Modern life is hectic – and for many Americans, anxiety and burnout are daily battles. But sometimes, the best therapy isn’t a prescription – it’s a place. From wind-swept dunes to misty forests, the U.S. is full of natural landmarks that offer instant calm.

A Mission for Michael carried out a survey of 3,017 respondents, asking locals about the spots where they go to when seeking solitude – their favorite spot to breathe, reflect, and recharge. Think hot springs, still lakes, whispering canyons, and towering trees. 

Some of the stand out choices were:

Kokeʻe State Park (Kauaʻi), Hawaii

Just past Waimea Canyon, Kokeʻe’s high-elevation trails lead into native forest where the air is pine-scented and cool. It’s quiet up here – not because people aren’t around, but because even the birdsong is soft. There are overlooks where the cliffs drop straight into clouds, and moments where the only sound is the wind through the trees. It’s not just scenic – it’s deeply grounding.

Sykes Hot Springs (Big Sur backcountry), California

If you’re willing to hike 10 miles through towering redwoods and along cliffside paths, you’re rewarded with a hot spring pool carved into stone – overlooking a remote river bend deep in the Ventana Wilderness. No roads, no cell signal, no crowds. Just steaming water, misty forest air, and the feeling that you’ve earned every second of peace.

Kaʻena Point (Oʻahu), Hawaii

While Oʻahu is known for its buzz and crowds, Kaʻena Point – the island’s rugged westernmost tip – offers something else entirely: wind, waves, and wild stillness. A coastal hike leads to a protected seabird sanctuary where the trail disappears into lava rock and sky. On the right day, you might spot monk seals sleeping on the sand. On any day, you’ll feel wonderfully far away.

Polipoli Spring State Recreation Area (Maui), Hawaii

Most Maui visitors never make it up here – and that’s exactly why it feels sacred. At nearly 7,000 feet, Polipoli is wrapped in mist and redwoods, with trails that meander through cloud forests and alpine meadows. It’s cool, quiet, and nothing like the beach – a totally unexpected kind of Hawaiian calm. Just sit beneath the trees and listen to the fog roll in

Mount Pleasant Scenic Area (George Washington National Forest), Virginia

Less trafficked than nearby Mount Rogers or McAfee Knob, this double-summit hike delivers sweeping Appalachian views with fewer footsteps around you. Wild blueberries in season, golden leaves in fall – and that still mountain air that makes even the wind feel intentional.

Botany Bay Plantation Heritage Preserve (Edisto Island), South Carolina

This place feels haunted – in the most beautiful way. Weathered oaks, abandoned plantations, and a remote beach where driftwood stands like sculpture. No development, no distractions. Just wind in the palmettos and the steady hush of waves. You feel like a guest here – and that brings its own kind of calm.

Stone Mountain Loop (Wilkes County), North Carolina

Most visitors stop at the exposed granite dome, but if you walk the full loop, you’ll pass cascading streams, deep forest, and meadow clearings that feel plucked from a painting. The trail is just hard enough to quiet the mind, and the mix of textures – stone, stream, sky – offers peace that unfolds slowly.

Nordhouse Dunes Wilderness Area (Lake Michigan shoreline), Michigan

This federally designated wilderness hugs a pristine stretch of Lake Michigan, complete with rolling dunes, pine woods, and zero development. A short hike through the sand gets you to the water’s edge, where it’s just you, the wind, and the steady crash of freshwater waves. It’s wild, remote, and deeply calming.

Drift Creek Falls (Coastal Range), Oregon

Most waterfall trails in Oregon draw a crowd – not this one. Drift Creek offers a quiet path through coastal forest to a suspension bridge overlooking a tall, narrow waterfall tucked in a mossy gorge. The sound of the falls mixes with birdsong and breeze, and the air smells like pine and stone. Go midweek and it’s just you and the trees.

Shasta-Trinity Lakeshore (Northern California), California

Most people crowd around the main marina areas, but drive a bit farther north or west and you’ll find secluded coves with glassy water, pine shade, and nobody else for hours. Bring a kayak or just a picnic and let the stillness do its work. Mount Shasta looms nearby like a silent guardian, and time seems to slow down here – in the best way.

A Mission for Michael has created an infographic showing the top spots in each state:

https://igraphs.co.za/cached-graphs/AMFM/healing-horizons/live.html

“For many people, spending time in quiet, grounding places can be an incredibly powerful way to manage everyday stress,” says says Anand Mehta (LMFT), Executive Director at A Mission for Michael. “Of course, not everyone needs clinical support — but for those who do, we’re here. And for those who don’t, places like these can still offer meaningful relief.”