Falls Lake State Park, North Carolina

Falls Lake State Recreation Area is one of the best things about living in Durham, NC. While the park technically isn’t part of the city, it’s darn close. Residents only have a short drive to escape the hustle and bustle of the concrete jungle to the peaceful forests of Falls Lake. The woodlands here are extensive, filled with tons of hiking and mountain biking trails. But if peace is really what you’re after, plop down in a camping chair along the lake, bait a line and kick back while you wait for a fish to bite. You might drift off to the soothing sound of water lapping the shores, and the fish might get away with the worm, but when you’re this relaxed it doesn’t even matter.