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| Beach | 58% | 607 votes | Total: 1043 votes | |
| Mountains | 42% | 436 votes |
Beach
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Add to FavoritesFor myself, a beach vacation wins out over a trip to the mountains. In fact, my family and I just returned from a trip to Florida to a little town called, Ocean Ridge, just up the coast from Delray Beach. The view from my brother and sister-in-law's condo apartment (seventh floor) balcony is breathtaking. They are just yards from the shoreline. There are beautiful sunrises in the mountains, but nothing compares to watching the sun as it slips up over a thin line between the ocean and sky, bathing everything in a warm, orange glow. We were also serenaded by the waves gently lapping the shoreline throughout the day, a sound that literally can lull you into sleep anytime of the day.
The sand is fine and seashells abound in every color you can imagine. While walking along the beach, we had to be mindful of little yellow flags posted every few feet. Below these flags, new life stirred on the beach. You see, we got there in time for a new turtle hatch. By mid-morning, Crows, Ospreys, Gulls and Terns were making a daily migration up and down the coast past the condo. While sunning one afternoon, my wife and granddaughter were surprised by a curious Osprey who decided to just float on a thermal for a few moments, inches from the balcony. Once the sun began to fall just behind the condo, shadows fell on the beach, bringing a cool breeze off the ocean with them. This is the best time to walk the beach. The sand is still warm, but not to warm, from the heat of the day. Except for the lap of the waves, the beach is quiet with all the activity of the day slowing down. The moon slowly materialized (waxing to full during our stay) on the horizon. Some say the oceans have a spirit that doesn't care much for man's idea of time, existing just outside of our realm in harmony with nature. After spending a week near the ocean, just relaxing and taking in the sights that surrounded us, our family is convinced that just such a spirit exists.
On our return flight, our plane headed out over the shoreline where our in-laws live, then veered to the Northwest, heading home. I took one last at the place where we spent the most relaxing week any of us have enjoyed in some time. We will be back.
Learn more about this author, David Duncan.
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Mountains
For a glorious summer vacation, I'd go with the mountains over the beach almost every time. Twenty years ago the answer would have been the reverse, but then people and attitudes change over the years.
Twenty years ago the sand and surf had their allure as did all the tanned bodies associated with them. But since the dangers of over-exposure to the sun have made an impact on my life, the mountains have gained new appeal. Once there, they even caused me to question what it was that I saw in the beach in the first place.
The majesty of the Rockies is unsurpassed as is the fresh air one breathes while there. Beaches can be a nice way to escape the heat, but they're boring. How can laying on a beach and occasionally venturing into the water to cool off compare with walking or biking mountain trails that constantly open onto new vistas that leave one short of breath. On top of that, the sight and sound of birds, chipmunks and deer can't really be equaled by the the droning of the waves as the sun relentlessly beats down.
I referred to the Rockies because I find their ruggedness quite spectacular. But even the older mountain ranges with their softer features have a distinct beauty of their own. The Appalachians offer a charm that is quite different from the Rockies, yet they too provide wonderful opportunities to explore and admire in the summer as well as any other season of the year. Try say that about the beach? I figure that if a place can't have the same magic about it in the winter as in summer, maybe it's not all that magical to begin with.
That's my opinion, but I think many others are starting to hop aboard the same bandwagon. Hiking is much healthier than lying on a beach and it can be more relaxing. Often times I hear people who've just come back from a summer beach vacation say that they're exhausted and in need of another vacation. Meanwhile people who've come back from the mountains tend to feel refreshed and revitalized. I guess you can say the benefits speak for themselves.
Learn more about this author, Bohdan Rewko (Bo of T.O.).
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