6 Solo Trips That’ll Rejuvenate the Mind
You need people to enjoy the fullest aspects of your social and professional life. But you don’t need them all the time. In fact, sometimes being around people can be more stressful than it’s worth.
When you’re beginning to feel stressed and overwhelmed, consider investing in some alone time. Take a solo trip to connect with nature and be yourself. You’ll soon find an improvement in your mental health and greater connection with the world around you. Here are some trips to consider.
Touring A Wildlife Center in New Jersey
If you live in a big city such as New York City or Jersey City, you probably haven’t enjoyed wildlife for a while (sewer rats and pigeons don’t count). Being surrounded by millions of people can take its toll as you strive to live up to others’ expectations and work to find your place in the frenzy of the city. It’s easy for the mental weight of city living to take over.
Let nature restore some of your senses. New Jersey has a great wildlife center that’s perfect for connecting you with nature. It’s a 5,000-square-feet indoor zoo with more than 2,000 gallons of aquatic exhibits and hundreds of species of exotic animals and wildlife.
According to science, your interaction with animal species of any variety can have a huge impact on your mental health. The benefits of petting and caring for animals include reduced stress, anxiety, and depression, but you don’t even have to pet an animal to enjoy the benefits.
In fact, a recent study from the University of Exeter in England and the University of Queensland in Australia revealed that the simple act of birdwatching significantly reduced depression, stress, and anxiety for the 270 participants in the study.
A wildlife center in the middle of a city is the perfect way to enjoy nature during your hectic life. You’ll return from your excursion feeling more creative and peaceful, ready for anything that life throws at you.
Camping in the Pacific Northwest
Autumn is one of the most beautiful times of year to visit the Pacific Northwest, particularly along the Oregon coast. The typically green landscape changes to orange, yellow, red, and purple with a little green mixed in. Take in the gorgeous foliage amid waterfalls, hiking trails, and the famous beaches of the area.
It’s a great opportunity to enjoy the last few months of weather that are warm enough for camping. Temperatures will be cooler, making it perfect for pitching a tent or parking an RV and exploring the tide pools and mountain hikes in the area.
If you’re looking for a new, fun destination, check out North Bend, Oregon. There’s unparallelled beauty in this small town that’s on Coos Bay of the Pacific Ocean. The gorgeous cove is the perfect place to park your RV and take in the daily sights, smells, and sounds of the ocean.
You’ll find lots of things to do in North Bend, OR, including hiking, biking, and water sports. The time in nature will help you clear your head and return to work feeling rejuvenated. There’s nothing like the sea air and ocean birds flying overhead to help you reflect.
North Bend is also a very small town, so while you have all the amenities you need nearby, you won’t be overwhelmed by a huge population. You’ll have a casino, movie theater, ATV park, shops, bookstores, restaurants, and other businesses you’ll love within walking distance, and you won’t have to fight the crowds to get there. Talk about a relaxing environment!
Visiting a Gorgeous Rural County in Georgia
The Deep South offers many benefits for travelers looking for a boost in their mental awareness. In Georgia, you can find history, a culture of gratitude and respect, art, architecture, music, festivals, and heavenly food everywhere.
If you’re looking for a retreat from big city life, explore Henry County, Georgia, a collection of four rural towns known for their distinctive scenery and attractions. Henry County has everything you’re looking for in a mind retreat, including history, culture, scenic beauty, delicious food, and expansive uninhabited land.
Henry County is a great place to go hiking or camping. You can listen to the june bugs and crickets in the background and enjoy clear skies at night, perfect for stargazing. The retreat is devoid of city noises that keep you up at night and smog pollutants that block the sky. You’ll find dozens of state parks and golf courses where you can wander and enjoy the great outdoors.
You can also enjoy luscious history, including a visit to the birthplace of Martin Luther King Sr. and the church where he preached his first sermon. Hundreds of properties are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The county is also home to the nation’s busiest en-route air traffic control facility for those aviator buffs who want to go back to their pilot roots.
Relaxing on the Beach of the Gulf Coast
The Gulf Coast is one of the nation’s top vacation destinations, and for good reason. The Atlantic surf offers the perfect backdrop for those trying to become one with nature and enjoy a more positive outlook on life.
One of the best ways to experience Florida’s Gulf Coast is to visit St. George Island, along Florida’s Forgotten Coast. The island has 22 miles of white sandy beaches, waterfront dining, ghost crab hunting excursions, fishing and boating opportunities, biking trails, kayaking and paddle-boating rentals, shopping, and more.
You can also visit the historic St. George Island Lighthouse, touring the majestic light tower and learning about the history and importance to the land. This is the island’s most iconic landmark, because it’s in the center, and you can see it from anywhere on the island.
Whether you’re looking for a relaxing weekend sunbathing, time spent shelling and beachcombing, a swim in the warm Atlantic waters, or a look at the historic side of Florida’s Gulf Coast, St. George Island is a great place to visit.
Surfing in Hawaii
Surfing is a great way to exercise and connect more fully with nature. Being on the water, timing the waves, and gliding through the air just frees the mind and melts stress.
The beaches of Ohana are some of the best if you want to surf Hawaii. Waikiki beach has excellent waves, and plenty of instructors will help you learn or master the craft of surfing. With each lesson, you’ll get better and better until you’re confident enough to surf anytime, anywhere.
The skill of surfing is something you can take with you on any beach vacation. It’s a great outlet when you’re feeling overwhelmed with your daily life, and you’ll return from every trip rejuvenated and ready for anything.
Hiking Along the Appalachian Trail
Although it’s not the longest hiking trail in the world, the Appalachian Trail is the longest and best on the East Coast. It’s 2,200 miles of beginning to advanced difficulty hiking trails along the Appalachian mountains. It stretches from Springer Mountain in Georgia to Mount Katahdin in Maine.
Very few people have hiked the Appalachian Trail in one trip, because it takes months to accomplish. Most people simply enjoy the trail section by section. You can do the same when you’re looking for a break, driving to the sections that are nearest you and exploring mountainous trails surrounded by flora and fauna.
The East Coast is the most heavily populated area of the United States, so it’s a great opportunity for those in the big cities to get out and enjoy solitude and untouched landscapes. You can learn a lot about yourself and the world around you with such an isolated vacation.