increases, too. Be especially careful not to touch your nose, eyes, and mouth with dirty hands.

Soap and running water can be hard to find, so keep a travel-size bottle of hand sanitizer with you at all times, the U.S. Travel Insurance Association recommends.

Stay hydrated

Heat stroke is probably more common than you think — and it strikes with lightning speed. It can take only 15 minutes for the body’s internal temperature to soar to 106 degrees Fahrenheit in the hot, stifling sun, per Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. And then all types of maladies can occur, including loss of consciousness.

Keep your body cool by making a water bottle your constant travel companion. Since you can lose track of your water intake in a snap while you travel, New York-Presbyterian’s website Health Matters recommends starting the day by downing two glasses of water so you can get a jump on this good habit.

Walk or bike, but move

It can be a challenge to tip the scales just right when it comes to food. You don’t want to fall asleep completely exhausted from exertion but you don’t want to be stuffed to the gills from overeating, either. Maintaining a steady amount of exercise by walking during your travels will keep your blood flowing and ensure you stay balanced and healthy, Travel Bugs World explains.

Plus, there’s nothing quite like visiting a new town or tourist attraction on foot (or, if you prefer, by bike). It takes longer, which fitness enthusiasts often say is precisely the point.

Get plenty of rest

If you’ve ever heard someone who has just returned from vacation announce that they now need a vacation, you can be almost certain they overdid it while they were gone. You may never know whether they ate too much, drank too much, or danced too much, but chances are they didn’t sleep enough. And this is exactly when people are most likely to get sick after being exposed to a virus — when they already feel tired and run down, Mayo Clinic says.

No one says you have to go “lights out” by 10 p.m. every night while you’re away, but getting seven or eight hours of sleep will help your immune system recharge and stay resilient.

Eat nutritious food

If you equate traveling to adventure, then you may make some thrilling food choices while you’re away. It’s part of the fun of having an adventurer’s spirit. But there are limits while you travel, especially if you assume your digestive system will be okay with you eating anything you want and as much as you want, all hours of the day.

Be sure to send postcards to your nearest and dearest if this occurs. You should have plenty of time to address them as you roll on the bed, clutching your stomach in pain.

To avoid that, stick to a nutritious diet while you travel, You’ll give your body one less reason to revolt on the way home.

A decade ago, social media opened us to a wide range of careers that no one could have imagined. Because of the allure of these online platforms, people have begun to not only pursue their passions but also to make money from them. The term ‘social media influencer’ was coined and has since evolved into many varieties. Influencers were present on every beat, from cuisine to fashion. In fact, we were quickly introduced to ‘travel influencers,’ people who not only travel but also motivate others to appreciate, discover, and take in the globe. In actuality, one of the most popular searches on Google was ‘how to become a travel blogger’.

Many people aspire to make travelling their full-time employment in order to pursue their passion. Of course, it’s a dream, but in order to realise it, one must have a solid grasp of Instagram’s effective practises. Rasmus Peter Kristensen, a travel influencer with over a million followers and owner of the handle ‘Resort,’ claims, ‘People who are passionate about travelling can become digital nomads and grow their travel Instagram following, becoming successful travel influencers. But getting the appropriate photos is crucial if you want to increase your following.’

He and his wife tour the world while he tries to discover the kinds of visuals that people will find appealing. Sometimes, he just goes with his gut, thinking that he is presenting the world in a lovely way that the audience would undoubtedly find appealing.

1. Find Your Niche

No travel influencer can become a successful travel handle by simply uploading photos and videos to Instagram. A person needs to find their area of expertise and research the topics they hope to affect. Luxury, health and wellbeing, adventure, hiking, gastrotourism, winter destinations, and many other topics are all examples of travel niches. Rasmus thinks that choosing a certain travel specialisation can help someone gain some expertise on that subject, and by fusing their personal flair with the writing, they can set themselves apart from other professionals in the field.

2. Use Creativity When Taking Photos:

Pictures by themselves can convey a lot about an experience. Rasmus contends that a top travel influencer should therefore develop their photographic talents and contribute to the production of eye-catching visual content for their travel website.

3. Demonstrate Your Video Skills:

How powerful can a well-produced video be if images can convey so much without using words? ‘In addition to the ability to create an IGTV, Instagram also includes a feature called Reels that enables you to create short videos. One can easily add additional effects to the content using Instagram’s tools. Additionally, adding the correct music merely makes travel-related stuff more appealing ‘, he says.

