Travel Tuesday question of the week – beach or mountains?
Q: Are you a beach or mountain person? Why? Where is your fave place?
For me, it took a long time to figure out this question. Naturally, I used to think it was the beach. After all, I went to high school near Myrtle Beach, SC and vacationed at the beach many times with my family. I was even a lifeguard for 3 years in high school at a water park. So I’ve had a lot of experience around water and the beach.
As for the mountains, my mom hated camping so the outdoors was not something that we did. I had very few trips to the mountains growing up. My one real experience camping, I got sick on smores, threw up in our tent, and my mom drove us home at 4 in the morning.
So my answer to this is the beach right? Wrong. I enjoy the mountains better.
I love the peace and quiet of the mountains, the outdoors, and hiking. One of my best memories was hiking through Switzerland in the Alps. Loved the experience, beauty, and peace. I enjoyed a similar experience hiking in Austria and Germany as well. It was such an “Aha!” moment for me that I still remember it vividly.
Closer to home, I love Lake Tahoe. It has the best of both worlds – the beach and the mountains. However, it was Tahoe that confirmed to me that it is the mountains that I love. The peace and quiet of nature away from everything is what I enjoy most.
With the beach, it’s sand, crowds, the sunscreen (I am a bit white), and watching the kids. And that just doesn’t provide me with the peace and enjoyment that the mountains do.
My answer? Yes, it is the mountains for me and Lake Tahoe is my favorite place.
Mountains, definitely! And for the same reasons you mentioned: peace, silence, wilderness, strong emotions.
Over the last years, I’ve been less and less to the beach. I mostly like the sea in winter and in spring, without the huge and noisy crowds. And most of times, I go to the sea for scuba diving. So I’m staying a lot underwater and very little on the beach…
Switzerland holds a special place in my heart, and so do the Dolomites. Then, there are the Andes, and the mountains in Nepal. A totally different experience.
So, when are you coming for a hike in the Alps?
Cheers,
Simon
http://www.wild-about-travel.com
Mountains all the way! Why? I’m a Canadian living in Vancouver with mountains everywhere. Love the snow, love lakes, love hiking and biking – BUT most importantly, prefer the crisp fresh mountain air over the salty smell of sea water! Okay – I love the beach too
Tough, but got to go with the mountains. My skin only goes from white to red to white, so spending a day lounging on the beach isn’t terribly fun for me, though sitting at a cafe near the beach is something I quite enjoy.
Back to the mountains – love the views, the cooler weather, that I don’t look out of place if I’m not stripped down to the bare essentials
Even though I’m not outdoorsy, I’m will to put up with a long hike to be rewarded with beautiful scenery.
I <3 the beach — the ocean breeze and salt air
Although I like a good swim every now and then I prefer something wild over a beach. Give me a swamp, forest, and especially a mountain any day.