I’m not sure that there is one word which will fit all occasions/locations. To me, what you’ve described is something like someone “shooting the breeze” but with their eyes and thoughts. :-D

One would perhaps [contemplate][1] nature and [survey][2] the traffic?


> contemplate: 1. to look at or view with continued attention; observe or study thoughtfully
to contemplate the stars

> survey: 3
: to view or consider comprehensively

the person would maybe be [observing][3] these things overall.
> to watch something or someone carefully:
She spent her career observing animal behavior.
[ + question word ] On their field trip, the students observed how a newspaper was put together.


  [1]: https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/contemplate
  [2]: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/survey
  [3]: https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/observe