Relaxing With Crawling, Slinky, Winged Creatures
I have rhapsodized on Back Roads, Charming Towns about the increasing desire of Americans to buy vacation or retirement homes in college towns, small towns, on farms and prairie land.
Now, many of us are looking for another type of place to relax: environs where creatures creep, crawl, soar and coexist with humans. Bird watching, salamander hunts and flora and fauna hikes are all popular pursuits for yet .jpg)
another sector of the relaxation set.
In some cases, it is families who wish to expose their children to the great outdoors. In others, it is big-city professionals or retirees seeking a place to slow the pace down a bit and partake in active outdoor pursuits like horseback riding or nature walks, as opposed to the more clubby hobbies of golf or tennis.
Joanne Kaufman reported on this trend in the October 6th New York Times. Kaufman writes of communities offering rope courses, bird watching activities, campsites, organic gardens and organized trips such as fall foliage outings and white water rafting excursions.
Why the renewed interest in more natural pursuits? As you might expect (and we are experiencing in our household as we plan our own retreat), it is being driven by baby boomers and their desire to slow down, indulging in less structured and less competitive past times. It also evokes fond remembrances of youthful activities that parents and grandparents can share in spirit and reality with their progeny.
Creating memories amongst the salamanders and the swans, the woodlands and the muddy bogs. What could be nicer?
Websites for communities featured in Joanne Kaufman's NY Times article:
www.3creekranch-jh.com
www.thegreenbriersportingclub.com
www.springisland.com
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