But the trees and animals I can see from my porch have nothing on the Moss Rock Preserve in Hoover, Alabama.
Just a few miles from my house, this 350-acre park is home to rare plants, streams, rocks, trails and an unbelievably quiet area.
My husband and I recently took our two dogs to the park for the first time, and I’m not sure which one of us had a better time. We came back exhausted yet refreshed, while my dogs were covered in mud from playing in the pond.
Just a half hour from downtown Birmingham, this park seems untouched by man or industrial life, making it a perfect getaway for residents.
It sounds simple, but take time to breathe in the clean air, gaze at the colorful foliage, put your toes in the pond and relax.