What's your favorite NATURAL escape from THE CITY?
This question reminded me of an exchange at Kepler's Books
in Menlo Park, California, where Edward Abbey read just a few months before
he died. As was his style, Abbey railed against the desecration of the
wilderness and the vast loss of pristine places. One of the members of
the audience asked Abbey, "Is there anywhere left that is unspoiled?"
The crusty author replied, "Well, if I did know of such a place, I
sure as hell wouldn't tell you." Gary Lichtenstein
Denver, Colorado
My favorite natural escape: why, my backyard, of course.
No long lines. No high fees. No RVs. And no cell phones! Barbara Nelson
Trenton, New Jersey
Away at college, I escape gothic facades and grimy streets
by walking to the bluff at the edge of town. The trip to East Rock meanders
across wooden bridges and up pathways that sometimes glow rust-red in the
afternoon sun. From the top, the stoplights blink in Long Island Sound,
but the city seems much farther away than it is. Katrina Smith
New Haven, Connecticut
Especially after bleeding from the ears after reading
case law after case law (I am a budding environmental attorney), I love
to go into a tight cave in Giant City State Park near Carbondale, Illinois-and
sit among a nice little raccoon family. They never seem to mind the company,
as long as I bring them some dehydrated apple. Brian Block
Carbondale, Illinois
As a resident of Vermont, it's easy to say that nearly
anywhere in the state is an escape from the city. (Burlington, our largest
city, has a population of only 40,000.) But it's the Long Trail and Green
Mountain National Forest that are my favorites. Whether for an easy morning
stroll or a few weeks of really roughing it, they're both fantastic places
to commune with God. Just you, a buddy (maybe), nature, and a journal in
which to recall it all. I pray that the park can withstand the onslaught
of congressional bagmen for heavy industry, and weekenders from New Jersey
with 80-foot recreational vehicles. Eugene Fox, Jr.
Middlebury, Vermont
I moved to Boulder, Colorado, about 20 years ago because,
at that time, Boulder was my escape from my home outside New York City.
Much has changed in this once-sleepy little college town. The entire Denver
metro area is on overdrive to grow bigger, get there faster, become more
competitive. My favorite respite now is my tiny community of a dozen homes
in an isolated and hidden canyon just outside town. Once within our hamlet,
we find time to walk with the neighbors, share techniques to keep the deer
out of our gardens, hear the land's history from the women who originally
homesteaded the land, and help and respect each other. Our deep sense of
community keeps the daily bustle in perspective. Marie Cecchini
Eldorado Springs, Colorado
A great way to leave the ugly, chaotic world behind uses
no petroleum products and takes very little time to get there. I have a
hypnotherapist friend put me into a deep trance and I drop into a world
full of ponds, wildflowers, sunny meadows, and distant peaks. Gary Harrold
Aptos, California
My favorite escape? Any place at least a mile or two from
the nearest road. Fareed Abou-Haider
Mesa, Arizona
Anza Borrego Desert State Park: three hours from San Diego,
accessible by country bus; the largest state park in the Lower 48; canyons,
5,000-foot peaks; a few developed areas, but lots of wilderness where one
can escape the madding crowd and where Attack the Terrain Vehicles are
banned. Phillippe Vermeyen
Vista, California
On the deck of a Washington State ferry: white gulls with
brown wings soar above fresh chop on gray-blue water. Light slivers sparkle
the glass-and-steel frames of downtown highrises. Sun fade etches snowcapped
silhouettes of Olympic peaks, while a ghost shadow of Mt. Rainier gently
reflects the orange alpenglow of evening. Bill Shecket
Seattle, Washington
