Why 'Quiet-cations' Are The Latest Travel Trend
Does it matter? Well, it turns out that quiet can be healthy. Studies have shown that experiencing silence, even for just brief intervals, can help lower our blood pressure and improve our focus. This at least partially explains the recent travel trend of 'quiet-cations,' in which travelers actively seek out the quietest places.
A nonprofit called Quiet Parks International is attempting to help by drawing attention to parks and trails that are particularly quiet. You can check out their full list here to find quiet places close to your home. In the meantime, here are two of our picks for great quiet travel destinations, one national and the other international.
Located just a few hours northwest of Seattle, the sprawling Olympic National Park has something for everyone, from imposing mountains to boulder-strewn beaches and an impressively deep lake. In fact, this park, which was designated a national monument in 1909 and named a national park in 1938, is the place that inspired Quiet Parks International's Gordon Hempton to found the organization.
Where To Find Quiet: Try visiting 'One Square Inch of Silence,' a research project created by Quiet Parks International that may be one of the quietest places in the continental United States. Another good bet is the 'Hall Of Mosses' trail in the Hoh Rain Forest, a 24-square-mile temperate rainforest so laden with moss and trees that you'll feel a palpable hush as soon as you enter.
While the Olympic National Park is easily accessible from Seattle, Nuku Hiva, one of a chain of volcanic islands called the Marquesas in French Polynesia, will take a little more work. First, you'll need to fly to Tahiti's Faa'a International Airport, the main international airport for French Polynesia. Next, you'll need to take a 3 hour and 15 minute flight to Nuku Hiva Airport, a one-runway landing strip on the northern part of the island. But once you're there, you'll find yourself in a paradise of quiet, because Nuku Hiva is one of the world's most remote tourist destinations.
Where To Find Quiet: While much of the interior of Nuku Hiva features the island's quietest places (as long as you don't get too close to the impressive waterfalls, which can be pretty loud), the island's deserted beaches and their bays also can't be missed. Anaho Bay, located on the island's north side, is serenely beautiful and calm, its white sand beaches surrounded by dense vegetation that acts as a sound muffler.
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National Geographic
02-07-2025
- National Geographic
8 must-do adventures in Namibia
Namibia is a southwestern African nation roughly twice the size of California, known for having the world's oldest desert. The Namib Desert is the scene for many of Namibia's must-do adventures, from hiking up Sossusvlei's distinctive red and orange dunes at sunrise to spending days exploring the Tok Tokkie Trails on foot. Despite the harsh desert conditions, Namibia offers abundant wildlife viewing opportunities. Watch elephants, giraffes, zebras, lions, wildebeests, oryx, and other animals congregate at watering holes in Etosha National Park. In other locations, spot desert elephants along dry and ephemeral riverbeds, track rhinos on foot, and learn about conservation work to protect leopards, pangolins, and other species. Travelers should not miss out on these eight experiences when visiting Namibia. (Why you should go to Namibia now.) 1. Hike the Tok Tokkie Trails and sleep under the stars Spend three days hiking and two nights camping under the stars in 'dune beds' along the Tok Tokkie Trails in the NamibRand Nature Reserve. Look up at the Magellanic Clouds, Southern Cross, and Milky Way, including its satellite galaxies, while enjoying some of the planet's darkest and least light-polluted skies in Africa's first International Dark Sky Reserve. Exploring the desert on foot allows visitors to observe wildlife such as oryx, zebras, and giraffes, as well as to appreciate the wind-carved ripples in the dunes and the tiny tracks left by Tok-Tokkie beetles, geckos, moles, jackals, and other animals. While on car-based safaris, Wilderness Travel guide Peter Nuugonya says it's challenging to see all the fine details of the natural environment, such as mysterious fairy circles or tiny insect tracks left in the sand. However, getting out on foot opens up a new world of exploration. 'If you think of the Namib Desert itself, where the Tok Tokkie Trails are located, the Namib Desert is very rich when it comes to the small creatures,' he says. 2. Track desert elephants Namibia is home to a group of fascinating desert elephants that reside in the Kunene Region, and the best way to see them is to join a guide for a desert tracking experience. Explore dry and ephemeral riverbeds looking for signs of elephants, including enormous footprints and fresh piles of dung. If you're lucky and find an elephant—or a group of them—you can watch them munch on trees and even interact in family groups. The area is also breathtakingly quiet, and NamibRand Nature Reserve was designated Africa's first Wilderness Quiet Park by Quiet Parks International in 2024.'You can hear your heartbeat at times,' says Nuugonya. (Desert hikes and camping under the stars on a budget safari in Namibia) 3. Hike the Sossusvlei dunes at sunrise Watch the sun rise while hiking some of the world's most impressive dunes at Sossusvlei. As the sun climbs in the sky, the dunes transform with brilliant shades of red, orange, and ochre, and early morning is the perfect time for hikers to ascend before the day gets too warm. Wind creates an ever-changing array of ripples and shapes in the dunes, which get their distinctive color from iron oxide. After topping a dune, you can head back down and spend some time exploring Deadvlei to see the gnarled camel thorn trees set against the white clay pan and red dunes. 