Some tricks are for ticking an item off your bucket list, while some are for the sight-seeing and the stories you can tell later. And then there are some which are just about getting away: not forever, but for long enough to feel yourself regenerate away from the stress, the noise and the crowds. Sometimes, you just want to be somewhere where time doesn’t hurry you. Below, we’ll look at some locations that allow you to show up, breathe deep, and slow down.
Hoh Rain Forest, WA
In the deeps of the Olympic National Park, the Hoh Rain Forest is a wonderfully remote moss-draped, mist-swirled location that could easily take pride of place in a fairytale. The trails are quiet and undisturbed, the trees tall, and the phone signal pleasingly patchy. This is a location where the world is reduced to charming birdsong, dripping leaves and the sound of your boots on the forest floor. You can find a rustic cabin or pitch a tent - or if you book a hotel room in the area, make it part of a slow day where you head out after breakfast.
The Sandhills, NE
Occasionally written as “Sand Hills”, this mixed-grass prairie region covers more than a quarter of Nebraska state, so there’s plenty of space to take a long, meandering drive in a place where the population is sparse and the night skies clear. If you want to enjoy a bit of stargazing or take time out to watch the native meadowlarks, you’ll have plenty of time and space to yourself. While there aren’t many towns around, you can make this part of a broader journey in the Midwest, finding an RV park in Iowa before exploring the region more deeply.
Monhegan Island, ME
If you want to stop somewhere remote, there are few better locations than a tiny, car-free island located ten miles off the coast of Maine. It’s only reachable by boat and there are few shops, no street lights and a bare handful of places to stay (so book ahead, but it’s worth it). Once there you can enjoy the hiking trails which wend their way across rocky cliffs and forest paths - and if you’re of an artistic tendency, it’s a good idea to bring along a canvas or sketchpad to preserve the soothing views in an appropriate fashion.
Big Bend Ranch State Park, TX
Not to get confused with Big Bend National Park, which is located close by, Big Bend Ranch is wilder and quieter than its sibling, but if you’re looking for a wild location it’s arguably more rewarding. Here you will find rugged canyons, volcanic rock formations and a desert setting that stretches for mile after splendidly desolate mile. The terrain isn’t the easiest but if you show the requisite patience you will be rewarded with magnificent solitude and plenty of campsites where you can pitch up and sleep under the stars.
If you view a holiday as a time to recharge the batteries and get away from the helter-skelter of everyday life, then there is a lot to love about an isolated destination where the world leaves you alone. The spots mentioned above are some of the most unsung - which is ideal, all things considered! (Image source: Pixabay - CC0 Licence)
