Healing Horizons: Illinoisans Say This Remote State Park Is Their Go-To for Natural Therapy.

• 3.017 respondents surveyed on the most relaxing spots to seek solitude.
• Cache River State Natural Area (Southern Illinois) the top choice, followed by Matthiessen State Park (near Starved Rock) + Middle Fork River Forest Preserve (Champaign County).
• Infographic included. 

Modern life is hectic – and for many Illinoisans, 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, Illinoisans named these three spots as the most relaxing in the state:

#1 Cache River State Natural Area (Southern Illinois)
This isn’t the Illinois most people picture. Down in the southern tip of the state, you’ll find tupelo and cypress trees rising from swampy blackwater, their knees breaking the surface like sculptures. A kayak or boardwalk lets you glide through the stillness, and when the sun hits just right, the reflections turn the swamp into stained glass. It’s haunting, hushed, and healing.

#2 Matthiessen State Park (near Starved Rock)
Starved Rock gets the crowds – Matthiessen gets the peace. With winding canyons, small waterfalls, and mossy stone staircases, it feels like walking through a secret garden carved from sandstone. Go after a rain and the creek will gurgle just loud enough to drown out your thoughts. That’s the kind of place this is.

#3 Middle Fork River Forest Preserve (Champaign County)
Designated as Illinois’ only International Dark Sky Park, Middle Fork isn’t just relaxing during the day – it’s transcendent at night. Wildflowers line the trails by day, but come sundown, the stars spill across the sky in a way that’s almost too much to take in. It’s quiet, it’s wide open, and it gently reminds you how small – and how okay – you are.

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 Knob, 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.”