The secret to staying young – and young at heart? Play

When was the last time you made time to play? Built a snowman on the lawn? Spotted dragons in the clouds? Played an impromptu game of hide-and-seek? The activity that once made up the biggest part of our day has generally, by adulthood, ebbed away to a distant memory. But emerging research shows that play is fundamental to our wellbeing, even, or perhaps especially, as adults.  

Play is powerful, and it’s making headlines for its role in supporting everything from key health markers to critical thinking and problem solving. Time spent at play, however you define it, can help with stress management and foster overall wellbeing.  

George Bernard Shaw famously said, “We don’t stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing.” Well, Shaw never travelled with B&R, but if he had, he likely would have been pleased that we have taken his keen observation to heart. 

At B&R, play isn’t an afterthought. It’s woven into our DNA and is an important element of every trip. From racing friends up the hills of Porto, to swan diving into the warm waters of the Mediterranean off the side of a catamaran, play is essential to the unforgettable moments that make up a Butterfield & Robinson adventure. 

Take the Vancouver to Tofino Women's Multi-Active trip, where you can paddle out on the waves of the Pacific for a female-led surf session or channel your creativity in a bead-making workshop with a First Nations Elder. Experience Ultimate Morocco Multi-Active where you can dance like no one’s watching under a sky full of stars at a private Berber camp. On our Rwanda Hiking trip lose track of time as you track families of Silverback gorillas. Or delight your inner child with an itinerary full of painting, chocolate making, cycling, swimming kayaking and more on a Bespoke adventure in Bali. The activities are endless, and fun is the sole objective.  

Play isn’t a luxury, it’s the purpose. It’s a pathway to staying young, and young at heart. And frankly, why should kids have all the fun?