Does The Sea Soothe Your Soul?
If there’s no place you’d rather be than by the sea, use these recommendations to plan your next trip
Do you share my love for the sea? For me, it’s the happiest place on earth. I first fell in love with the ocean when I was a young child. It has been a lifelong love affair that grows stronger every time we get together. When we are apart, I long to be reunited. Do you feel the same way?
What is your favorite way to spend time with the sea? Do you prefer to admire its beauty from the safety of shore or would you rather play in its waves? Perhaps you like to view the ocean from the deck of a boat as you fish, watch for whales or dolphins, or cruise between ports.
I choose to fully immerse myself in the ocean, so I can experience the wonders of the undersea world. The creatures I encounter beneath the waves mesmerize me.
When I watch them, a sense of calm washes over me and I am at peace. I enjoy being underwater and forget about the world above and its problems. I wish I could make the sea my permanent home, but I have to settle for visitation privileges.
If you want to swim with sea turtles, spotted eagle rays, and other amazing animals, you can satisfy that desire in many places throughout the world.
I recommend Maui. One visit was all it took to convince my husband and me to sell our house in Pennsylvania, quit our jobs, and move there. You can read more about that decision and the ten years we lived on Maui here:
The ocean soothes me when I can’t get in the water, too. I am happy to see it even when it is too cold or the waves are too rough for me to swim.
My husband is from Oregon, and when we visit his family there we always spend one day at the coast. I feel serene as I gaze down at the ocean from roadside scenic lookouts or walk among the rocky tide pools. It’s a different way to experience the sea, but just as beautiful and peaceful.
The Oregon Coast Aquarium is another great way to enjoy the ocean and have close encounters with the animals who live there. The aquarium is located in the seaside town of Newport, a delightful place well worth a visit even if you don’t go to the aquarium. We always stop there to eat at Mo’s, a very popular seafood restaurant best known for its clam chowder served in bread bowls.
Do you want to watch whales or dolphins? That’s another option along the Oregon coast. Boat tours depart from many towns, including Newport. It’s an unforgettable experience to watch these magnificent animals surface to breathe or leap out of the water.
I’ve been on more whale and dolphin watches than I can count. They left from a variety of coastal locations in the United States, and I enjoyed all of them.
The whale and dolphin watching trips I took from Maui were by far the best, though. If you do visit Maui, try to go between December and April, when the humpback whales return to mate and give birth. You may see some whales from shore, but if you want photos like the one below you’ll need to go on a whale-watching boat.
For more information about the best ways to see Maui’s humpback whales, read my tips here.
Every seaside location has its charms. Here are a few others I’ve especially enjoyed:
Where do you go to be by the sea? What makes that place special to you? Which seaside locations would you choose to visit if you had unlimited time and money to travel?
My dream destination is Australia’s Great Barrier Reef. My husband and I had planned a 2021 vacation there, but the pandemic changed that.
I’m glad to be by the sea anywhere, though. Earlier this year, I stayed at the Mustang Island Conference Center near Corpus Christi, Texas. My room had a private deck with a view of the Gulf of Mexico. For two glorious days I walked on the beach and played in the waves. That time away soothed my soul and I returned home happier and more relaxed.
Wherever and whenever you are near the sea, I hope you enjoy your time there. May the ocean affect you in the same wonderful ways that it effects me, and remind you the world is still a beautiful place.
Thanks to Monoreena Acharjee Majumdar and Dr. Preeti Singh for the inspiration to share my love of the sea.
See photos of and read more about my underwater animal encounters here:
Two stories by other writers I found helpful and think you’ll appreciate:
Dr. Preeti Singh’s article about the joys of community service and plants:
Yana Bostongirl’s article about a way to change your emotional state to a happier one:
