Hale Park, Montecito

“Ah so you have finally taken me to Chartopia,” she said gazing up at the eucalyptus tree.

“Indeed I have,” I replied with a smirk.

I woke up my friend, Lily, early on Saturday morning. I offered her some coffee as a nice gesture for terribly waking her up before noon . She declined my coffee offer, and I told her I had somewhere to take her. I drove, got out of the car, and jumped over the stone wall that opens up into Hale Park, also known (to me) as Chartopia.

As you can see, I call this park Chartopia like the name of my blog. It is what actually gave me the inspiration to start blogging about the places around me as I feel this park represents how beautiful the world can be. This place is untouched, and you don’t get much of that anymore as the industrialization of the world is becoming more prominent. It is like they feel the need to fill every square inch of Earth with cement or man-made structures! What surprises me is that I barely spot any people whenever I am there, and I go there a lot. Where am I after school? The park. On weekends? The park.

This is because I can go and sit and just stare at lovely, purple flowers, or lay in the middle of a wild grass field with a book. I feel like a kid, and I think that is what makes me so happy.  People need places to go to be alone, or a place they feel comfortable at where they can reconnect with themselves.  For me, I feel most comfortable in nature, and I think many people would agree. I feel like metaphorically “The Queen of the Woods” whenever I go to Hale Park because I have the place to myself, and it is my happy spot. It is Chartopia! As a teenager who is loaded up with school, homework, AP tests, and stress, it is so important to take a break and enjoy the beautiful parks, mountains, and/or beaches that surround us. Lily loved the park and I brought some more of my friends there this morning… we had a really great time!

Nature is a place worth spending time in. Happy almost Earth Day!

Much Love and Peace,

Charlotte