Most recently updated July 7th, 2023
Below are all of our posts with info and tips to help you get fit, eat a healthy diet, and promote wellness in your life.
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Most recently updated July 7th, 2023
As the weather changes with the seasons, you should also update your hiking boots for better performance and comfort.
But how do you know what features the best hiking boots or hiking shoes for the weather and your hike should have?
Of course you should like how they look, and they should feel good when you try them on – but beyond that, what are the most important things to look for?
Some boot features to consider:
What you put on your feet is without a doubt your most important piece of hiking gear, so you’ve got to get it right!
Hiking boots or trail running shoes (not regular road running shoes) are your best hiking footwear options.
Aside from fit, one of the most important things to consider is what kind of trail you’ll be on, and how long you’ll be on it 🙂
Continue reading The Best Hiking Boots – Choose Your Perfect Fit
Most recently updated July 7th, 2023
My feet hurt most of the time.
Accumulated damage from years of dance, martial arts, high heels, various athletics and now a couple of decades and lots of miles of hiking means my feet hurt more often than they don’t.
Add metabolic aging of my feet now that I’m in my 50’s, and it’s a recipe for some VERY painful feet.
But I’ve found ways to alleviate my foot pain and prevent more injury so I can keep doing the active things I love!
As a hiker, you can’t overestimate the value of wearing the best hiking boots you can to have an enjoyable hike and avoid possible injury.
But there are other things you can do to keep your feet happy beyond simply wearing good boots!
I love to be active outdoors and plan to keep on going for the long haul. That means investing effort in taking care of my feet and legs as much as I can.
These are some of my favorite tips to avoid or eliminate foot pain and keep your feet happy, healthy and ready for any adventure!
NOTE: Instead of illustrating this post with images of injured feet, I decided to share pictures of some beautiful things I’ve seen – while walking around 🙂
Continue reading Foot Care for Hikers – From Blisters to Boots
Most recently updated August 4th, 2023
Over the years, I’ve found a few favorite tools for planning and booking travel in the US and around the world.
Most of my travel adventures have been in or close to National Parks or other incredible outdoor destinations.
I focus on time spent in Nature, but there are also plenty of cultural and historical sights to see!
For your convenience, I’ve included links to my favorite travel companies, and some blog posts about trips I’ve taken with them.
Some of my posts contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through an affiliate link, I will receive a small payment at no additional cost to you. I do not get paid for recommendations, all opinions on this site are my own. See full Disclosure page here.
The average American spends 87% of their time indoors, 6% of it in a car, and just 7% of their life outdoors.
That’s too bad, because there are a lot of benefits to spending time outdoors!
For National Park locations in the US, the National Park Service provides a park locator that may help you with some destination ideas.
I’ve written about some of the National Parks I’ve visited – with more to come!
Read more here about:
Many States in the US have online pages to help people navigate the State parks in their area.
I’ve spent the most time in North Carolina State Parks and Virginia State Parks, but an online search would easily find parks in other parts of the country.
These sites provide important information like location, hours, fees and lodging options – as well as detailed Trail and park maps.
I’ve written about a few of the State Parks I’ve visited – with more to come! Read more here about:
There are a couple of companies that I rely on when I want to go on hiking/adventure trips outside of the US.
Though I’ve arranged all of the details for many trips on my own, it’s much more convenient – and usually less expensive – to have the help of an experienced team in my destination country.
They take care of getting transfers, hiking permits, lodging, renting any necessary equipment and engaging trail guides – which can be tricky, especially when traveling in a remote area.
If you have multiple flights and other transfers to reach your destination, it can be really confusing – especially if you don’t know the language!
It’s good to have someone on the ground to help you navigate the potential pitfalls that come with the mechanics of getting where you want to go.
There are two companies I’ve traveled the most with for guided trips. They’re both great companies, which is why I keep going back to them!
I’ve got special regard for G Adventures because I’ve taken so many wonderful trips with them. They’re very eco-friendly and always have great discounts available.
