Where I live!
We are an island archipelago in the Pacific NW which includes British Columbia and Washington State. We are located in what is called the Salish Sea. [salishsea.org] Our area is one of the country's national monuments and the whole system is run from our island (Lopez). It is comprised of 3 major areas on Lopez and various islands, two of which have lighthouses.
The north shore of Lake Superior
terrace bay is very cool. lake superior is so0ooo cold
@markdevenish i have never attempted to go into the water! I love being by it, in a cabin with the full moon rising over the lake....
I go into some valleys that are about a thousand feet below my town. THere are old adobe ruins there in beautiful landscapes and it is cool to imagine the life there not that long ago
My local Nature Reserve, which I help warden - Hartslock - [hartslock.org.uk]
There's a spot when approaching Old Forge, NY, from atop a hill, that you can see miles and miles of trees. That alone is impressive and beautiful, but in the autumn, when those trees have changed colors, you see an exquisite expanse of bright red, orange, and yellow laid out before you. It's breathtaking.
The Black Hills. Simply stunning and awe inspiring. That's the nearest beautiful place to where I live and they're 6 hours away. I live in that flat brown boring plains of eastern South Dakota where the tallest and most prevalent tree you'll see is a telephone pole.
Plant some trees .
There are a lot of natural areas that are stunningly beautiful here in central Pennsylvania. One of my favorites is a fairly large creek that's completely hidden by trees. There's no place along the course of this creek where you're more than 400 yards from developed properties, but the steep banks and dense woods conceal every hint of civilization and give this the illusion of some primal forest. In the summer it's so green it's feels tropical.
I try to get there by kayak often.
There is an area near about an hours drive away over some hills called The Coromandel [thecoromandel.com] It is one of the most beautiful areas in New Zealand, and I spent many a happy summers there as a child,when it was 'undiscovered' when the roads were still gravel and there were no tourists. These days, you would have to book a couple of years in advance to get a holiday home in the summer, the cute little beach houses and have now been knocked down and replaced with mansions, but that is ok, the scenery is still stunning. Not a day goes by where you won't see some dolphins or some Orcas in shore. They fimed Narnia in this area. And so far it is my favourite place in the world.
The backyard ends at the shore of a 20,000 acre lake. The blue ridge parkway is less than an hour away. Not much sophisticated culture but I have nature up the wazoo. I'll take it.
where ?
@markdevenish Smith Mtn Lake, in Virginia
Lake Anna is about as close to scenic as we have here in Northern Virginia. Halfway between Richmond and Washington lies a 13,000 acre inland water reservoir. What's stunning about it is that it exists within an almost unbroken concrete urban landscape of 140 miles. Driving up on it feels like coming up to OZ.
Custer State Park. It's not far from Mount Rushmore but there is so much more to see and do. My wife and I stayed at a cabin there for our 20th anniversary and woke up to a buffalo about 20 ft away. The hiking is incredible as well.
I am also heading to Yellowstone in June. I am moving this summer so it may be my last chance. I registered for a half marathon in the Grand Tetons. Can't wait.
I live on the Isle of Wight which has coastline all around and not very far away either so there are some great views to be had especially sunrise to the east and sunsets to the west (Obviously east and west I know!) but the chalk cliffs on the south side are pretty spectacular, especially in stormy weather
The view of the mountains from my veranda.
However my favorite place is my sacred mountain overlooking ALL OF LAKE ONEIDA from my Windows of Clear Path For Veterans. ...3rd on my list is a favorite of Mark Twain where the Mississippi runs west from east Quad Cities SunRISINGS past Davenport AND SUNsets ON THE GRAND WIDE BIG MUDDY
I live near the beach and the Atlantic Ocean beauty is 24-7 lacking only sunsets for my technology cluttered vista to the west
I suspect I may have a different definition of near. Within a 3 hour drive I have North Wales, the Breacon Beacons, some glorious Norfolk beaches and fantastic stately homes and gardens.
I really am spoilt for choice.
The conservation area close to my home is the most accessible and nicest place near me. Lemoine Point is about 140 hectares of wood, marsh, and fields along the one half of Collins Bay. I go there every other day or so when I have time and just kill the afternoons walking to trails. Wild life there is all friendly, good place for bird watchers, plenty of nice spots to go off the beaten path. I generally enjoy it the most in the winter now because it's usually a lovely serene sight, and I can walk along the entirety of the shore because the bay freezes over giving you access to spots that would be flooded. Also we've had tick problems the past few years so Summer sometimes makes me uncomfortable. Lost of retired people and families go there to have fun and it's no wonder why.
There are a few other smaller public nature ares in the cities limits, but if you want bigger you gotta go like 20-30 minutes north to Frontenac Provincial Park for that. Many people go camping there as well.
Nothing I can think of within 100 miles. What's the distance limit for 'close'?
@witchymom -- 276 miles by the boring route and 335 the more interesting way.