If you’ve been missing travel, think about Henry David Thoreau.

Thoreau was born in Concord, Massachusetts on July 12, 1817, and died there on May 6, 1862. And except for just a couple of brief excursions to nearby states, he pretty much spent his whole life in his native town…and he found great inner peace and happiness there. He was quoted to say: ‘…I have been nailed down to this my native region so long and steadily, and made to study and love this spot of earth more and more’.

So, during this pandemic we’ve been essentially ‘nailed down’ as well. To keep sane, happy and healthy, we’ve rediscovered our local natural wonders and have logged in miles of trails over the past year. This Winter we braved the cold, and got outside to marvel and appreciate the beauty around us as we wait for better times ahead to explore further. Here are just a few thoughts on why we love walking in nature.

A river runs through it. How beautiful is the sound of rushing water as it travels along its bed, bubbling over rocks and branches? Creating pools and eddies, one can sit, stroll and hike along the riverbank and watch it for hours.