en en en en de en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en ceb en en en en en en en en en en
In our always-on, interconnected world, one of the hardest things to find is a place to unwind. “Our brains and our bodies would like us to take things a lot slower,” says Victoria Ward, author of "The Bucket List: Places to Find Peace and Quiet" (Rizzoli, $35). She says far-flung spiritual spots and nature preserves are ideal places for escape. “They offer a retreat, a little respite from the crazy chaos of the world.” The meditation teacher and cognitive hypnotherapist shares some favored hideaways with Larry Bleiberg for USA TODAY.
Hoh Rain Forest, Olympic National Park, Washington
Lawrence of Arabia once wandered this corner of the Middle East, which Ward calls the world’s largest sea of sand. “It’s nothing but dunes for miles and miles.” Visitors come for camel treks and to spend the night in the desert in Bedouin camps. Perhaps it’s fitting that the region has been featured in "Star Wars" films and other movies, she says. “You can believe you’re on another planet completely.” experienceoman.om
You must be a seasoned vertical caver and have a permit to explore this 162-foot sinkhole in northern Alabama. But those that reach the bottom of the fern-fringed shaft say the experience is unmatched. “It’s about just sitting and taking a moment ... to reconnect to an almost primeval sense of nature,” Ward says. Even nonclimbers can find escape on the hike to the remote, mountainous site. scci.org
Ward understands the appeal of this remote island, best known for its mysterious, towering statues of heads known as moai. She spent two years living there as a volunteer teaching English. “I just fell in love with the place.” One of her favorite spots was the top of Mount Terevaka. “You see all around you an endless horizon of sea.” chile.travel
Fred W. Symmes Chapel, Cleveland, South Carolina
This open-air YMCA camp chapel looks out at the Blue Ridge Mountains near Caesars Head State Park. It’s a popular wedding venue, but is open to visitors based on the camp and chapel schedule. Ward says it’s worth making the trip to the spot, which is also called Pretty Place. “It doesn’t matter what your faith is. It’s a place for reflection and quiet contemplation.” campgreenville.org
Haida Gwaii (Queen Charlotte Islands), Canada
Native culture thrives in this Pacific Northwest island chain off the coast of British Columbia. Visitors can explore the temperate rainforest and see centuries-old totem poles. “It’s not overdeveloped. It has beautiful, wild, raw, untouched coastlines, beaches fringed by forests, and old abandoned villages to explore,” Ward says. gohaidagwaii.ca
Lost Coast, Humboldt and Mendocino counties, California
In Northern California, the famed Pacific Coast Highway veers away from the sea, creating an area known as the Lost Coast. “It’s pretty much hiking trails. There’s not much in the way of main roads,” Ward says. “It’s just beautiful coves and cliffs.” visitcalifornia.com
Across the Scottish Highlands, hikers can camp overnight in remote cabins known as bothies. “There’s a network of these and you can basically wake up in the morning and hike to another one,” Ward says. The setting, she says, is “raw, wild and rugged.” mountainbothies.org.uk
This tiny, privately owned speck in the Pacific is known as the “Forbidden Island.” Even if you can’t get an invitation from the residents, you can still visit on an organized helicopter tour, which includes several hours on a remote white-sand beach for swimming, sunbathing and watching marine life. “It’s a beautiful isolated place,” Ward says. niihau.us
Visitors who follow a dangerous trail up a holy Chinese mountain can celebrate their accomplishment with a tea ceremony at an ancient Taoist temple. “You have this sense of calm at the end of the journey,” Ward says. But the path, which has been called the world’s most dangerous hiking trail, climbs steep steps carved into the mountain, and includes a rickety gondola ride and a walkway along a cliff face. “It’s about pushing yourself through something that challenges you, something that’s scary,” she says. travelchina.gov.cn
More:Looking for a more meaningful family vacation? Try spiritual tourism
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 10 great places to find peace and quiet
Careers Staff Directory Accessibility Site Map Legals Our Ethical Principles Terms of Service Privacy Policy Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy PolicyDo Not Sell My Info / Cookie Policy
Contact Us Support Local Business Advertise Your Business Advertising Terms and Conditions Licensing & Reprints Help Center Subscriber Guide My Account Give Feedback