Cook Forest State Park, Pennsylvania

Don’t delay that much-needed soul-reviving camping trip you’ve been longing for for one more day! Head to Cook Forest State Park where the park’s miles and miles (and miles) of biking and hiking trails under gorgeous “cathedral forest” canopies of skyscraping white pines and hemlocks will have your fast feet on repeat and the flow of the Clarion River will roll your blues to the banks. Don’t worry about arranging a canoe pick-up with your co-worker’s brother’s best friend’s across-the-street-neighbor. Spare yourself a potential mad-face and the unneeded stress, and let your travel-load be light! You can rent a canoe, kayak, or even tube on-site at Cook Forest State Park. You just follow that river to your heart’s content and mozy back to your campsite under the starshine. Sit back, relax and enjoy the campfire crackle. Less than 2 hours from Pittsburgh, but worlds away. This is everything.