The fall colours are in full glory and so it is a great time to head out for a walkabout in the city. Garrison Woods is a neat community with lots of cut-though pathways; designed with the pedestrian and cyclist in mind. And at Halloween the residents have to remortgage their homes to buy enough candy for all the kids that roam the streets. You can follow the walk in my guidebook, route 23!
My CTV Walking Wednesday walkabout was in Fish Creek Park, Bow Valley Ranch, SE on September 2, 2015. Just the perfect park to slow the pace, recharge the batteries with fresh air, exercise and a good cup of coffee! Watch the CTV Segment.
I have lots of book events this fall. Check the calendar and drop by and say hi!
Take a fall walkabout in Glenbow Ranch Provincial Park. Situated along the Bow River between Calgary and Cochrane, this park is the perfect spot to stoll, have a picnic or watch the trains roll by.
Take a watch of my CTV Walk Wednesday Segment from August 26.
Presentation at the Ranch
And join me at Glenbow Ranch on September 22, 2015 at 7 pm for a slide show presentation about Calgary’s Best Walks! Contact the Glenbow Ranch Park Foundation to register, www.grpf.ca
For a more urban walkabout, try out my books Bankview, Scarboro, Connaught, Mount Royal route. Beautiful homes and gardens, and tree lined streets make up Mount Royal. Head into Bankview and walk through pocket parks, along hilly streets with quirky, varied homes . Finish off the walk along 17 Avenue for a cup of coffee or lunch or a bit of shopping. Or, just grab a comfy bench and enjoy some people watching! Here is the CTV segment on this walk
Take a walk through Bowmont Park! Great hill training, fantastic mountain and Bow river rivers and a wonderful boardwalk trail through waterfall valley. Watch my CTV segment from August 12.
Join me on an urban walkabout through one of the cities best walking areas: Sunnyside, Kensington and McHugh Bluffs. My books route starts in Riley Park and travels along Sunnysides side-streets, up McHugh Bluffs for phenomenal vies of the downtown core, the Bow River and the Rockies. Bring the kids and the dogs and enjoy this urban gem! Watch my August 5, 2015 CTV segment here.
I featured the Weaslehead wilderness area for my Walking Wednesday segment on CTV Morning today. A walkabout on the Weaslehead trails in like hitting the recharge button for your brain!
And just in case you need a reminder about why we need a nature fix once in a while, a nice walk in the woods, here you go:
Why a walk in the woods feels so good
There is no Wi-Fi in the forest, but trust me, you will find a better connection. Walking in the woods offers a break from distractions. In Japan they call it shinrin-yoku, or “forest bathing.” We call it a walk in the
woods, and we know that it makes us feel good.
Scientists have studied the physical and mental benefits that come from a walk in nature. Many theories suggest various reasons why nature feels good: clean air, lack of noise pollution, and even the fine mist
that comes off the trees, that fresh evergreen smell that makes us breathe deeply through our noses. But the most convincing argument for the peace we feel in nature is that the flowers and the birds never
aggressively grab our attention. The voluntary attention we pay them is very different from the attention we are forced to pay to a car horn honking, for example.
Going for a walk in the park allows your mind to wander, which benefits your brain. Throughout the day, we are required to use voluntary attention repeatedly for cognitive tasks, like responding to texts and
e-mail, or remembering our shopping list. Our brain grows tired and inefficient without a break. Going for a walk in the park or a quiet place without distractions gives voluntary attention a break, lets your mind
wander, and allows you to be involuntarily engaged by your surroundings.
The other benefits of walking in nature are the fresh smells, the clean air, and being surrounded by earthy hues. All of these factors contribute to why a walk in the woods makes you feel good.
My hunch, based on anecdotal on-the-trail research, is that the break from distractions plays a pivotal role in making the woodsy walker feel refreshed. Focusing on walking, one foot in front of the other, is therapeutic. Left, right, left, right. And don’t forget to turn off that cell phone.
CTV Walking Wednesday: The Weaselhead: http://fw.to/KfdQsGJ
On my CTV Walking Wednesday segment last week we talked about the great walking around Sandy Beach, and the communities of Riverdale, Britannia and Elbow Park. Fantastic homes and gardens, the popular River Park off leash and a doggie beach below! A hidden stairway in Elbow Park leads to a slope-side trail that is lined in Saskatoon shrubs. The Saskatoons are ripe along the escarpments right now so plan a grazing trek.
I featured the Douglas Fir Trail and Wildwood on my CTV Morning segment today. Wanna sweat? Check it out!
Hidden amongst the most easterly stand of Douglas fir trees that tower above the Bow River is the Douglas Fir Trail. Stairs, bridges, creeks, and narrow winding paths dip and climb 60 m from the river valley to the lookout point. A fantastic trail for physical training, it is also a shaded wilderness oasis in the height of the summer. Trees, some more than 2 m in diameter, and multitudes of western Canada violets line the trail. Descend to the marsh trail along the railway and listen for the chorus of frogs. Move slowly in an attempt to sneak a peek before they stop croaking and dive for cover. At dusk, tip you head back and watch for the great horned owls on this same open flat stretch of the trail. These magnificent birds fly low over the open areas near the railway tracks when the natural light fades.
The City of Calgary has the trail closed at times as they repair the bridges that were damaged during the flood of 2013. Underground springs caused some bridges to tip and the trail to slide in places. While it is still passable, you may find the trail closed on occasion.
You can choose to navigate along the alternate route through Wildwood and observe the magnificent homes perched on the escarpment. Travel off the beaten path through green-space trails tucked behind homes to reconnect with the Douglas Fir Trail and the Bow River Pathway below.
Cross the Bow River on the pedestrian underpass under Crowchild Trail or stay on the south side pathway and follow the Bow River Pathway west. Keep your wallet ready for an ice-cream stop or a hot drink on a cold day. A few tasty eateries are en route on the north side and Angel’s Cafe is at the north side parking lot. This wonderful wild walkabout has a very civilized café ending.
Find the CTV segment here: http://ow.ly/OKfIO
