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Urban Adjacent: 15 Incredible Nature Areas Near The World’s Top Cities
Slide Nr 1There’s nothing like an exciting city break, but sometimes you need a break from the city. When the concrete walls seem to close in, head for one of these picturesque natural escapes – all within easy reach of the world’s most alluring cities.
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Urban Adjacent: 15 Incredible Nature Areas Near The World’s Top Cities.
Slide Nr 4Sydney: Ku-Ring-Gai Chase National Park – Accessible by car, bike or train, just 25km from central Sydney, locals and visitors can’t get enough of this natural escape from the city chaos. Named for a pre-European Aboriginal civilisation that once occupied the area, the park contains hundreds of fascinating archaeological sites along with cave drawings, engravings and tools. Massive rock formations, rainforest and dense bushland lead to soul-stirring views over Cowen Water. Boat, swim or fish the Hawkesbury and Cowan River and their charming tributaries immersed in green.
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Urban Adjacent: 15 Incredible Nature Areas Near The World’s Top Cities.
Slide Nr 5San Juan: El Yunque Rainforest – The El Yunque rainforest in northeast Puerto Rico is one the world’s most biodiverse. A 45-minute drive from San Juan, it allows you to immerse yourself in vibrant tropical flora, admire dramatic waterfalls and dive into natural pools throughout the area. The forest is free and open to the public, but organised hiking trips and tours are advisable both for safety and sustainability of the ecosystem.
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Urban Adjacent: 15 Incredible Nature Areas Near The World’s Top Cities.
Slide Nr 6Madrid: Sierra de Guadarrama – An hour’s drive outside of Madrid, the Sierra de Guadarrama mountains soar up to 2,000 metres above sea level. Inside the associated national park, hikers and bikers can embark on up to 16 trails that vary by difficulty and scenery. Terrain and landscape shift radically throughout the mountain range, so plan well before you set out. As you explore, look for wildlife indigenous to the area, including the Iberian wolf, wild cats, deer and the Spanish imperial Eagle. Spring is the ideal time to visit, when the scrubland at the highest point, Peñalara, explodes in wildflowers. Be sure to leave some time for renaissance wonder El Escorial monastery, about a half-hour drive outside the park.
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Urban Adjacent: 15 Incredible Nature Areas Near The World’s Top Cities.
Slide Nr 7San Francisco: Mount Tamalpais – The ‘Sleeping Lady’ of Marin County, known to locals as Mount Tam, this peak scrapes the sky at 800 metres above sea level. Its proximity to the Pacific coast, combined with its altitude, exposure and fog from the San Francisco Bay, has created myriad microclimates on the mountain, so you can explore various thriving plant communities everywhere: soaring redwoods, pine forests, grasslands, wetlands and the quintessential coastal scrub that carpets the slopes in sage green. Home to one of the Bay Area’s few wildlife preserves, Mount Tamalpais’ vibrant and diverse ecosystems teem with wildlife. Foxes, mountain lions and pumas also call Mount Tam home, along with nearly 300 species of birds and several endangered animals. The state park is a great place to start, just 30 minutes north of central San Francisco.
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Urban Adjacent: 15 Incredible Nature Areas Near The World’s Top Cities.
Slide Nr 8Capetown: The Stellenbosch Wine Routes – A 45-minute drive inland from Cape Town, the town of Stellenbosch sits against a sky-high mountain range. Home to some of South Africa’s most prestigious wineries, the scenic town offers stellar natural scenery to accompany their award-winning Pinotage and Cabernet. Hike through mountain gorges, bike through wildflower-encrusted valleys, and walk the pathways of the wineries.
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Urban Adjacent: 15 Incredible Nature Areas Near The World’s Top Cities.
Slide Nr 9Kyoto: Arashiyama – 30 minutes outside Kyoto by car or train, the natural wonders, wildlife and ancient temples and shrines of Arashiyama await. Located at the base of the Arashiyama mountains, variegated scenery feels as if pulled from a fantasy film. Don’t miss the Insta-famous Bamboo Alley and the twisting Hozugawa river, which is especially lovely in cherry blossom season. Meanwhile 8,000 Buddhist statues populate Adashino-Nembutsu-ji Temple, a tender tribute to those who have died with no siblings. World Heritage Site Tenryu-ji Zen Temple draws tourists year-round for its expansive gardens and “borrowed” backdrop, a Japanese design technique (shakkei) that incorporates natural scenery into landscapes. The uphill climb to Kameyama-koen Park is absolutely worth it for views of the river and Kyoto, as well as frequent wild monkey sightings.
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Urban Adjacent: 15 Incredible Nature Areas Near The World’s Top Cities.
