This Is Your Actual Happy Place Research Says

Do you have a happy place? Is it, perchance, by the ocean? A recent study has confirmed that being close to the sea can have a notable affect on your wellbeing, which explains the universal penchant for beach vacations.

A joint piece of research conducted by the University of Canterbury in New Zealand and Michigan State University in the U.S. set out to examine the mental health boosting benefits of nature.

They interviewed residents in Wellington, a city on the southernmost tip of New Zealand’s North Island, to assess their psychological wellbeing. Participants fell into two groups: Those who lived in neighborhoods with views of grassy “green space”, and those who resided near “blue space” — in this case the Tasman Sea or the Pacific Ocean.

The benefits of being close to nature are widely recognized, from increasing physical activity to reducing insomnia, so the researcher’s goal was to find out whether the type of wilderness you’re exposed to makes a difference. What they discovered is that Wellingtonians with sea views experienced a significant reduction in psychological distress, while greenery appeared to provide no discernible mental health boost.

The participant’s age, gender and income were all accounted for, but the authors’ noted that the quality of the green space — parks and sports fields as opposed to rolling fields or forests — may have affected the outcome. They hope that this might be a starting point for further studies.

“If the type of water is irrelevant, similar findings could potentially be evaluated on large fresh water bodies, such as the North American Great Lakes,” the authors wrote in summation. “If the type of water is salient, this may relate not only to the visibility of the ocean, but the other sensory stimuli related to the ocean, including the sound of waves and the smell of air passing over the ocean.”

So there you have it, a science-backed reason you should move to Hawaii. It’s no coincidence it’s America’s happiest state.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.