Forests are much more fun IMO. There’s always so much to see and experience. Bring binoculars with you, and you can try identifying birds. If you’re into botany, there’s no shortage of plants to explore. If chilling is your thing, find the nearest fireplace. If there’s a lake or a pond, you could combine that with swimming too. Bring a fishing rod, and you’ll have a chance to get some food.
Forest hike.
I'm not super into chilling in that way and the sun hates me. I enjoy hiking much more.
Of course, there are variables that affect the decision here but in general: forest hike.
Edit: bunch of hiking buds in here! Love it.
Yep I'm lying on the beach alone! Which is super chill and fine with me
Hike in the morning, chill and swim in the afternoon.
When do we leave?
This made me smile 😊
I'd prefer the forest. I love learning about local flora, and take tons of plant photos on my hikes. At least in my area, beaches are dominated by 1-3 invasive species, while forests mostly have intact native species diversity.
I'm sure if i were into birds i'd have a different answer.
I’m into birds, and I prefer the forest too! Warblers don’t hang out at the beach, and down the path of seagull identification lies terror…
I agree about the seagulls! They all look the same to me but there are apparently 2-4 species in my area depending on the season
A hike.
Depends on the temperature! Right now, hiking sounds preferable since it's about 10c here during the day. On a hot day, the beach sounds nice :)
There's a forest with a beach near me, I don't need to choose!
I prefer the forest, although I think that it's at least partly down to me preferring hiking. There are some beaches not too far from me with interesting caves and rock formations, and I like visiting them
You're living the dream! What do you like about the formations?
They're just aesthetically pleasing to me, I suppose. I like a bit of naturally dramatic scenery. There are some interesting stories attached to couple of them too, like caves that were used as hideouts for smugglers. Some are stable and climbable enough that you can use them to get a good viewpoint over the others
That sounds really cool! I'm glad you have that near you
From the comments and my experience being among vegetation versus getting sand everywhere, it's clear that we all came from the trees. To fully self-actualize we must all return to monke.
Forest for sure. I can't exactly say that I'm big fan of sand, salt, and sun, plus I love the local woods.
I'm lazy and tend to sit around a lot. That said, I'd still take woods over beach any day. I got my camera and telephoto lens for wildlife photos, walking in the shade at a comfortable pace... That's a good way to spend a couple hours.
I need more details! Is it a sandy beach or cliffs? Is it secluded or populated? Is it tropical or temperate?
Good question! It's sandy, populated and lovely warm without blazing heat
In that case I'd rather not! 😅
I don't really like people looking at me, and I don't like the noise and clamor of families with children. I guess I'm a bit of a miserable misanthrope at my core. Those crowded typical beaches have never really appealed to me. Give me some secluded cliffs by a forest lake though and we can have a conversation.
Forest. Any day, any time.
Beach with other people? Nope. No interest at all.
Deserted beach, where you can roam, explore cliffs and rockpools and so on? Well, they have an atmosphere, so maybe sometime.
Forest? Yes, definitely. Hiking will take you away from anyone else, and there will be plenty of opportunities for wildlife spotting one way or another.
Honestly, either. Better photography opportunities in a forest (more birds), but a beach let's me bring out the drone and soak up some heat
Are you into photography? What kind of things?
Mostly birds :)
But landscapes and candids get some time from me as well. Lately, I've been trying drone photography, but I'm still learning the ropes there!
Blimey photographing birds must be hard! How do you manage to do it? They're so fast
I'll bump the curve a bit.
I choose beach. But mainly because I live in a forest.
Actually in? I'm having visions of a cabin deep in the woods...
Very much in the forest. We originally bought 6 acres off an abandoned logging road and just cut enough trees to park our RV.
Since then we have gone from the little RV and carrying buckets of water from the creek and using an outhouse to having a well, septic, and a tiny house.
It has been a ton of work, but every year is less work.
Image related: Forest Friend tax.
I'm pleases you paid your tax. That sounds amazing it must be great having a home you've done yourself it's such an achievement
It is definitely nice to know every nail and screw. And that nobody can take it away. But I do miss civilization sometimes. Mostly restaurants :p
Haha I'll bet! Plus "I'll just pop to the shop and... oh no wait..."
Man you are literally living my dream.
When the water lines freeze or there's not enough sun for 3 days and we start to worry about having enough power, it doesn't feel like a dream.
But the rest of the time it really does...
And the manual labor aspect is definitely a lot more intense than City living.
But morning coffee with a chipmunk on my lap really balances it out.
Truth be told it's probably both more manual labour and more stress and uncertainty than I could handle, even though the peaceful seclusion out in nature speaks to me deeply.
Do you ever regret it, or are you happy about the tradeoff even during times of struggle?
I find that some of the manual labor and stress involved with trying to keep basic infrastructure running is easier to handle than the stress I get during my day job.
Like somehow when my stress is tied more closely to survival, it tickles the fight side of the fight-or-flight response more so than the flight response that you have to squash to maintain a job.
Having said that. We are not really that utterly remote. There is a gas station, Post office, and small grocery type store, about 18 minutes away.
That 18 minutes can seem daunting sometimes if the plows haven't been out in the middle of winter though...
I'm sure there are moments of regret when I'm standing outside with a kettleful of water I warmed up to thaw the pipes to restore function to my toilet. But in general I don't think I regret it. I feel strangely anxious every time we go to the city now.
Is it mosquito season?
Beach for me! For one, I live in a semi-rural forested area. For two, as a kid we went to the beach every summer for a couple weeks at a time and it was THE BEST. Dozing off under the parasol with my toes in warm sand, feeling the rumble of the waves nearby, hearing the muffled sounds of children playing, smelling sunscreen and seaweed and corn on the cob...
There was a time I wouldn't have been able to choose. Truth be told, the only reason I can choose is that I can't hike any more, so that's what I really want back.
But, ngl, at my age, I think I'd end up choosing the beach more often than hiking if the ability came back.
I'd go to the forest if the law prohibited the bears from eating me.
Good answer. Not enough people know how strictly law-abiding most bears are.
Forests are full,Beaches are empty
I can walk out any door and be in the forest, so overall I'd say forest....but if you're teleporting me there and back for thr day, I'd pick a bit of beach.
Both are fun for me at least, I guess when it is very hot I would go to the beach, but if it just warm a nice hike in the forest would be good.
I lived in Florida for 20+ years. The beach is wildly overrated. Unless you surf or dive (and FL sucks for surfing), there's literally nothing to do except walk and sit on sand. Though I will say this: if you're allowed to have a bonfire on the beach at night, it becomes infinitely more fun. But that's pretty much banned in FL.
So yeah, I will opt for the forest almost every time.
Hike through a forest to reach the beach for chilling.
Fuck I miss Vancouver Island...
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