Slide Nr 10Rome: Sacro Bosco and The Park of Monsters – Also known as Parco dei Mostri, or Park of Monsters, this 16th-century sculpture garden still mystifies historians. In direct contrast to the harmony and symmetry of the classical Italian garden popular at the time, Parco dei Mostri turns perspective on its head. Wander through a lush wooded valley, and keep your eyes out for a leaning house and mythological creatures. Most famously, the massive grotesque stone “Orcus”, named for the Etruscan and Roman god of the underworld, beckons visitors to enter its open mouth at the stop of a stairway. An inscription above the door reads: Ogni Pensiero Vola (All Thoughts Fly). The acoustics inside the mouth can amplify even a whisper, so it can be heard at the base of the steps. 90 minutes north of Rome, the Sacro Bosco, or Sacred Forest, has yet to attract hordes of tourists; depending on what time of year you visit, you’ll likely have plenty of the park to yourself.
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Urban Adjacent: 15 Incredible Nature Areas Near The World’s Top Cities.
Slide Nr 11Marseille: Les Calanques – There’s something for everyone along the trails of the Massif des Calanques. These extraordinary geological formations date back to the Jurassic era, with limestone formed from millennia of fossilised sea life. They jut forth from the earth for a 20km stretch east of Marseilles and continue toward Cassis along the coastline. Automobile traffic is strictly regulated to protect the area, so take a bus as far as possible and walk from there. A paradise for divers and snorkellers, the crystalline waters at the base of the cliffs contain a trove of underwater caves and diverse marine life. On land, take in jaw-dropping views of the coves below and surrounding terrain. Seasoned hikers love the panoramic views from Mont Puget, the highest peak in the park at 563 metres above sea level.
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Urban Adjacent: 15 Incredible Nature Areas Near The World’s Top Cities.
Slide Nr 12Ljubljana: Bled – 45 minutes to an hour north of Ljubljana by bus or car, the town of Bled feels like a scene yanked from a snow globe. Set against a backdrop of Slovenia’s Julian Alps with the eponymous Lake Bled at its heart, a day trip to Bled makes for an unforgettable experience. Start early and catch a spectacular sunrise over the lake, accompanied by coffee and kremšnita, a regional custard-filled pastry. Hike the six-kilometre perimeter or relax in a horse and carriage. Pletnas, Slovenia’s version of the gondola, ferry visitors to the island at the centre of the lake, which houses a historical chapel complete with a wishing bell where you can send prayers from your lips to Mother Mary’s ears. Take a quick dip in the glacial waters for a summer refresh. If visiting in winter, strap on your ice skates when the surface freezes over.
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Urban Adjacent: 15 Incredible Nature Areas Near The World’s Top Cities.
Slide Nr 13Lisbon: Comporta Beaches – Swimmers, kite-surfers, kayakers and beach bums: take note. An hour’s drive outside of Lisbon, on Portugal’s west coast, the Comporta region has always been known for agriculture, especially rice production (they even built a rice museum detailing the history). Rightly so, the regional Alentejo cuisine is at its best here, too, but the beaches are its true attraction. The area has yet to be built up and offers untouched natural landscapes. Stretches of silky sand, cliffs and dunes abut Blue Flag waters. While some beaches, like Carvalhal, provide full accessibility for people with disabilities, along with restaurants, sun loungers and sports equipment, others, including Brejos beach, are reachable only by bike or on foot. Comporta and all its charms won’t be a secret for long, so plan accordingly.
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Urban Adjacent: 15 Incredible Nature Areas Near The World’s Top Cities.
Slide Nr 15Athens: Cape Sounio – Hike with the Gods and relive the legends. An hour’s drive south of Athens, this day trip takes you along the Athenian Riviera; stop at any time for a dip in the Med or a leisurely lunch at a beachfront taverna. Follow signs for Posidonia (just south of Lavrio), then park and hike starting from the Olympic Marina. The trail winds through moderate hills with great sea views and culminates on a dramatic cliff and the Temple of Poseidon. Stick around and explore the archaeological hike, or head downhill to the small beach below.
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Urban Adjacent: 15 Incredible Nature Areas Near The World’s Top Cities.
Slide Nr 16Glasgow: Loch Lomond and the Trossachs – If we’re being honest, you may need an extra day to get it all in at this national park. Hike, bike or rock climb through rambling forests and scenic glens. Cruise or fish around massive Loch Lomond. Ferry to an island inside the Lake of Menteith and admire a 13th-century monastery. Villages dot the park throughout if you’re looking to refuel in a fairy-tale setting. From Glasgow, hop on a scenic railway or coach, and connect to the park via lake ferry in under an hour. A car ride takes about 30 minutes, but is arguably less scenic.
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