4. Establish A Brand On Instagram:

Many people’s attention can be drawn in by the original, creative, and motivational travel content. Additionally, it is crucial to consistently update fresh, eye-catching images and videos. ‘ I designed ‘Resort’ with the goal of uniting travellers and letting them individually discover different locations across the globe via the website. You must establish a strong brand on your page so that people can connect with you ‘,he claims.

5. Pursue Collaborations:

Rasmus argues that people should build their networks even outside of social media platforms and that by collaborations, he doesn’t just mean the ones that travel influencers make on Instagram. Meeting other travel influencers and working with them to produce original content is another important aspect. As a result, you can increase your audience, your following, and the conversions you make on the shared subject they have all learnt.

6. Hashtag All The Way:

‘Travel influencers need to make the most of hashtagging their brand because they are utilised to bring everyone to one location on Instagram. Many consumers can find information shared by influencers in the travel industry by using a certain hashtag. The posts draw their attention, and they begin to follow them as a result ‘, he says.

7. Make use of Instagram Tales:

Sadly, not everyone has yet understood its importance. ‘This feature is great. Utilize this feature on the platform where for a few seconds you can give a preview of a post to people, leading them to see your post and ultimately following them,’ he says.

8. Create Your Travel Hub Account:

People who are just getting started and haven’t seen much of the world can still create their Instagram travel hub account and repost the material of several other travel explorers and influencers.

Rasmus, who has travelled, claims that being a travel influencer and earning money from Instagram are both viable, but only if a person is willing to maintain working hard, give it their all, and produce regular, unique material. Make sure to research before setting off on a journey. Being an influencer may seem elegant, but it takes a lot of commitment and effort. Read about marketing techniques, watch a lot of stuff, and get inspired, but don’t imitate it, to make your account ace. Being an influencer is a gradual process, so have patience and provide relatable material.

Off the Beaten Path

The allure of exploring unusual and abandoned places is hard to resist, and many curiosity-seekers make it a hobby. Such sites, however, may contain hazards, so it’s important to heed posted warnings and avoid spots where entry is prohibited. Still, even viewed from afar, these locales are filled with wonder and can be quite haunting.

Bodie Ghost Town

The former town of Bodie, California, now shows up on maps as Bodie State Historic Park, where visitors can visit what’s left of a Gold Rush boomtown kept purposely in a state of arrested decay.

Michigan Central Station

Detroit’s once-proud railway station has wallowed in ruins for more than two decades, a victim of the collapse of the U.S. auto industry and a faltering economy. But it won’t be that way for long. In 2018, Ford bought the property, which features an impressive 18-story tower, and renovation is underway for a scheduled 2022 opening. Plans include shops, markets, and restaurants, with office space in the tower.

Castle at Ha Ha Tonka State Park

The ruins of a 20th-century castle are one of the main highlights of this Missouri state park. The castle itself was the dream of a Kansas City businessman who died suddenly before it was finished. His sons continued the work, but the mansion was ultimately destroyed by fire. The still-standing walls have since been preserved and stabilized, making the area a unique curiosity in the Missouri Ozarks.

Pima Air and Space Museum

Many areas where unused aircraft are stored are military facilities and don’t often permit tours. The Pima Air and Space Museum in Tucson, Arizona is currently closed by order of the U.S. Air Force, but previously conducted “Boneyard” tours. If you’re itching to see an airplane boneyard, consider checking out the once-monthly tour held by Boneyard Safari at the Aircraft Restoration & Marketing Facility in Tucson, Arizona. Docents guide guests through a variety of aircraft, though the tour is limited to three hours due to hot weather conditions.

Sloss Furnaces

The Sloss Furnaces in Birmingham, Alabama, had a strong 90-year-run producing iron beginning in the late 1800s. Since ceasing production in 1970, the plant has been designated as a National Historical Landmark and now operates as a museum — the only one of its kind in the nation.

‘Salton Riviera’

A once-thriving resort destination not far from Los Angeles, the Salton Sea area is ripe for exploration, though some may find the putrid-smelling air — a byproduct of the sea’s heavy concentration of minerals and salts — difficult to bear. Established in the 1950s, the area touted as the “Salton Riviera” included residential areas and plenty of businesses, but a rising (and very salty) sea level led to eventual abandonment. Numerous structures from the era still exist and offer a glimpse into a different time.

Bahia Honda Rail Bridge

The Bahia Honda Rail Bridge is in the lower Florida Keys. This railroad bridge was built in 1912 and was, at the time, the only overland route to Key West. After a hurricane wreaked havoc in the area in the ’30s, it was converted to an automobile highway and eventually replaced with a new four-lane bridge, leaving the Bahia without a function — except to be a unique backdrop at the beachy Bahia Honda State Park.