4. See ancient rock art at a UNESCO World Heritage site Travelers should add a visit to the Twyfelfontein rock engraving site in Namibia's Kunene Region to explore the country's Indigenous people and their culture. Photograph by Frans Lanting, National Geographic Image Collection Gaze at ancient rock art that dates back to the Late Stone Age at Twyfelfontein, a designated UNESCO World Heritage site. The site is home to an extensive collection of rock art, including engravings and paintings, believed to have been created by the Indigenous San people. See art depicting rhinos, elephants, ostriches, giraffes, zebras, and other wildlife, along with a few images of humans, and an impressive collection of human and animal footprints. Short hiking trails and viewing platforms provide good vantage points for a fascinating peek into this open-air gallery. (Eight ultimate adventures for every ability in Namibia) 5. Track leopards and pangolins at Okonjima Nature Reserve Visit Okonjima Nature Reserve for a chance to track leopards and pangolins and learn about conservation and research projects on-site. The 55,000-acre reserve is a research area for leopards, brown hyenas, pangolins, and other species. Sign up for a leopard tracking excursion to accompany a guide in a vehicle and use telemetry to track leopards. The technology makes spotting them easier. Guides also record data about the animals and their behavior. You can opt for pangolin tracking in the late afternoon or evening, among other options. Several lodging options are available on-site, including Okonjima Luxury Bush Camp and Okonjima Plains Camp. This reserve is also home to the AfriCat Foundation. Since 1991, the foundation has worked to help farmers and wildcats coexist, and today, researchers and veterinarians collaborate to save the cats. 6. Witness world-class wildlife viewing at Etosha National Park The 1,800-square-mile Etosha Pan is home to a diverse array of wildlife, including elephants. Photograph by Chris Schmid, National Geographic Image Collection A lioness and her two cubs rest in the shade at Etosha National Park. Photograph by Chris Schmid, National Geographic Image Collection A young Leopard hides in the tall grass at Etosha National Park. Photograph by Chris Schmid, National Geographic Image Collection The Etosha Pan is so large that it can be seen from space. This 1,800-square-mile salt pan is home to numerous watering holes where wildlife gather in Etosha National Park. Take a tour or drive yourself to this northern Namibia park, but be aware that you will need to remain in your car for your safety, except at designated fenced rest areas. Watch from your vehicle as animals congregate around watering holes, taking the time to enjoy the elephants, giraffes, wildebeests, oryx, zebra, oryx, lions, cheetahs, and more. 7. Take a game drive in Ongava Private Reserve Go for a game drive in the 74,000-acre Ongava Private Reserve to see rhinos, leopards, lions, elephants, jackals, impalas, zebras, and a variety of other wildlife. The reserve is situated near Etosha National Park, and offers sundown game drives, waterholes near accommodations, and is also home to the Ongava Research Centre. 8. Track rhinos on foot with dedicated rangers In Namibia, a group of dedicated rangers from the Save the Rhino Trust works to protect rhinos from poachers in the Kunene Region, and it is sometimes possible to join them on foot to see a rhino. If rangers spot a rhino, guides bring guests—clad in neutral clothing without any shiny objects—to see them, walking low to the ground and stepping as quietly as possible for a peek at the animals. (Learning to protect Namibia's endangered rhinos on a new conservation bootcamp) This trip was created with the support of Wilderness Travel. GO WITH NAT GEO: Travel with National Geographic Journeys and seek out endangered black rhinos through Etosha National Park in Namibia." For more info, check out our Journeys: Wonders of Namibia. Kristen Pope is a freelance writer based near Jackson Hole, Wyoming, who covers adventure travel, outdoor recreation, astrotourism, wildlife, conservation, and science.
Yahoo
28-04-2025
- Yahoo
Why 'Quiet-cations' Are The Latest Travel Trend
The modern world we live in is noisy. Take a minute to listen to the landscape around you, and you'll see that even if things are 'quiet,' there are likely a few background hums of noise, from that of your appliances operating to the ambient noise of traffic on nearby streets. True silence, for many of us, can be a scarce commodity. Does it matter? Well, it turns out that quiet can be healthy. Studies have shown that experiencing silence, even for just brief intervals, can help lower our blood pressure and improve our focus. This at least partially explains the recent travel trend of 'quiet-cations,' in which travelers actively seek out the quietest places. A nonprofit called Quiet Parks International is attempting to help by drawing attention to parks and trails that are particularly quiet. You can check out their full list here to find quiet places close to your home. In the meantime, here are two of our picks for great quiet travel destinations, one national and the other international. Located just a few hours northwest of Seattle, the sprawling Olympic National Park has something for everyone, from imposing mountains to boulder-strewn beaches and an impressively deep lake. In fact, this park, which was designated a national monument in 1909 and named a national park in 1938, is the place that inspired Quiet Parks International's Gordon Hempton to found the organization. Where To Find Quiet: Try visiting 'One Square Inch of Silence,' a research project created by Quiet Parks International that may be one of the quietest places in the continental United States. Another good bet is the 'Hall Of Mosses' trail in the Hoh Rain Forest, a 24-square-mile temperate rainforest so laden with moss and trees that you'll feel a palpable hush as soon as you enter. While the Olympic National Park is easily accessible from Seattle, Nuku Hiva, one of a chain of volcanic islands called the Marquesas in French Polynesia, will take a little more work. First, you'll need to fly to Tahiti's Faa'a International Airport, the main international airport for French Polynesia. Next, you'll need to take a 3 hour and 15 minute flight to Nuku Hiva Airport, a one-runway landing strip on the northern part of the island. But once you're there, you'll find yourself in a paradise of quiet, because Nuku Hiva is one of the world's most remote tourist destinations. Where To Find Quiet: While much of the interior of Nuku Hiva features the island's quietest places (as long as you don't get too close to the impressive waterfalls, which can be pretty loud), the island's deserted beaches and their bays also can't be missed. Anaho Bay, located on the island's north side, is serenely beautiful and calm, its white sand beaches surrounded by dense vegetation that acts as a sound muffler.
