The best way to take a break from the daily grind is by going on a natural holiday. As much as we love to discover a new metropolis and participate in all that an urban adventure has to bring, we need to unplug and often relax.
That could mean sleeping on a beautiful remote beach or getting adventurous in a national park. There are tons of natural destinations that you can head to for some rest and relaxation.
If you want to trade in the old nine-to-five for lush greenery, fresh mountain air, stunning oceanfront cliffs, or an underground cave, we're here to help. Check out these natural vacation ideas next.
Lake Mead, Nevada
Swimming, boating, hiking, cycling, camping, and fishing are some of America's favorite pastimes. And for good reason as there are a lot of beautiful places to do all of those things.
This year-round playground stretches through 1.5 million acres of pristine wilderness. That includes mountains, canyons, valleys, and two large lakes, striking landscapes, and dazzling blue waters.
Just a few miles outside Boulder City, Nevada, the Lake Mead National Recreational Area and backs up to the popular Hoover Dam.
Take your RV or tent and enjoy fishing, boating, and hiking around the lake man created when the Colorado River's raging waters were dammed. Take the time to discover Black Canyon on the other side of the dam.
Big Bend National Park, Texas
Big Bend National Park, a vast expanse of mountains and desert near the Mexican border in southwest Texas, is also an International Dark Sky Park (along with the neighboring Big Bend Ranch State Park).
A complete absence of light pollution makes this one of the finest parks from which to look at the stars. There are many locations on the Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive and Panther Junction Road for stargazing.
Big Bend is a gift from those who came before us. It is renowned for its natural resources and recreational opportunities, sometimes referred to as Texas' Gift to the Country, and the park is also rich in cultural history.
For thousands of years, indigenous people have been living in and/or moving through this area. Pictographs and archeological sites demonstrate their presence. Texas has been claimed by six distinct indigenous nations in modern history.
National Blue Trail, Hungary
Thanks to the National Blue Trail of the country, Hungary is a dream hiking destination despite its lack of soaring peaks (the highest is 3,327-foot Mount Kékes).
The Blue Trail meanders about 700 miles from Irottko Mountain, on the western border with Austria, and is a beautifully diverse network of trails marked with white-and-blue-striped waymarkers.
Originating in 1938 and known as the first long-distance trail in Europe, it is part of the almost 6,500-mile European long-distance walking route E4, which starts in Spain and ends in Cyprus (with ferry links).
So, while you might use the Blue Trail for an epic, cross-Europe trek as a launchpad, Hungary's historic route is better experienced as a unique destination.
Magdalen Islands, Canada
It is possible to forget when you walk on sea ice that there is an ocean below you. This frozen world is stripped down to the essentials.
You have an unexpected blue sky, a brilliant sun reflecting off a blanket of fresh snow, a cello-like breeze, whiteness all around.
Welcome to the Harp Seal Nursery, one of three Northwest Atlantic harp seal pupping sites in the Gulf of St. Lawrence off the Magdalen Islands, Quebec.
Redwood National and State Parks, California
The vast woods are among the darkest areas in the U.S., but to really see the night sky, you'll need to locate a clearing.
In the Redwood National and State Parks in California, where there are several clearings between the groves, you can do that.
The area covers 139,000 super-dark acres, composed of Redwood National Park, California's Del Norte Coast, and Jedediah Smith and Prairie Creek Redwoods State Parks. It has easy connectivity and very low light pollution.
Conclusion
We hit the books, searching for the best natural vacation destinations out there, and the above are some of the best. Mother Nature always has a ton of surprises in store, while also providing you with a hit of rejuvenation.