My first trip with G Adventures was back in 2004, to hike and see ancient sites on the Amalfi Coast in Italy, and my most recent was in 2020 (right before the pandemic) to hike the Tongariro Alpine Crossing in New Zealand.
G Adventures offers vacations for solo travelers, couples, and the whole family, too.
NOTE: After March 31, 2023, GAP no longer requires all travelers to show proof of COVID vaccines & boosters or provide a Medical exemption to travel with them on any tour, but you can find an “all vaccinated” tour if you want one.
To learn more, see my G Adventures Travel page and get links to trip discounts!
Intrepid Travel provides expert group leaders and take care of all of the necessary permits and transfers for all of their trips, including entrance to any National parks abroad.
I’ve hiked the Isle of Skye in Scotland and cycled in Tuscany with this company, and much more. They were great!
They also offer some really good discounts on Last Minute travel.
NOTE: After March 31, 2023, Intrepid no longer requires all travelers to show proof of COVID vaccines & boosters or provide a Medical exemption to travel with them on any tour.
For me, the most stressful part of a trip is getting to my destination and getting back home.
With flight cancellations, close connections, and carry-on rules changing for each flight, just navigating the airlines is enough to make you stay at home!
Getting in the TSA Pre-Check line for flights in the US can help smooth the process.
Just go to their site, fill out the form, pay the fee and bring your ID to a quick in-person meeting and you’ll get your TSA Pre-check account number.
With TSA Pre-Check you won’t have to remove your shoes or unpack your laptop while going through airport Security – this is very important if time is tight and you’re wearing hiking boots!
I write a lot about the individual hikes I’ve taken in the wonderful National Parks across America, but pretty much leave the descriptions of the parks themselves to the Park websites.
A friend from the National Parks shared this Guide with me recently, and I thought I would pass it on to you!
The US is home to 62 national parks, and I’ve visited a bunch of them. But if you want to read about them ALL go here:
https://www.loveholidays.com/
Yellowstone became the world’s first national park in 1872, and the rest followed, up to New River Gorge National Park, which was dedicated less than a decade ago.
The resources below help me keep everything organized with detailed itineraries, and usually provide some good discounts, too:
For more vacation planning ideas, see my Trip Planning post. You may also find some tips in my post about planning your trip budget.
I hope these resources help you plan the trip of your dreams 🙂 However you do it, get out there and have your hiking adventure!
Thanks for stopping by – see you next time! LJ
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Most recently updated July 7th, 2023
The Lake Pine Trail is a paved loop that circles the lake in Apex Community Park, located near the dividing line between the towns of Cary and Apex, close to Raleigh, North Carolina.
Like nearby Bond Park, Lake Crabtree County Park, and Umstead State Park, Apex Community Park has the benefit of being in town, plus the appeal of hosting a fairly large recreational lake.
Another nearby park with paved walking trails is the North Carolina Museum of Art Park – but they don’t have a lake, just a pond. 🙂
Lake Pine is a great trail for running or walking, is smooth and wide enough to use your stroller or baby jogger, too – and is good for all skill levels.
The trail runs between the lake and other natural areas, so there’s a good chance to see wildlife.
I’ve seen deer, otters, loons, cranes, turtles – and fish 🙂
Dogs are also allowed on this trail but must be kept on leash.
The loop is about 2 miles long, and you have the option to venture off the main path to other unpaved nature trails, too. Continue reading Run and Hike the Lake Pine Trail – Even if You Have Asthma!
Most recently updated January 5th, 2023
Summer is undeniably coming. I know this because the days have started getting the tiniest bit longer… 😉
Sadly, many of us emerge from Winter’s shapeless warm layers not as much the “beautiful butterfly” as we would like.
Each Spring, we feel the need to improve our weight and fitness before we can flutter confidently in the sunshine. Or even wear shorts….
(I don’t mean to suggest that anyone needs to be a certain size. It’s up to each individual and their medical advisors to decide what’s best for them.)
For myself, the main goal is to be fit enough to do any hike I’m interested in without a struggle.