Yahoo
28-12-2024
- Yahoo
Effort revived to preserve access to iconic rapids on scenic Niobrara River
The Niobrara National Scenic River. (Courtesy of the National Park Service) LINCOLN — An on-again, off-again effort to ensure public access to the Niobrara River is back on. The scenic stretch of the Niobrara River – designated a year ago as a global 'quiet trail' – was also a place of peace, according to some elders with the Rosebud Sioux Tribe. As part of an oral history project to document the history of the river, the National Park Service is in the process of interviewing several elders of the tribe, which historically occupied that area of north-central Nebraska and is now headquartered in Rosebud, South Dakota. Four elders already interviewed have described the area around the Niobrara River, east of Valentine, as a 'place of peace' recognized by several tribes, where warriors laid down their arms and where Sioux and Pawnee – traditional enemies – could camp in peace on either side of the river. Susan Cook, superintendent of the Niobrara National Scenic River office, said that four more Rosebud elders will be interviewed in coming months with hopes of producing a video of their oral histories for showing at the Valentine visitors center. A year ago, the Indiana-based Quiet Parks International designed the 76-mile-long Niobrara National Scenic River corridor as North America's first 'Quiet Trail' due to the lack of man-made noise. If the purchase of the Rocky Ford rapids area happens this time – it was blocked more than once a decade ago – it would maintain the public use of an important take-out point for those floating and kayaking the nationally designated scenic river. A National Park Service representative and the private owner of the Rocky Ford rapids separately confirmed that discussions are underway to have the federal agency purchase the 26-acre site around the rapids, which is the ending point for many float trips down the Niobrara and a popular spot for camping and picnicking in north-central Nebraska. About 75,000 people each year visit the 76-mile-long, federally designated scenic stretch of the Niobrara River, making it one of the state's most popular tourist attractions. Because Rocky Ford is in private hands, there's always a worry that public access to the scenic spot will be shut off, or that access fees will become too expensive. 'There is no better deck in the state of Nebraska,' said Rocky Ford owner Brad Arrowsmith of the view from a cabin on the property. 'That place is therapeutic,' he said. Arrowsmith, a rancher from Mills, purchased Rocky Ford eight years ago after a canoe outfitter's effort to sell the property to the Park Service, and later to the Niobrara Scenic River Council, both fell through. Members of the state's congressional delegation, as well as local ranchers and representatives on the Niobrara Council, were among those who opposed federal ownership of the property. In 2018, Arrowsmith said he purchased the rapids to retain local control and to avoid a new private owner from shutting off access to Rocky Ford. The river there has one of the state's few Class III rapids – rapids with high waves and rocks that require an experienced paddler. But when the $2.5 million sale to the Niobrara Council fell through, Arrowsmith retained ownership and a canoe outfitting business continued. He eventually took over the business. But the semi-retired rancher, 58, said he's more interested now in enjoying the 'retired' side of his life and ditching the 'semi' portion. 'I never bought it to get into the outfitting business in the first place,' Arrowsmith said. 'My hair's a little whiter than yours. I'm tired.' So talks began a few months ago to sell the property to the Park Service. Susan Cook, superintendent of the Niobrara National Scenic River office in Valentine, confirmed that she's discussed a purchase with Arrowsmith. 'We're just starting to look at it,' Cook said. She declined to say whether the Park Service had money allocated for the purchase – as it did a decade ago – or where the money to purchase the site could come from. Arrowsmith said that he'd also offered, again about a year ago, to sell Rocky Ford to the Niobrara Council, but was again rebuffed. He said he's also been approached by a private party to purchase the site and continue the outfitting business. 'At the end of the day I'd love to keep it in local hands … but I'm not sure they can come up with the change to do it,' he said. Just how quickly, or how long, a purchase might take is unclear. Arrowsmith said he has made improvements to the property that make Rocky Ford more attractive for a buyer. 'It's not the old ratty wood walkway up to the office,' he said, adding that he also replaced a 'monstrosity of a retaining wall' on the land. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
