Boy, I’m not sure!
I think there are a number of outdoor landscapes that I enjoy.
I think the mountains are beautiful.
But I think the same about wooded areas, valleys, lakes, rivers, oceans, and so on.
I think I don’t particularly love a brown landscape….southern California is a little too brown for my taste, and I much prefer mid-to-Northern California.
So, I imagine I would not love a desert landscape unless it was just for the novelty of a visit.
I also don’t think the flat, nearly tree-less plains of the remote American midwest are my favorite; it’s novel to see somewhere with almost no trees, but I wouldn’t put that look in my top three list.
I think the most beautiful landscapes have some combination of water + trees, and that could come from what I’m used to; I’ve lived in a heavily-treed area near the water my whole life!
Fun question! One thing I learned living in far north upstate New York is that I definitely do NOT like a heavily treed landscape. It was a very primitive reaction to all those deep woods pressing in–it made me feel uneasy, like a prey animal. I like it here much better, and I think what I like is that it’s very open where I actually live–I can see the village ten miles away–but there are canyons and mesas and visible mountains in the distance at all times, which makes it less monotonous.
So, I guess the Hi-Low country. Convenient, since that’s where I live. 🙂
Kristin! We found something where we differ! Ha.
Heavily treed is not my thing…too many leaves to rake and clean out of the gutters! (ha ha!) Maybe because I have a strong aversion to the cold and snow, but mountains aren’t my thing either. While I can, and do, appreciate the gorgeous scenery in photo format, I’m a beach baby through and through. You cannot go wrong with a beach view; it’s always changing and always beautiful! I’ve lived my entire life in a wooded foothills area with four-seasons and the closest “beach” (on a lake) a couple of hours away. Perhaps that is a contributing factor for my love of all things beach. #retirementgoals
It’s funny, I find the open landscape too open, almost bleak, to me, unlike Kristin. I find the beach to always look the same, so it is boring to me, in contrast to sfeather, who finds it always changing and loves it. I think it’s great that we find beauty in different things! I’ve only lived in the U.S., and I find it lucky that it has so many different landscape options to suit our varied tastes.
I’m closest to Kristen in my landscape preference: I prefer gently rolling land with low hills rising in the background, great masses of hardwood trees mixed with sunny open areas, and fresh water nearby – a river, preferably. I suspect this has something to do with the fact that I grew up in this kind of landscape, but I have always been conscious of the fact that it is the most beautiful landscape to me, even as a kid. I’ve lived away from it for about 45 years, but I still prefer that landscape over any other.
Water!!! But I much prefer Lake Michigan-type of water than the busy coastal Atlantic-type. I love that when you look down the Lake Michigan coast you see the beautiful, sparkling water, beach, and then all kinds of trees on the other side of the beach. Or if you go inland Michigan I love to see a lake that’s pretty remote and has lots of trees around it – especially in the fall!
I loved living close to Skyline Drive in Virginia and it was beautiful, (Indiana’s landscape was not my favorite,) but my favorite place in Virginia was a lake that was hidden up in the mountains. Probably because it reminded me of Michigan.
Ruth T., where did you live in Virginia?
I lived in Harrisonburg. Lovely place!!
Oh, the West Virginia hills, how majestic and how grand! (from one of the state songs).
I love me some Appalachia. It’s home.
Northern CA beach! Not to go in the water (brrrrrr….), but to listen to and watch the waves. Very calming, centering for me. I enjoy many other landscapes, but the beach is where I recharge and become myself again.
I’ve been so busy so this comment comes so late, but —
I need all the horizon. I prefer green over desert, but I need all the horizon. 🙂