Taking time to enjoy this gift of nature and get out of the daily life routine is very important for our mental health. Here are some ideas for a ‘nature time’ whether you have a budget that allows you to get away, or if you just need a nudge to venture out to your local nearby nature. I found a list of Outdoor Get Aways that you may not have heard about before. With so many amazing ‘unheard of nature spots’ on this great Earth, this list could actually be endless, but this will get you started. We will also share some free or low budget ideas as well. Get ready to breathe and relax for a while, it will rejuvenate your weariness from the usual grind!
Here are highlights of Discovery.com’s Top 10 Outdoor Family Vacations that may just be the ticket whether you are planning a time alone, with friends, or with family (one of their choices is a wintertime destination that can be enjoyed in the summertime with hiking – or if your vacation time falls during the winter, this will get you planning ahead!) We have also added links to the Wikipedia page for the state of the destination, there are some breathtaking sights all around us that we may not know about – did you know there is a mini Niagara Falls in South Central Idaho?
10. Out ‘N About Treesort, Southwestern Oregon – Trees + resort … you get 
it! Here’s a destination that would make a tree dweller like Tarzan proud. Fifteen tree houses make up Out ‘n About, located on Oregon’s Siskiyou Mountain range … yes, we said tree houses!
9. Boulders Edge, Southeastern Ohio This area of southeastern Ohio known
for its spectacular sandstone formations. Boulders Edge, is close to Hocking Hills State Park for hiking, mountain biking, kayaking, zip-lining, and … Breathtaking views abound, including Old Man’s Cave, Ash Cave, Cedar Falls, Cantwell Cliffs …
8. Whitewater Rafting, West Virginia – Are your teens (or tweens or 
youngsters) nature-challenged? Are they Facebooking and texting their lives away? Well, the incredible thrill of whitewater rafting is guaranteed to get their attention!
7. Glacier National Park, Montana – Montana’s Glacier National Park is an unforgettable family memory just waiting for you to experience it! Introduce the kids to the stunning vistas, more than 200 lakes, 175 named mountains, and 40 glaciers, all tucked within one million acres of natural beauty. Yes, that was one MILLION. Biking, boating, horseback rides, fishing, cross-country skiing, camping … what’s your pleasure?
6. Great Smoky Mountains Road Trip, Tennessee and North Carolina – What says“family vacation” better than a road trip? (Okay, those National Lampoon road trip vacation movies featuring the Griswolds weren’t exactly all fun … but this one will be, we promise.) First a fact we’ll bet you didn’t know: The Great Smoky Mountains ranks as America’s most popular national park … really! On a family drive through the peaks, valleys and passes, your family will encounter more than 1,600 varieties of plants, trees and flowers.
5. Camping in Yosemite National Park, California – Ever try to impress your kids and then accidentally impress yourself, too? That happens a lot at Yosemite. You want to share nature’s most amazing sights, and then you realize just how awesome (in the most literal meaning of the word) it all really is. Waterfalls taller than skyscrapers … towering granite faces … ancient giant sequoias amid the vast wilderness.
4. Steamboat Springs, Colorado – Find out here why it’s called the GREAT outdoors! Steamboat Springs is a one-of-a-kind spot for families. There are great children’s ski instructions, not to mention any number of of après-ski activities. And to top it all off, the whole family can enjoy a horse-drawn sleigh ride through the Great Rockies … followed by a soak in the area’s signature natural hot springs.
3. Camp Denali, Denali National Park, Alaska – With the advantage of being situated in one of nature’s truly spectacular locations. For over 60 years, these Denali wilderness lodges have been there to share the beauty, adventure, and wonder of one of the world’s great national parks. (there are) naturalist-guided outings, fine dining, direct views of the Alaska Range, unique Denali lodging … and an understanding of the magnificent wildlife, rhythms, sights and sensations that will never leave you or your loved ones.
2. Family Nature Camp, Bar Harbor, Maine – It’s an amazing experience. At Family Nature Camp, families explore the natural world—birds, tide pools, beaver habitat—on guided field trips along the craggy coast of Mount Desert Island and Acadia National Park. Adults and kids alike will be thrilled to take a spin aboard the Starfish Enterprise with Diver Ed, who brings sea urchins, sea cucumbers, hermit crabs, and other critters up from the ocean floor for you to touch.
1.River Dance Lodge, Central Idaho – A fantastic, unforgettable family vacation doesn’t mean you have to mortgage the house. Nothing simplifies vacation planning like an all-inclusive family getaway, and River Dance Lodge is the place to go for a unique, affordable encounter with nature. Located along the Clearwater River in central Idaho’s mountain wilderness, every activity is included in one price—your cabin stay, your meals, and the guided activities.
For those of us that can’t ‘get away’ for whatever reasons – there are probably options that you may have forgotten about. Do you have a nature reserve, park, or any kind of water source nearby? If you are blessed to have a waterfall within driving distance, go take a rejuvenating day; is there a lake, pond, river, or creek you could take a picnic lunch and hang out for the day? A ‘Day Vacation’ of listening to the water and absorbing it’s negative ions as a gift of melting your tensions away while you soak up a little sunshine…. Aahh. Take advantage of those ‘Momentary Vacations’ – when you have a gift of a rain shower, sit on your porch and enjoy the patter of raindrops and the fresh smell. Even getting out and taking 10 minutes for yourself as you sip your morning tea while watching the sunrise can begin your day in a less stressful way. As well, view the sunsets whenever you can to unwind as you have a moment of gratitude. Whether you can plan a week or two get away this summer or not, treasure the daily gifts of nature that are here for us to enjoy!
Feature Image Source: PublicDomain #10 Image Source: YouTube
#9 Image Source: Wikipedia #8 Image Source: Pixabay
#7 Image Source: Flickr #6 Image Source: Flickr
#5 Image Source: Wikimedia #4 Image Source: Flickr
#3 Image Source: Flickr #2 Image Source: Wikimedia
# 1 Image Source: Wikipedia Sunset Image Source: Flickr
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