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Travel

Our happy places

By Daphne Sashin, CNN
Published 6:46 AM EDT, Fri June 12, 2015
Link Copied!
"The winters are rough but the summers are beautiful." -- <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fireport.cnn.com%2Fdocs%2FDOC-1234281">Mike Stouffer</a>, Wausau, Wisconsin
Lake Michigan —
"The winters are rough but the summers are beautiful." -- Mike Stouffer, Wausau, Wisconsin
Mike Stouffer/CNN iReport
"One grocery store, one gas station, The Sea Cow Eatery and a million and one family moments. Our favorite place is a step back to a simpler place and time. It does our hearts, souls, and family good." -- <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fireport.cnn.com%2Fdocs%2FDOC-1244414">Kristi Metz</a>, Lawrenceville, Georgia
Edisto Beach, South Carolina —
"One grocery store, one gas station, The Sea Cow Eatery and a million and one family moments. Our favorite place is a step back to a simpler place and time. It does our hearts, souls, and family good." -- Kristi Metz, Lawrenceville, Georgia
"It is one of the few places that cell phones don't work all that well still. We all get to unplug and just enjoy each other's company." -- <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fireport.cnn.com%2Fdocs%2FDOC-1244665">Gabe Hayon</a>, Anahiem, California
Adirondack State Park, New York —
"It is one of the few places that cell phones don't work all that well still. We all get to unplug and just enjoy each other's company." -- Gabe Hayon, Anahiem, California
Gabriel Hayon/CNN iReport
"We first started going 10 years ago and keep coming back because of the pure beauty and peacefulness of the area. Mostly I enjoy catching up with our friends and family and making memories that we'll forever cherish." -- <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fireport.cnn.com%2Fdocs%2FDOC-1244738">Janie Kearns</a>, Lawrenceburg, Indiana
Norris Lake, Tennessee —
"We first started going 10 years ago and keep coming back because of the pure beauty and peacefulness of the area. Mostly I enjoy catching up with our friends and family and making memories that we'll forever cherish." -- Janie Kearns, Lawrenceburg, Indiana
Janie Kearns/CNN iReport
"There is a spiritual connection to the earth and beauty here. It's hard to define and almost sounds hokey. It's the one place where I can de-stress." -- <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fireport.cnn.com%2Fdocs%2FDOC-1243917">Amy Boeckholt-Wilt</a>, Beach Park, Illinois
Santa Fe, New Mexico —
"There is a spiritual connection to the earth and beauty here. It's hard to define and almost sounds hokey. It's the one place where I can de-stress." -- Amy Boeckholt-Wilt, Beach Park, Illinois
"Each sunset is unique and seems even more beautiful than the one from the night before. The scenery, sunsets and surf draw us closer to an internal peace that makes happiness a reality." -- <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fireport.cnn.com%2Fdocs%2FDOC-1243635">Ruben Kalra</a>, San Francisco, California
Playa Santa Teresa, Costa Rica —
"Each sunset is unique and seems even more beautiful than the one from the night before. The scenery, sunsets and surf draw us closer to an internal peace that makes happiness a reality." -- Ruben Kalra, San Francisco, California
Ruben Kalra/CNN iReport
"We have swum in that frigid water until we were pruney. We have hiked through those woods and picked huckleberries until our fingers were blue and our legs were sore." -- <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fireport.cnn.com%2Fdocs%2FDOC-1244344">Yvonne Owens</a>, St. Johnsbury, Vermont
McCall, Idaho —
"We have swum in that frigid water until we were pruney. We have hiked through those woods and picked huckleberries until our fingers were blue and our legs were sore." -- Yvonne Owens, St. Johnsbury, Vermont
"Every year, this place restores me and my family from the long northern Indiana winter. The powder sand does not get hot. The water is perfect. It is our go-to destination to relax and unwind and do nothing but listen to waves." -- <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fireport.cnn.com%2Fdocs%2FDOC-1237293">Tom Joslin</a>, Middlebury, Indiana
Siesta Key, Florida —
"Every year, this place restores me and my family from the long northern Indiana winter. The powder sand does not get hot. The water is perfect. It is our go-to destination to relax and unwind and do nothing but listen to waves." -- Tom Joslin, Middlebury, Indiana
"I have never felt such a connection between land, sea and air as on this magical island." -- <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fireport.cnn.com%2Fdocs%2FDOC-1244083">Eric Wright</a>, Portland, Oregon
Kailua-Kona, Hawaii —
"I have never felt such a connection between land, sea and air as on this magical island." -- Eric Wright, Portland, Oregon
"It's the perfect hide-out place where I go to relax, get my mind straight, enjoy the view and thank God for all he has given me." -- <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fireport.cnn.com%2Fdocs%2FDOC-1245704">Ruth Marie Garcia</a>
Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico —
"It's the perfect hide-out place where I go to relax, get my mind straight, enjoy the view and thank God for all he has given me." -- Ruth Marie Garcia
"You suddenly find yourself at 8,000 feet surrounded by towering pines and staring up at 13,000 foot, glacier-laced peaks. At night, you're staring at the Milky Way, unhindered by the pollution of city lights or air. The best part ... complete solitude." -- <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fireport.cnn.com%2Fdocs%2FDOC-1236217">Tom Murphine</a>, San Clemente, California
Big Pine, California —
"You suddenly find yourself at 8,000 feet surrounded by towering pines and staring up at 13,000 foot, glacier-laced peaks. At night, you're staring at the Milky Way, unhindered by the pollution of city lights or air. The best part ... complete solitude." -- Tom Murphine, San Clemente, California
"The island has a very slow pace which would drive some people crazy.  For me, it slows me down and reminds me how important it is to take time for myself and time away with loved ones. It makes me relax and unwind like nowhere else I've ever been." -- <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fireport.cnn.com%2Fdocs%2FDOC-1243850">Christa Hammond</a>, London, Ontario
Andros Island, Bahamas —
"The island has a very slow pace which would drive some people crazy. For me, it slows me down and reminds me how important it is to take time for myself and time away with loved ones. It makes me relax and unwind like nowhere else I've ever been." -- Christa Hammond, London, Ontario
"It's a place that just feels happy and wonderful from the second you land. ... No matter what you want to do, from sunbathing and chilling to hiking and exploring rain forests to enjoying cool restaurants, the island has everything." -- <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fireport.cnn.com%2Fdocs%2FDOC-1236163">Katherine Samiljan</a>, Philadelphia
Maui, Hawaii —
"It's a place that just feels happy and wonderful from the second you land. ... No matter what you want to do, from sunbathing and chilling to hiking and exploring rain forests to enjoying cool restaurants, the island has everything." -- Katherine Samiljan, Philadelphia

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