Central State Mental Hospital Cemetery

Many buildings at the nearly abandoned Central State Mental Hospital in Milledgeville, Georgia, have deteriorated to the point of being unsafe and aren’t open to the public. But free tours (by appointment only) are available, providing visitors access to the notorious facility’s three cemeteries where more than 25,000 patients are buried. In addition, a driving tour of the 1,750-acre campus is offered (a museum on the ground has been closed). A memorial made up of discarded metal grave markers can be found at Cedar Lane Cemetery. The markers were once affixed above the final resting places of thousands of former patients but were tossed aside in the 1960s by groundskeepers who considered them a nuisance.

Silver City, Idaho

This former mining town was once the home to about 2,500 people and 75 businesses. Once the gold and silver mines were depleted, residents slowly abandoned the town, leaving behind many vacant but still-standing buildings. Today, Silver City is one of the few U.S. ghost towns where visitors can spend the night — at the partially restored Idaho Hotel, which features 13 rooms, although accommodations are rustic (some rooms are unheated). The town has three other businesses but no service stations or electricity; the hotel relies on solar energy for its power.

Rodney, Mississippi

Unlike many ghost towns, Rodney, Mississippi, didn’t go bust after the gold or silver mines went dry. Rather, it owes its depopulation to several calamities that include the loss of its port after the Mississippi River changed course in about 1870. Today, there’s only one serviceable road in and out of this once-thriving city, and while some homes remain in use, the businesses and churches that once dotted this small town have fallen into disrepair. Recent visitors to Rodney advise tourists to use paper maps or written directions to find the town and not rely on GPS.

Bannack, Montana

The site of Montana’s first gold discovery thrived for some time, then was abandoned when the mines petered out. After the population of the town dwindled to nothing, the state stepped in and helped preserve the area as Bannack State Park. More than 50 original buildings remain standing, most of which can be explored.

Ranch House Cafe

Located along old U.S. Route 66 in Tucumcari, New Mexico, the Ranch House Cafe fell to the wayside, despite a quirky slogan: “Good food always — Always good food.” The old marquee and closed-up building are a bittersweet and endearing sight for those retracing the Mother Road. But other businesses along the now-named Route 66 Boulevard (including numerous hotels, gas stations, and other restaurants built during the 1930s, ’40s, and ’50s) have fared better and are worth checking out, too.

Staten Island Boat Graveyard

Despite the “No Trespassing” signs, New York City’s official dumping ground for seafaring vessels is still an attraction for historians and tourists, including some who prefer to make the arduous trek by kayak. Getting to the site on land requires a 13-mile bus ride and a hike across a “makeshift path of street signs and wood planks.” Those obstacles didn’t stop the city from advertising the spot as a destination for British tourists keen on nautical oddities.

Stanley Mickelsen Safeguard Complex

Decommissioned within months after it opened in 1975, the Stanley Mickelsen Safeguard Complex in Nekoma, North Dakota, was the nation’s only operational anti-ballistic missile complex. Today, the facility remains closed, but the unique flat-topped pyramid and other structures, eerie reminders of the Cold War, are viewable from the road.

Morris Island Lighthouse

The guiding light of the Morris Island Lighthouse off the coast of South Carolina helped ships navigate the way to safety for more than 85 years, but threatened by encroaching waters, it was decommissioned 1962, after a new lighthouse was built. Save The Light, a nonprofit organization that hopes to stabilize and restore the lighthouse, now owns it. Although it’s not possible to visit the lighthouse, it can be easily viewed from Folly Beach.

Lake Shawnee Amusement Park

A West Virginia amusement park with a haunted past, Lake Shawnee was built in the 1920s on land where an early settler’s children were murdered in the late 1700s. In the 1960s, two young children died while visiting the park.

Garnet, Montana

Garnet was born during the gold rush of 1895 and home to nearly a thousand miners and homesteaders at its peak. The mines were quickly depleted and most people were gone by 1912, but two dozen wood buildings persist, making this one of the best-preserved mining towns in the U.S. It looks almost like a movie set for an Old West boomtown. Today it is owned and managed by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management. Volunteers recruited to maintain the site give tours and get free lodging in a rustic Garnet cabin, as well as a small stipend. Beware, though: They report paranormal sightings and unearthly noises in the night.

