08/16/2025
Chicot State Park Named Louisiana's Top Spot for Nature Therapy (Survey).
3.017 respondents surveyed on the most relaxing spots to seek solitude.
Chicot State Park (Ville Platte) the top choice, followed by Tunica Hills Wildlife Management Area (St. Francisville) + Lake Martin (Breaux Bridge).
Infographic included.
Modern life is hectic - and for many Louisianans, 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 and towering trees.
When asked where they go to truly unwind, Louisianans named these three spots as the most relaxing in the state:
#1 Chicot State Park (Ville Platte)
Set around a cypress-lined lake, Chicot has a hush to it - especially early in the day, when mist hovers over the water and birds call from the treetops. The hiking trail loops the entire lake and offers long stretches of complete stillness. Paddle, walk, or just sit dockside and let the swamp do its thing.
#2 Tunica Hills Wildlife Management Area (St. Francisville)
Surprising for Louisiana, Tunica Hills offers rugged trails, hidden waterfalls, and deep shade beneath hardwood canopies. It’s one of the few places in the state with real elevation, and the result is a landscape that feels more Tennessee than bayou. Go midweek and you’ll likely have the winding paths and soft birdsong all to yourself.
#3 Lake Martin (Breaux Bridge)
This cypress swamp might be one of Louisiana’s best-kept secrets. Spanish moss hangs like lace from the trees, and the water reflects everything in perfect symmetry. You’ll spot egrets, herons, and - yes - the occasional gator, but mostly it’s just a slow, beautiful float through another world. Rent a kayak or bring binoculars, but either way, breathe slower.
Across other parts of the country, 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.
Mount Pleasant Scenic Area (George Washington National Forest), Virginia
Less trafficked than nearby Mount Rogers or McAfee K**b, 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.
Infographic showing the top spots for solitude in each state
“For many people, spending time in quiet, grounding places can be an incredibly powerful way to manage everyday stress,” 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.”