Also, I want to buy clothes when I need something new, not because I’ve outgrown my current size.
Fortunately, it’s pretty easy to lose weight hiking and get more fit at the same time!
Why Hiking Is A Great Way to Get In Shape
The great thing about hiking is that pretty much anyone can do it, it doesn’t cost a lot of money, and it gets you outdoors. Continue reading Lose Weight and Get Fit for Epic Hikes – Easy Training Plan
Most recently updated September 21st, 2022
Lake Crabtree County Park is arguably the best in-town alternative to a trip to the beach for a quick fix of sand and time on the water.
In my opinion, any park where you can take your kids to paddle or even just watch the sun on the water is a big bonus – especially when you don’t have to drive more than 15-20 minutes to get there.
While Bond Lake and Symphony Lake are also centrally located, they don’t have nearly the size or water access afforded by Lake Crabtree.
I grew up on a large natural lake in Minnesota, with sailboats in the summer and snowmobiles, skis and ice-fishing in the winter.
So lakes make me feel good – and I logged a lot of hours on the Open Play field on the shore of Lake Crabtree when my daughter was little.
These days I spend more time hiking the 6 mile Lake Trail loop than flying kites. But you could do both!
Located in a forested area between Cary, Morrisville, and Raleigh-Durham International Airport, Lake Crabtree County Park offers visitors a 520-acre flood-control lake adjacent to a 215-acre wooded site, with 16-plus miles of trails, picnic areas that are perfect for outdoor games, boating, geocaching and catch-and-release fishing.
Continue reading Explore Lake Crabtree County Park – Sail, Fish, Bike, or Hike
Most recently updated December 6th, 2023
Are you looking for gifts for hikers or other outdoors types, but don’t have the cash to spring for pricey gear and gadgets?
And maybe you waited a little too long to brainstorm something creative and epic?
Don’t worry – sometimes the gifts they’ll really appreciate are the simpler, less expensive things. Practical gifts are easy to find when you’re short on time, too.
I’ve made a short list of ten practical hiking gifts or inexpensive cool gadgets for hiking that would be welcome gifts for the outdoorsy people on your list.
Give one, or select a few to make a hiking gift basket! Continue reading 10 Best Gifts For Hikers Under $50 – Last Minute Gift Ideas
Most recently updated June 9th, 2022
It’s been more than a year since I returned from hiking in Patagonia, spending a week on the W trek in Torres del Paine National Park.
I wrote a very short “I’m baack!” kind of post right after the trip, but now I’m finally getting around to sharing more details.
Frankly, this is partly just an excuse to post more amazing Patagonia photos!
Be warned, this is an extremely long post, but it’s jam-packed full of useful information:
This is all really good info for you if you’re thinking about a similar trip. Anyway….about the place:
Patagonia, Chile is at the southernmost tip of South America, very close to Antarctica. Torres del Paine National Park is located on the eastern edge of the continent.
It’s a place of spectacular beauty, with dark jagged snow-topped mountains, turquoise glacier-fed lakes and rivers, and abundant wildlife. Continue reading Hiking in Patagonia – The W Trek in Torres del Paine
Most recently updated January 16th, 2022
A couple of weeks ago, when I was searching for outdoor activities for kids, I saw an event posting for a Fossil Dig at the Prairie Ridge Ecostation.
My initial thought was, “Fossils? Digging? I must go!” 🙂
But first I had to find out more about the Prairie Ridge park.
I learned that the Prairie Ridge Ecostation is the west Raleigh branch of the NC Museum of Natural Sciences. The main branch of the Museum was created in 1879, when the State’s agricultural and geological collections were merged.
It’s the largest institution of its kind in the South East and the most visited museum in North Carolina.
The main branch is located in downtown Raleigh and there is a third branch in Whiteville (Columbus County, NC).
The Prairie Ridge Ecostation , located off of Reedy Creek Road in Raleigh, offers outdoor experiences and learning for kids and adults year-round, and charges no admission. Continue reading Prairie Ridge EcoStation – Easy Family Hikes, Fossils and Fun!
