May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and studies have shown that getting out in nature can boost one’s mental health. We recently asked some of our members and supporters about their favorite place in nature—where do you go to feel grounded, and why that specific place? Here are some of their answers.
“My favorite place to connect with nature has been Taughannock Falls in Ithaca, New York. There's something about the falls that draws me to them whether I am feeling happy or sad, and no matter what time of year. I love to hike to waterfalls wherever I go, but Taughannock Falls has always been my favorite.” -Michael, Endwell, New York
“At our cabin we created a pollinator garden right outside our kitchen windows. There we have a seed feeder and a hummingbird feeder. Across a narrow lawn is the shore of Breese Pond. Just in front of this shore we have three seed feeders and a tray feeder. We also have a stone right at the waterline where we put out cracked corn every morning. At breakfast every morning we watch the gathering of songbirds and the coming of wood ducks, mallards, and a pair of Canadian geese to the cracked corn. He stands as sentry while she eats. This time of year we eagerly await the arrival of migrating birds and enter them in our daily journal. So we sit and eat with binoculars at hand with smiles and a warm heart. That and our daily poetry reading, particularly Robert Frost, is our special treasure that outside conflict and cruelty can never take from us.” -Peter, Hubbardton, Vermont
“The beach along the Atlantic! Wonderful to see the expansiveness of the water and waves and sky as birds soar by. Happy folks are always smiling and dogs and kids scamper along the edges of the surf. Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh.” -Karin, Murrells Inlet, South Carolina
“I love to go hiking in West Rock Park in Hamden and enjoy the sunsets in East Rock Park in New Haven. It’s always a great opportunity to take a fresh breath, contemplate the trees, and pray. When I feel stress, I go to the parks or the beach and it is a rejuvenating experience. Always I connect with God.” -Maria, New Haven, Connecticut
“The Park at North Carolina Museum of Art combines miles of well-marked trails with both permanent and temporary outdoor art. A meadow trail features wild raspberries and lots of butterflies, and walking is so easy that you can easily lose yourself in meditation.” -Cherie, Raleigh, North Carolina
“Yosemite National Park is my favorite place on the planet! I first went there with my family back in 1951 from Pennsylvania at age six! My wife and I now go there at least once a year and fall in love with it every time because it is such a perfect illustration of the beauty and magnificence of this planet which promotes our mental health.” -Buzz, Pt. Hueneme, California
“My favorite place to be in nature is Henry W. Coe State Park. It is quiet, peaceful, serene, and full of wildlife including endangered plants and animals.” -Cynthia, California
“I love going to my local park, Blackwater Conservation Area, to walk my dog, Ginny, and be out in nature. We see geese and a lot of different trees. I’m hoping to see a turtle soon, as they're my favorite and I don’t think my dog has seen one yet. I’m lucky that it's about 10 minutes away from my house!” -Dana, Baton Rouge, Louisiana
“I live about 20 minutes from one of our local beaches in Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico. I usually go early Sunday morning, before the crowds start pouring in, and the water is still pristine clear. I take off my clogs and ‘hide’ them in a nearby tree, and start my stroll along the shore, feeling the water dance by my feet. As I walk along, I scan the water for schools of small fish that gather close by, trying not to disturb them with my shadow. I look toward the horizon, and see small pleasure boats dotting the seascape. I never tire of the view—the calmness of the bay engulfs me with a sense of awe, filling me with the peace that I need to face the daily challenges this wild world may bring.” -Enid, Hormigueros, Puerto Rico
“I have a few favorite places. Nolde Forest from growing up and riding horses, then later walking/hiking. But Antietam Lake is my current favorite place to walk our pooch Wynnie. It's serene, full of critters, and protected from hunters. The trails are lush and loaded with native plants and flowers. In the spring, it smells like heaven, and there are 14 miles of trails. It revives me and centers me every time we walk there, which is anywhere from three to four times a week.” -Melissa, Reading, Pennsylvania