It comes down to starting in mystery lake since its got everything you need to learn the ropes without getting overwhelmed. The camp office makes a solid base with its workbench, and you'll find plenty of tools around the area, especially if you check the trapper's cabin and surrounding buildings. You can usually spot critical gear like hatchets and matches pretty easily, which is nice when youre just figuring things out.

The frozen lake is actually super helpful for getting your bearings, and the railroad tracks make it pretty much impossible to get completely lost. Something worth knowing is that the wolves here aren't as aggressive as other regions, and they usually stick to predictable paths which gives you time to practice dealing with them. Theres plenty of rabbits around for food, and the fishing huts are great when you need a reliable source of calories.

Maybe interesting for new players - the weather here is actually more forgiving than most other places, so you won't freeze to death while learning basic survival skills. The whole area connects to other regions too but i'd recommend getting comfortable here first since you've got everything you need to master the basics without too much pressure. Just remember to keep an eye on your temperature when traveling between shelters, and always have some wood ready for fires even if the weather seems nice.