The first thing you might not associate with the post-apocalypse are scenic and peaceful views.
In a world filled with unnaturally massive scorpions, bleak and desolate landscapes, packs of mutated, two-headed cows, and more irradiated monstrosities, the idea of photogenic locations could seem like a pipe dream!
In my experiences though, I often go out searching for the positivity in bad situations, so finding some quiet moments in this world was fairly easy for me — and often much-needed!
Fallout 4 offers a dire atmosphere. But for today, I want to go out and find the beauty that exists in the Commonwealth Wasteland! The immersive world of this game is flowing with danger and darkness, death and disease, and many entities that have your character in their crosshairs. However, like in the real world we live in today, the simple moments of peace and goodness often go unnoticed in the miasma of despair.
For that reason, we’re going to check out my top five locations in Fallout 4 that offer a moment of peaceful and beautiful respite!
My hope is that after reading this article, you’ll load up your game and find your own locations in the Commonwealth Wasteland that give you a moment of serenity too!
Let’s dive in!
First off though, I want to extend my warmest welcome and send my thanks to you for the privilege and honor of your time!
My name is Joe, and The Saved Game is my gaming hub that is a space about video game nostalgia, new and old favorites, and finding ways to rekindle your love for why you played video games in the first place! Read more here about my Substack page and content!
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Is there a better location to start this article off with than Sanctuary Hills!?
Sanctuary Hills is nearly empty by the time you arrive back to it — save for your old Mister Handy robot named Codsworth. There are a lot of questions about what happened during the period that your character was frozen within Vault 111. However, one thing that’s for sure is that Sanctuary Hills largely remained frozen in time alongside you.
Once you arrive back for the first time, you’re reminded of the place in time when the bombs first fell on October 23, 2077. Halloween decorations are scattered around people’s houses, calendars are still set back to October of 2077, and remnants of your old home are easily recognizable. The fact that Codsworth is alive tells me that this location hadn’t see much action in the past 200+ years.
It’s fitting to me that this location truly becomes your first settlement of operations with the Minutemen. It provides a sense of hope, belonging, and literal sanctuary that serves as a good respite from the dangers of the wasteland. In fact, one of my past articles went over some of the cozier aspects of building a settlement here at this location!
Once you get settled into Sanctuary Hills, you find that there are many places to relax, including a few views that are quite photogenic! The nearby hills that surround the town offer several spots that you can sit back and watch the town from, as well as a nearby creek that flows into a lake just north of the settlement.
Back in 1845 through 1847, Henry David Thoreau — a naturalist and philosopher — lived in a remote cabin by himself on Walden Pond in Massachusetts, which he later turned into a memoir titled Walden; or, Life in the Woods.
For two years, two months, and two days, Thoreau lived in this cabin, hoping to gain a more objective understanding of society. This experiment was influenced by Thoreau's interest in transcendentalist philosophy, which believed that people were at their best when truly self-reliant. By living off the land with few material possessions, Thoreau proved it skeptical to think that any outward improvement of life could bring inner peace and contentment.
— Automated Tour at the Walden Pond Cabin
The natural world surrounding you at Walden Pond is one that Thoreau wrote about hundreds of years ago. Though a gift shop that sells Thoreau merchandise was ironically and humorously built right next to the cabin, I find that the area is a quiet retreat from the rest of the Commonwealth Wasteland.
In this peaceful location south of Concord, you can get a sense of overwhelming solitary. It is inhabited by a small gang of raiders that can be easily taken out, but there’s more from nature in this area to explore. The woods in this area are largely masked off from the rest of the Wasteland, providing a section on the outskirts of Concord that are worth visiting!
From a passing view, the Robotics Pioneer Park seems like it just hosts a few ghouls and a feisty Deathclaw.
However, once you enter into this park, you get the sense of what it would’ve looked like when the bombs first fell in 2077. I could only imagine the large tree in the center quietly dropping autumn leaves, friends sitting on the park benches to catch up in the morning, kids playing in the adjacent playground, and the Protectrons getting prepared for their parade routine.
Now though, the remnants show a quiet scene that harkens back to 200+ years ago. The giant tree is rotted out, skeletons with tattered clothing sit on the benches, the jungle set on the playground is decayed, and the Protectrons sit inside their pods — awaiting activation.
In the moment you find this location and dispatch of any enemies, it feels less like a dangerous location and more like a tranquil memorial. Even with it sitting on the border to The Glowing Sea, the Robotics Pioneer Park is an ideal place for finding a moment of peace in the Commonwealth!
A trip up to this relay tower is absolutely worth it for an early morning sunrise view in the Commonwealth Wasteland!
Due to the height and location, you can see for miles towards downtown Boston, and even out to the northern parts of the map. Just next to it on a cliff is the canister launching shack, where you can shoot off some “fireworks” by using the available canisters.
During foggy evenings, the nearby woods will host an eerie atmosphere that is hauntingly calm. There are few enemies in the near vicinity, and the sound of wind rustling through the trees creates a serene ambience.
The peaceful views surrounding this relay tower are likely the best there are in this game! It’s a simple place that is mostly forgotten about, but is one that offers a wonderful spot for pleasant views!
Out of all of the places on the eastern portion of the map, I think that the Kingsport Lighthouse is the most picturesque!
During periods of heavy fog, this location is definitely spookier than anything else. While this location doesn’t exist in real life, it could be a nod to H.P. Lovecraft’s use of Kingsport in his early work — based on a town bordering Salem — which is how close this lighthouse is to the game’s version of Salem.
Once this location is cleared out of enemies and you can settle it, it becomes a fantastic retreat for some nice views, especially from the top of the lighthouse. To the north, you can easily see Salem, of course you have the harbor with the great waves out towards the east, and a distant downtown Boston towards the south. Based on its position along the coast, it also provides decent defenses against future attacks.
It’s not a location that I’ve spent much time in, in the past. But this old lighthouse is a place that I often find myself visiting more and more in recent playthroughs. Whenever I stand out by the dock near the water, I can hear the waves crashing against the shore and radiated seagulls happily squawking overhead. I can practically smell the salt water in the air, and it all creates an atmosphere that is shockingly calm in the midst of such ruin from the Wasteland!
We took a look at a few of my most photogenic spots in the Commonwealth Wasteland, but there are so many different locations that can be found in Fallout 4!
I loved being able to relax some while scouting out some of the peaceful spots for this article. I hope that you’ve gained some new ideas from some of my top locations in this write-up, and that you’ll go out and explore some more for yourself!
Thank you for the honor and privilege of your time! It means a lot that you’re here, and I appreciate your readership!
If this article meant something to you and you enjoyed it, then please drop some love on it down below, share it with some friends or foes, and let me know your thoughts! I always appreciate the feedback!
See you again,
Joe
My Fallout 4 articles are a series! Check out my previous entries down below!
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What is your experience with Fallout 4? Have you played it?
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