PHOTO: The Crooked Forest in Poland. It's not an Escher drawing. It's the real thing. (courtesy Wiki Images)

Sometimes we just need an escape from the constant ringing of our cell phones and the everyday hustle and bustles of life.  So why not find refuge amid a forest. 

Then again, we’re not talking about just any jungle filled with wild trees, but some of the world’s most extraordinary locations that are comprised of beautiful flowers, colossal bamboos and even stone.  When it’s that time to recharge your batteries or get away from it all amid nature, you’ll want to explore these next eight mysterious, yet exotic forests that offer more than just a journey through diverse ecosystems.

Costa Rica: Monteverde’s Cloud Forest

The veil of clouds hovering above the trees alone beckons the most curious visitor to wander inside.  And once you make your way through the thick mist, you’ll enter a world dominated by the species of jaguars, oncillas, pumas as well as three-wattled bellbird and diverse biodiversity- all significant to Costa Rica.

As the water from the evaporated clouds trickle onto the thousands of plants and creatures buried through the dense trees, the forest comes alive by the nutrients that are also embedded in the rainfall and air encompassing every inch of its 35,089 acres.  Even the sun tries to make its way through, but is constantly blocked by the clouds shielding this woodland.  At a height of 4,662 feet, Monteverde’s Cloud Forest offers a hiking and zip-lining adventure into its vast ecologies amid the songs of nature protected by the haze of clouds. And on a clear day, you may be able to spot a volcano as it peacefully sleeps.

Barbados: Flower Forest

53.6 acres of beautiful flowers decorate this tropical floral oasis that sits at 750 above sea level.  With a landscape that appears to be floating majestically through the air, Barbados’ Floral Forest adventures are matched with breathtaking panoramas and the aromas of sweet-smelling plants. Pathways etched in between lush gardens excite the soul as the cool breezes mixed with the hot Barbadian sun create an extraordinary experience.

The Flower Forest also comes bedecked with palms dancing in the wind, which the country is well-known for, crazy monkeys, and verdant pastures that are speckled with the rarest and sometimes poisonous flowers.   If you’re looking for a peaceful getaway, this is the place to be.  Plus, what’s better than renewing your spirit with a cup of tea or a light lunch while having this beautiful forest completely surrounding you?

Poland: Crooked Forest

About 400 trees with the bottom of their trunks bent northward rightfully makes the Crooked Forest one of the weirdest woodlands in the world.  So why not pay this unique landscape a visit? 

Some believe that the reason for their peculiar features were the result of farmers who manipulated the wood to make furniture, while others think that only Mother Nature's qurky sense of humor could create such an odd phenomenon.  Regardless of why the Crooked Forest truly exists, its mysterious façade is worth every bit of discovery, especially if you want to capture an eyeful of trees that appear to be bent into submission.

 Japan: Sagano Bamboo Forest

With a plethora of bamboo trees silently standing at attention, you’ll want to give the Sagano Bamboo Forest your utmost respect.  You can do so by strolling along the walkway situated in the heart of this bamboo-filled forest.  And as a thank you, the groves majestically sway with the rhythm of the wind, which also seems to be their special way of saying hello.

On a sunny day, the Sagano Bamboo Forest is illuminated brilliantly, providing a stunning backdrop so you better be camera ready.  If you don’t believe that Sagano Bamboo Forest is one the most unique jungles in the world- then just press play.

 Texas, USA: Caddo Lake State Park

Forget about a hike through this forest unless you want to be submerged under water.  That’s because the Caddo Lake boasts a collection of cypress bald trees rising out of the swamp that lies at their feet.  Dripping in moss that hang directly above its maze of bayous and wetlands, other than visitors who frequent this remote treasure, its silence is daily interrupted by the calls of the wild rustling through the trees. 

With more than 26,000 acres of floating adventure, the Caddo Lake State Park is a rarely seen but never forgotten by wanderers who become so captivated by its natural presence, they are forced to take the memories home with them.

Namibia: Dead Vlei Forest

It’s a miracle these 900 year-old trees are still standing, especially since they are located in Namib-Naukluft Natural Park, which is plagued by a dry environment because it is constantly pounded by the scorching rays of the sun.  However, their black color shows they have they’ve been dying of thirst, particularly because the river that was once here has completely dried because of the drastic change in temperature. 

Even the red dunes surrounding the forest have tried their best to protect the vegetation by rising some 1,300 feet, but they too are no match for the heat that have transformed the trees into withering skeletons.  Also known as the Dead Vlei Forest, its atmosphere is quite lifeless compare to the typical forests we are accustomed to, but it is still a timeless beauty that presents nature in a ghostly, yet captivating way.

China: Stone Forest

It’s not the trees that make this forest unique, cut rather a collection of limestone cliffs punctuating the atmosphere with their jagged spires.  Existing for more than 200 million years, each rock formation tells a story centered on its formation that is believed to be the combination of water and wind erosion.

Although you won’t be swatting trees from your face at this forest, its stone-faced façade has become one of China’s most interesting attractions, specifically because its stones stand tall like gigantic trees.  China’s Stone Forest proves that not all forests are consumed by thick foliage- some are brilliantly decorated with huge boulders.

 Germany: Black Forest

There is a reason this jungle is labeled the Black Forest, and it’s not because it has a reputation for being one of the friendliest forests.  In fact, Hansel and Gretel were taunted by the witch here, adding fuel to the fire when it comes to its eerie reputation.  Encompassed by dark shrubs that shield the sun from seeping directly through its leaves and branches, the Black Forest is no average walk in the park. 

Birthing the original cuckoo-clock out of its wooden veins, the forest is a favored treasure of Germany that continues to amaze every wanderer along its winding hills.  Although it relishes in a rich history, it also sits in a haunted silence that takes you on a journey into the legends of Germany’s past.  Enter at your own risk, that is if you think the witches and werewolves that reside here won’t eat you alive.