Destination Guides
It’s not your fault that you’re naturally curious. Curiosity is a characteristic that distinguishes us as a species from other animals, a tendency from childhood not just to poke and prod our surroundings but to also ask “why” as we search for knowledge. This inner drive to explore has taken us to both the dark side of the moon and the depths of the subatomic world, but to truly understand our place on the planet, it’s important to return to nature—a place where we can nurture our primordial curiosities.
This landlocked central European country is dominated by the Alps, peppered with thousands of small villages, and home to a handful of cities. Although most of the population lives in urban areas, the country’s small size and excellent highways and byways means that wherever you are, you are never far from the natural world.
The Japanese even coined a term for it—shinrin-yoku—meaning “to take in the forest atmosphere”. Many also believe there are spiritual advantages to be had when “grounding” oneself to the Earth’s electrical charge by traversing wooded worlds while barefoot—quite literally in our most natural state.
Switzerland’s constitution states that one must take into account “the dignity of creation when handling animals, plants, and other organisms”. The country therefore has a number of laws in place to protect forests, including one that ensures they are preserved and distributed regionally, and one that ensures they are allowed to regenerate without fertilizers and pesticides. Together, this means the country is covered in healthy woodland conducive to high living standards for animals, plants, and humans.
When you look out across the Alpine landscape, you technically don’t see much mountain—you see forests. Many Swiss literally owe their lives to these forests, as they protect from avalanches, rock-falls, and mudslides. Moreover, the health benefits of spending time in the woods are well documented and act as an antidote to the sensory overload of modern life, with The New York Department of Environmental Conservation noting reductions in stress, boosts to the immune system, acceleration in recovery time from illness or surgery, increase in energy levels, and improved sleep among those who spend time in forests.
