Having been raised in the military, and then joining, and consequently marrying into the military, I have seen more than my fair share of the US and the world. I have seen every state in the union accepting the New England states (which I intend to add this summer). I have also travelled through most of the European countries, as well as several asian ones. For sheer grandeur, nothing can top the first sight of the Grand Canyon. For simple grace and beauty, I feel that nothing compares to the simple elegance of Big Sur in California. What spot do you find gives you that sense of inner peace that only a work of mother nature can give you?
By the way, someone told me that Big Sur has lost some of its past beauty in recent years because of too much building in that area. Someone please tell me this is not so.
Anywhere by the ocean does it for me. If I had my choice, I’d be living in a shack over in Duck, North Carolina, as far away from Myrtle Bitch, SC, as possible.
My wife, however, has been spoiled by Hawaii (she served in the Navy at Pearl). No beach in the world would look as lovely. I’m not nearly so picky.
Well, what do you expect me to say? Yosemite National Park, California. A few summers ago I spent way too many hours just sitting at Tenaya Lake’s shore (Tenaya’s in the High Country) admiring the absolute beauty of it all, and enjoying the lapping waves on Tenaya’s shore. Another favorite spot would be sitting in the middle of Cook’s Meadow, (in Yosemite Valley.) I’ve painted some watercolors while sitting there, it’s just wonderful.
I just got back from my annual Yosemite trip, so my memories are pretty fresh. I also went to Sequoia National Park this time. I had some idyllic moments up atop Moro Rock. No one else was around. Just me, the view, and the birds flying around. Glorious.
It depends where you are in Big Sur (i live up around Monterey, by the way). There are spots where there are no buildings, but you can see some houses along the cliffs there. Bixby Bridge is still a fantastic spot. As is Julia Pfeiffer Burns park: here’s a very nice picture of the waterfall that goes straight into the ocean there (at high tide):
I’ve heard it’s one of the few waterfalls along the pacific coast that does this.
I’d have to say the most idyllic spot I can think of is actually the Monterey Cypress groves at Pt. Lobos State Park just north of Big Sur and south of Carmel. Here the trees are stunted and windblown, with a fantastic bright orange lichen that makes them even more spectacular. Not to mention the fact that the trees grow in the clifs quite close to the ocean. Very beautiful.
I am an ocean person too. I need to be near water. I love the sound of wind thru trees with the smell of the ocean on same breeze. To that end, my fav’s are Islamorada, Fl. (part of the keys) and for those days when you need cold ocean air to smack you in the face to remind you that you are alive, it is Cape Breton N.S.
Vernazza, in the Chinque Terra on the Italain Riviera. When I went there, I was outraged that God would taunt us with a piece of heaven. All my goals in life have been subverted to one goal- to get back there and stay. I guess it’s best described in a poem I wrote:
Vernazza
One step below me
a thousand before me
carved out of stone
coaxed from the cliffs
that rise from the blue moon bay
Desert dry earth crumbles
beneath my neatly buckled
red leather shoes
as I inhale the sweet incense
of the sun dried grasses
reaching and waving
from the edge of the trail
I hang my camera from an olive tree
so it can dangle
and capture the sea
and myself in rolled up cargo pants
breathing too hard to be proud
The steps lead down
to where the cliffs turn
orange, yellow, pink, blue
grow breezy windows and terra cotta pots
and become narrow little homes
with crossed laundry lines
and dark eyed children
who peek out from the open doors
I descend into the sunlit chasm
and come upon a busy street
carless and cobblestoned;
an old man in suspenders
plays a roadside game of backgammon
against a sunburned German
The beach is rocky
I catch my breath in the sun
and dive off, cutting my ankles on sealife
and float slowly up through the Mediterranean
until my eyes come level with the water
and I can stare at the seaside horizon
with nothing but still blue water
resting on the curves of the earth
I lived in Pacific Grove. I just have to ask. Is the Mexican restaurant El Toritos still there on Cannery Row? My husband and I met and married in Monterey/PG, and we spent many great evenings at that place. It has the most marvelous view of the bay, hanging right over the rocks there. We used to love to sit and watch the sea lions play while we ate. Someday we intend to return. Maybe stay at one of the marvellous bed and breakfast inns in the area. They were more than a little out of our price range at the time.
By the way…I do remember Bixby Bridge. What a marvellous view there.