Dogpatch, Arkansas

Fans of the Li’l Abner comic strip and cartoon may remember Dogpatch as the home of all its colorful country characters. By the mid-1980s, however, Dogpatch was no longer a moneymaker — it was sold several times before closing in 1993. It was sold again in 2014, to entrepreneur Charles “Bud” Pelsor, though he’s now looking for a buyer. In 2017, an entertainment company called Heritage USA Inc. began leasing the property from Pelsor, but that arrangement has fallen apart.

Holy Land USA

Holy Land USA provided a little slice of biblical history for nearly 30 years. The 18-acre attraction opened in 1955 and quickly became a popular spot for visitors to see recreations of stories from the Bible. It closed in 1984, although there have been recent attempts to resurrect it. The park temporarily re-opened in September 2014, after a lighted cross was put up on the property. More than 1,000 people gathered there for a Mass honoring the Rev. Michael McGivney, a local priest who is a candidate for sainthood.

Ludlow, Colorado

Rather than ghost stories and local legends, this coal-mining town is the site of a real-life horror story. In 1913, thousands of miners went on strike to protest their living and working conditions, only to be kicked out by their employer. About 1,200 workers and their families built a makeshift tent city near the mine and continued to protest. In April 1914, when the miners were celebrating Greek Easter, militiamen surrounded the camp, peppering it with gunfire and setting the tents ablaze. Eleven children and two women huddled in a foxhole were among those who lost their lives as the camp burned to the ground. The Colorado Coal Strike has been called the deadliest in U.S. history, claiming between 69 and 199 lives. Today, those who visit the remains of the company town, near Trinidad, can see the foxhole and a monument to those killed in the massacre.

Hobbiton USA

It’s a long way to the Shire from here — and a long way from this eclectic recreation of J.R.R. Tolkien’s world to the rich and textured one in the Peter Jackson films. Hobbiton USA was originally built in the 1970s when the closest Tolkien had come to the big screen was the oddly charming 1978 Ralph Bakshi animated version of “The Lord of the Rings” and a Rankin/Bass cartoon TV special in 1977. The simple sculptures of the California Hobbiton, which closed in 2009, reflect those efforts. Travelers should note that here’s also the nearby Avenue of the Giants, a 31-mile stretch of highway that winds through ancient redwoods.

Williams Grove Amusement Park

Dating to 1850, Williams Grove Amusement Park in Pennsylvania remained open until 2005. Fans still post details of visits they’ve made to the park on Facebook, where photos depict the park in its heyday. Those eager for an in-person glimpse may want to visit sooner rather than later. The park reportedly has been the target of recent vandalism, altering its faded allure.

“Twenty years from now, you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do,” Mark Twain once mused. “So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” Simply put, you only live once and there’s a world of things out there to explore.

1. Angkor Wat

Built by Khmer King Suryavarman II in the first half of the 12th century, Angkor Wat was one of the most significant architectural achievements of ancient times. It remains the world’s largest religious monument today.

The sprawling Cambodian temple complex is a source of national pride and international renown thanks to its distinctive sandstone spires, intricate artistry and massive moat that encloses the grounds in a three-and-a-half-mile perimeter. It was first dedicated to Vishnu as a Hindu temple and later a center of Theravada Buddhism. The well-preserved site is one of more than 1,000 temples in the Angkor area, many of which are easily accessible from nearby Siem Reap.

2. Antarctica

This remote and mysterious part of the world draws many visitors.

The Earth’s southernmost point, Antarctica is the driest and coldest of the seven continents. For a place that’s 98 percent covered in one-mile-deep ice, it’s hard to imagine why anyone would want to visit at all. But there’s an eerie, stark beauty about Antarctica that is incomparable to anywhere else on the planet. Sprinkle in some penguin sightings and you’ve got one of the most unique settings in the world. While Antarctica has no permanent residents, there are often up to 5,000 researchers working there at a time. We recommend visiting by cruise ship.

3. Easter Island

A UNESCO World Heritage Site that is a testament to the Rapa Nui civilization.

It is believed the natives of Easter Island carved massive heads out of stone hundreds of years ago to honor their ancestors. Today, there are 887 “moai,” as the statues are called, which create a mysterious, yet intriguing landscape to this Polynesian island, which is a four-and-a-half hour flight from Lima, Peru. A more recent finding revealed the statues have torsos that had been buried by sediment and rock.

The tallest statue on the island — named Paro — is 33 feet high and weighs 82 tons. In addition to statue appreciation, Easter Island also boasts great hiking trails and decent scuba diving.

4. Galápagos Islands

Located some 600 miles off the South American coast, this Ecuadorian archipelago has been drawing nature-lovers to its remote shores ever since naturalist and geologist Charles Darwin explored the islands in 1835.

