Living in the city can ware you down. The relentless energy of the city, the neurotic-minded collective consciousness, expensive prices, and the polluted air would make any city dweller want to get out into nature- at the very least for the weekend. Plan your next escape from the concrete jungle to these destinations.
A visit to these fresh-aired destinations is sure to rejuvenate the soul. Science also agrees that humans were meant to be outdoors. A mobile app-based study called the Mappiness project proved, by the numbers, that we are happier when we are outside in nature, compared to when we are inside.
One of the best places to visit is Acadia National Park in Maine. The park is not terribly far for stressed New England and even Tri-State Area city folk. The park itself is huge- 47,000-acres in area, and has many hiking trails. Depending on the weather, there is also the opportunity to swim. Once you build up an appetite from all the hiking, head into a nearby town for their famous lobster rolls and clam chowder.
Another place to get some peace and quiet is the Badlands, located in South Dakota. It has amazing rock formations that most will recognize from television and movies, but have never actually seen in real life. In the national park, you will see herds of bison, prairie dogs, and bighorn sheep. Being in this kind of environment, bare, yet full of life, will remind you of the important things in life.
Outside of the mainland United States, there is the Monteverde Cloud Forest, which is located in Costa Rica. This biological reserve is teeming with life, with hundreds of different kinds of birds and thousands of species of plants. What is different about this place is that you can zipline above the whole thing and get a bird’s eye view. Life is about perspective, and these outdoors vacation spots can give it to you.