Get To Walking!

Walking is not just about getting on the treadmill, putting on your iPod and struggling through 30 to 60 minutes of walking in the same place, looking at the same things you have done for the past few months.  Firing up your imagination means you can find plenty of places other than on the treadmill or in the neighborhood park, to get in 30 minutes of walking to help you stay fit. Besides, a change of scenery may do you good.

Here are some places you may have never thoughts about to get your next walk in:

• Museum. Stroll through the galleries for plenty of visual stimulation. Here’s a plan: pass first through all the galleries and climb the steps or walk for a half-hour, then go back and revisit the art that caught your attention the first time through.

• Ballpark. Take in America’s pastime, but get out of your seat at the baseball game and walk around the stadium. Big-league stadiums are plenty large for a good, brisk walk, and many minor-league parks aren’t so small. Do the same during the colder months for football and in indoor arenas during hockey and basketball seasons.

• Zoo. Roar into a walk as you stroll by lions, tigers, and bears. Walk around the perimeter paths for 30 minutes, and then zig-zag through the zoo.

• Waterfront. What a more serene place to walk that the boardwalk at the ocean, a serene lakefront or meandering river.

• Animal shelter. Volunteer at your local animal shelter and get plenty of exercise walking and washing the dogs, and helping clean out their kennels.

• Trail. Go hiking in the woods or a wildlife preserve near your house. Possibly you could find a state or national park where different terrains will test your endurance.

• Main Street. When was the last time you were on Main Street in your town or city? Bet it’s been a long time. Find out what new shops or restaurants have opened since your last visit. You can surely get in 30 minutes of steady walking from one end of the street to the other, then back along the other side.

• Botanical garden. Find a gorgeous, serene botanical garden in your area. Walking through the quietness while admiring the flowers, shrubs and trees isn’t the only benefit; you’ll also do wonders clearing the cobwebs out of your head.  We have Duke Gardens nearby to us, and let me tell you, it is miles and miles in circumference. 

• Orchard. Plan an outing to a pick-your-own fruit orchard. Instead of taking the wagon ride to the trees, opt to walk.

• Golf Courses. The average walking distance for 18 holes of golf is approximately five miles, and burns approximately 420 calories without carrying clubs. Playing 2 ½ rounds of golf per week significantly improves aerobic performance and favorably affects fat reduction. Even if you don’t golf, offer to caddy.

• College campus. Most universities provide miles of walking paths, acres of rolling terrain and panoramic views. Don’t forget to stop by the stadium for a stroll or sprint on the rubberized track and for a few laps up and down the stairs.

• Bridge. You’ll get scenic views as well as subtle inclines that will give you a good workout. Warm up slowly with about five minutes of easy walking before you speed it up for the long haul. Of course, watch out for the traffic.

Excellent places that you mention. All of which most people will have near them too. We have an annual pass to the zoo near us. Somedays we walk it, some days we rent a 4 man pedal cart. It’s a bike for 4 and it’s a complete blast.

You can do your body and your city even more good if you help clean up a stretch of highway, park, etc.  You will get in plenty of walking and make your city even prettier!

All was good until I read Bridge....I would fall over the side

Now that the kidlet has the hang of ridinghis bike we will be hitting up the park near us.  Its 1 3/4 mile track and sooner or later I’ll break out the roller blades.