Bali, as you may have heard or seen for yourself, is a remarkably spiritual place. It's easy to see how people from all over the world visit and end up extending their stay by a few days, a week, even years. The Hindu religion of the island, mixed with influences from Buddhist and indigenous cultures, combine to create a feeling of spirituality that stands out from anywhere else. We spent most of our time in Ubud, and several days in Seminyak as well. We began our trip with a four day yoga retreat at Blooming Lotus just outside of Ubud. It was an incredibly refreshing way to rejuvenate and center ourselves to begin our time in Bali. Make sure to visit Cantika Spa Alami for a unique and revitalizing spa experience with beautiful views of the vast rice paddies. Just of note, Bali is not really a beach destination, so if that's what you are looking for it might not be the best option. There are beaches in areas such as Bukit or Nusa Dua, but in my opinion Bali has many more unique experiences to offer.

Where to Stay: In Ubud we stayed at the Hanging Gardens, one of the most jaw dropping, distinctive hotels I have ever had the pleasure of visiting. In addition to the instagram-famous pool setup off of the hotel's restaurant, each room has it's own infinity pool overlooking the vast, lush jungle. If you are looking for a wellness program or retreat, Como Shambhala Estate is a luxury property that offers programs catering to cleansing and detox, fitness, stress management and rejuvenation. Another option for a yoga retreat aside from Blooming Lotus is The Yoga Barn, located in the center of Ubud. In Seminyak, we stayed at The Seminyak Beach Resort & Spa, which was beautiful, luxurious and centrally located with a nice beach area.

Where to Eat: The food in Bali was right up my alley—there are more vegan, organic and local options concentrated in one place than I've ever witnessed before. In Ubud, go to Moziac for an elaborate tasting menu filled with local ingredients. They even have a basket filled with produce on the table to point out what was in each dish! Love that. When we visited the Como Shambhala Estate, we had an incredible meal at Glow. Half of the menu is raw and vegan, and the other half is omnivorous (but of course still local and organic). Visit Locavore for a gourmet, local-centric (duh) tasting menu, and it's offshoot Locavore to Go for a fast food version. Hanging Gardens also had a great restaurant with a combination of traditional Balinese and international cuisine. For lunch and more casual meals we hung out at Kismet, a trendy open air space with great drinks. Alchemy has fantastic vegan and organic meals, with great smoothies and dessert options. Vegan gelato shop Kokolato was probably the best “ice cream” I've ever had, including the conventional kind. They use coconut water, and coconut milk among other natural ingredients. I tried every flavor—we visited nearly every day we were in Ubud. For the traditionally cooked suckling pig that is well known in Ubud, visit one of the three branches of the super casual Ibu Oka. In Seminyak, we enjoyed Revolver Cafe for a casual lunch and drinks. Go to Ku De Ta to lounge and watch the sunset, then visit Gatsby-style steakhouse Plantation Grill for dinner.

Where to Shop: My best finds in Bali were yoga gear, jewelry and home décor. We did most of our shopping in Ubud—it looked like Seminyak had better clothing options, but I didn't get a chance to shop there. Walk around Ubud to find little stores with homemade items such as a leopard print yoga mat bag I was disproportionately excited about purchasing. I feel strongly about not looking like a basic just because I'm working out, and these stores have some really chic options. Bali Spirit had really great and unique sports bras, yoga pants and mats. Stop by Bali Zen for beautiful home décor. Bali is also a hot spot for jewelry designers, as the materials are plentiful and the finished products easy to export. Take advantage and visit shops such as Starchild, Shan Shan and the many crystal jewelry stores. If you feel inspired you can even visit Tempaksiring, a jewelry carving village outside of Ubud. Stock up on superfoods and herbal medicines at Alchemy and Bali Buda.