Chautauqua Park, Boulder, CO, at sunrise. I have been all over the world, and for idyllic, this is it. It is hard to believe that a place so beautiful can be so close to a metropolitan area, but there it is.
So, there’s been a lot of talk about Monterey and Big Sur as the nicest places on the planet. Being a SF-area native with friends in odd places and a penchant to drive, I’ve explored a lot of the California coast. While Monterey/Carmel/Big Sur is pretty, the real action (IMHO) is happening north of the bay. Route 1 past Jenner becomes the prettiest road I’ve ever driven on (the most dangerous, too- I nearly lost a couple of friends in a rollover accident on 1 just south of the Sea Ranch lodge.), and most of the area hasn’t been developed yet. For my money, Sea Ranch is the best place in the world to live- quiet, beautiful, with good houses and chill neighbors. Plus, it’s less “discovered” than Big Sur, which means fewer touristy types. Just my $.02.
M.
I’ll go with Yosemitebabe on this one. And the fact that I’m a California native has nothing to do with it!
Sitting on top of Half Dome or being up at Cloud’s Rest looking down on Half Dome is one of the more awe inspiring views I’ve ever had. Yosemite is hard to beat on the idyllic scale.
Just south of Lake Tahoe is Desolation Valley Wilderness Area. Parts of it are pretty fabulous.
Another place was the Bowron Lake canoe circuit inside Wells Gray Park in British Columbia, Canada. Knowing that you had paddled upwards of fifty miles from the nearest powerline or paved road was exhilirating. Nothing but trees, lakes, mountains and glaciers as far as the eye can see.
As a native I’m d@mn partial to the Californa coast. Up in the Avenue of the Giants, the Eel River can be warm as a bath tub. But it is still the Oregon coast that knocks my eyeballs out. Stunning vistas, superb seafood and pristine beaches all make for a slice of heaven.
Having just returned from Jasper National Park in the Canadian Rockies I can say that it was pretty idyllic. I am planning to return there later this summer to do some hiking and rock climbing as well as spending a few more hours just relaxing in the hot springs.
Yep, El Toritos is still there. In fact, the second BAD dopefest was held there. One of the radio stations here holds these small promotional parties there. One of the things that Cannery Row is missing is Stohan’s Gallery which closed last year.
I just remembered another idyllic spot. About an hour south of Monterey, down the Salinas valley is Arroyo Seco (the name is misleading…it means dry river canyon/wash, but it has water year round AFAIK). Anyway, to get to the idyllic spot i’m thinking of, you have to go up river for a couple of miles (at least it seems that way), swim through a narrow part of the canyon, and then it opens up. What it opens up to is a spectacular open ceilinged room with a 10 - 20 foot high gushing waterfall and a 20 foot deep crystal clear pool with rock ledges you can sit on. The walls of this room are vertical, and you can see all the way to the bottom.
The river itself is clear as can be, i hadnt seen a clearer river in the area except the Big Sur. There are also small beaches where you can be secluded away from most people (who hang out near the entrance of the park, or the bridge).
Here is a couple of shots of the area where the waterfall is
(There were better ones, but there were too many naked people messing up the images :))
OK, well if that doesn’t count, then of the places I’ve been to, Yosemite National Park, Grand Canyon, Sequoia National Park and Hawaii all have to be up there.
Ah yes, along with Yosemite, the Ave of the Giants, and the Eel River! I didn’t know Eel River was warm, I just took pictures! Sigh. I have to go back there soon. (And of course, being a native has nothing to do with it! My family went to all these places regularly when I was growing up, and when you grow up with it, I guess it just gets in the blood!)
Having been to mainly the places you havn’t on 90% of my trips, my scope is a little narrower -that being New England (and upstate NY). I have grown up around salt water and within a few blocks of the beach and I’m not interested in that (funny how that works out). I love the mountains as such my vote is for Mt. Washington National Forest (btw - what’s the diff between National Forest, park, wilderness, etc.). Also Acadia Nat. Pk. is also up there and should be inculded in your trip to NE.
Intresting ‘fact’ i’ve heard about these 2 places - they are the 1st places (along with the eastern tip of maine) to get the light of the new day. This was big on the past 99-00 new years day. 3 places 1st compeated to prove who’s 1st then decided that it would be better if they all agreed that it was a 3 way tie. My personal thought is that Mt. Washington won but no one was going to be at the top early enough to draw many people.
My family went to all these places regularly when I was growing up, and when you grow up with it, I guess it just gets in the blood!)