A one-time outpost of pirates and prisoners, the Galápagos Islands are also home to an incredibly diverse collection of flora and fauna, including many species — such as the Galápagos giant tortoise and marine iguana — that can be found nowhere else on Earth. Today, 97 percent of the archipelago’s land area is protected by a national park. Visitors can get up-close-and-personal with wildlife on guided boat tours, scuba expeditions and hikes, where curious creatures often approach sightseers without hesitation.

5. Grand Canyon

If North America’s greatest natural wonder — a red-hued canyon 277 river miles long, 18 miles wide, and one mile deep — doesn’t make your mouth drop in awe, then you might not be human.

While the north rim attracts fewer visitors, you’ll most likely appreciate the epic vistas of the south rim. There are plenty of spots to pull the car over and have a look from the top, but we recommend trekking along the rim on foot. You can also descend into the canyon’s depths via mules or guided hiking excursions, experience “The Heart of the Canyon” by raft on the Colorado River and even spend the night at a lodge below the rim.

6. Great Wall of China

The Great Wall of China is the largest cultural relic humans have ever built and is the only man-made structure that is visible from space.

It snakes through China ever so majestically, around undulating hills and through a vast countryside, stretching from Shanhaiguan in the east to Lop Lake in the west. Wall construction began more than 2,000 years ago in an attempt to keep out the tribes from the north.

This landmark is thousands of miles long, passes through 156 counties, with 7,062 lookout towers.The most colorful (and least costly) times to go are spring and autumn — pink cherry blossoms blanket the landscape outside of Beijing in late-March, and in mid-October red leaves abound near Badaling National Forest Park.

7. Iguazú Falls

Iguazú National Park, situated on the international border of Argentina and Brazil, features one of the world’s most striking natural wonders.

Iguazú Falls offers a misty and majestic realm of rushing, roaring water with rainbows adorning the cascades, which stretch for nearly 2 miles. Experience this marvel up close from one of the wooden walkways that stretch out over the river, and be sure to take in the spectacular vista from the giant balcony of the “Devil’s Throat.” According to ancient myths, a jealous god slashed the Iguazú River (meaning “great water”) in two, creating falls as high as 269 feet. The UNESCO site is bordered by its sister park Iguaçu in Brazil, and the falls are surrounded by the lush Misiones rainforest, so don’t be surprised to see tropical birds flitting about as they search for fish in quieter waters.

8. Lascaux

The discovery of these ancient drawings was completely unexpected and accidental.

On September 12, 1940, four teenagers in the Vézère valley of the Dordogne in southwestern France followed a dog into a cave and discovered 17,000-year-old animal paintings. Eight years later, the public was allowed to view the paintings of bison, horses and stags, among other Paleolithic Era images. To preserve the original findings, the cavern was closed in 1963. A nearby cave, known as Lascaux II, displaying brilliant recreations of the paintings, was opened in its stead.

Depending on the time of year, tickets for the 75-minute guided tours can be purchased online or at the ticket office. Keep in mind, only 30 people are allowed per tour, so plan in advance.

9. Machu Picchu

Eight thousand feet above sea level, this five-centuries-old pre-Columbian site was once home to the Incas.

Until American historian Hiram Bingham publicized his findings of the area in a 1911 book called “Across South America,” the mountain-top ruins were widely unknown to anyone living outside of the Urubamba Valley and nearby Cusco. Since Spanish colonialists had no idea of Machu Picchu’s existence, its Incan architecture and design were preserved.

There are two ways up to the “old peak,” by train or on foot. Unless you’re wildly adventurous — and don’t mind a two-to four-day massive hike up the Inca Trail — we recommend you go by rail, stay overnight in Aguas Calientes and take an early bus to the ruins to beat the crowds (and in the sweltering summer months, the sun).

10. Petra

A marvel that wasn’t discovered until 1812 and has been featured in films such as Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, and Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen.

Chiseled out of pale pink sandstone, the ancient metropolis of Petra in Jordan’s Jebel al-Madhbah mountains is an architectural and engineering marvel nonpareil. Carved more than 2,000 years ago by the Nabataeans, a nomadic Arab tribe, the breathtaking megalith boasts an abundance of awe-inspiring rock facades, formations, tombs and temples.

You enter the UNESCO World Heritage Site through the “Siq,” a narrow, winding gorge so steep you must crane your neck to see the sky. After about a kilometer, the gorge opens to reveal the massive “Treasury,” one of Petra’s most famous ruins. Rose-red Petra is stunning at night, when both the Siq and city are lined by thousands of candles, as well as during the golden glow of the late afternoon.