The Urban Hiker: Rethinking Nature and Our Place in It

I have always loved nature. The ocean, the mountains, the vast landscapes untouched by human hands - these places have always spoken to me in a way that nothing else does. They connect me to something greater, a unity with all that exists. The natural world has always been my temple, my healer, my retreat. 

For much of my life, I believed that to truly experience peace and that type of connection, I needed to escape - to leave the cities and immerse myself in the raw beauty of the wilderness. Like many, I saw city life as something to endure and nature as the antidote. Cities were where we worked, lived, and carried out daily responsibilities, but nature was where we returned to restore ourselves. 

But something remarkable has happened over these past few years as Carla and I have been exploring the world. While we still seek out nature’s beauty, we have also spent a great deal of time in cities and towns - drawn to the history, culture, and the chance to engage with people from different backgrounds. And in doing so, I’ve experienced a profound shift in my perception of what it means to feel connected to nature.  I’ve embraced something I never expected: I have become a proud “Urban Hiker.”

As I walk the streets of Europe’s cities, I’ve started to see them differently - not as artificial constructs that separate us from nature, but as habitats in their own right. When we hike through a forest, we marvel at an eagle’s nest perched high in a tree or the intricate den of a bear. We recognize those spaces as part of nature because we accept that these creatures have built their homes to suit their needs within the larger ecosystem. 

Urban Hiking has transformed my relationship with cities. When I walk through a historic European town, I’m not just moving from one place to another - I’m experiencing a habitat, one shaped by centuries of human history. The narrow, winding streets, the lively squares, the layers of architecture telling stories of past civilizations - it’s all part of the human journey. And when you start to see cities through this lens, walking through them becomes as enriching as hiking through a national park. 

In the U.S., our cities and towns are largely car-centric, sprawling in ways that discourage walking and natural interaction. Our homes are massive, designed to be self-contained worlds where every need is met, reducing the necessity of stepping outside. Bathrooms in American homes are often larger than entire apartments in Europe. We’ve built our private spaces so large and so accommodating that many of us can go days without engaging with our neighbors, without feeling the pulse of a shared community. 

Contrast this with much of Europe, where cities are structured differently. Here, homes are more modest, not because people lack the means for larger spaces, but because they don’t need them to feel fulfilled. Their cities are their front yards, their living rooms, their gathering spaces. The streets are lined with cafés where people sit for hours, enjoying meals, conversations, and the presence of others. Even in winter, outdoor seating remains full. Walking is a way of life, not just a weekend activity. 

It’s a completely different philosophy - one that integrates human life with the environment rather than retreating from it. 

Every great city has its own natural rhythm, a pulse that can only be felt by walking its streets. In the U.S., we often view walking in the city as something we have to do, an inconvenience between parking spots. But in much of Europe, walking is not just transportation - it’s a way of engaging with life. 

There is so much that U.S. cities could learn from their European counterparts. The most important lesson? Recognizing that what we build is part of the natural world. The question is: do we want our habitats to harmonize with nature and foster connection, or do we want to continue isolating ourselves from it while contributing to its destruction?  European cities, with their walkability, communal spaces, and integration with history and culture, provide a model of what urban life can be when it is built for people rather than just for efficiency. 

So, while I will always love the ocean, the mountains, and the untouched landscapes that first connected me to something greater, I now find that same sense of wonder walking the streets of an ancient city, observing the ways in which humans - just like every other species - have shaped their world.  I’ve discovered a new way to feel at home in the world.