Another perk of the pandemic is that I’ve found new and beautiful places to walk locally. It’s amazing how many places are available to us that we usually don’t take advantage of in the hustle and bustle of daily life. The Governor recently mentioned that everyone in Connecticut lives 15 minutes from a state park. That’s pretty spectacular. We sure do have a beautiful state filled with beautiful walks.

Here are some of the locations I would recommend for beautiful walks. Please feel free to add to them in the comments.

List of Beautiful Walks

My New FAVORITE: Dividend Park, Rocky Hill

This place has a little bit of everything: scenic views, unique landscapes, and history. You’ll find a waterfall, a couple nice ponds, some historic ruins, and in the center of it all are these random sand dunes. Most of the trail is pretty easy, to get to the sand dunes is a bit up, but you can also skip that part. There are also a number of trees beavers have felled and that is just cool to see.

My Old Favorite: Old Wethersfield, Wethersfield

I’ll never tire of walking around my neighborhood. I know I am beyond lucky to live in the largest historic distract in the state. You can walk the town green, Main Street to the Cove (the Creamery is even open if you are comfortable with that), or stroll down some of the side streets like Garden or Hartford Ave. Every street you take will offer different historic houses. It’s easy to make a 1 mile, 3 mile or 5 mile loop/in and out. There is also a wide gravel trail through cove park so you can walk from Hartford Ave to the cove Parking lot and do a little loop if you park almost anywhere on Main Street.

Scenic Farmland: Longo Farm Outer Loop, Glastonbury

When you start your stroll, you are surrounded by grassy fields and great views. It’s just lovely. The trail markings are a little hard to follow, but you really can’t get lost. If you take the wrong path you wind up slightly out of the way in someone’s backyard and you turn back. The hike it pretty easy all the way around. Bring your phone and you’ll always know where you are. You can use an app like All Trails.

Stepping Back to My Childhood: Harkness State Park, Waterford

This isn’t a long loop, but you can walk the parameter of the grounds a few times for a reasonably flat stroll. It was also pretty wide so had enough room if it got a little crowded. You can also walk back and forth on the beach or finish you walk with a stroll on the beach. It’s not a long stretch of beach, but it is still lovely. And there is nothing quite as wonderful as the sea and salty air.

The Biggest: Bear Mountain, Salisbury

Believe it or not I’d never hiked the tallest peak in Connecticut. It was a lovely hike and not too challenging (although I’m never sure I’m the best at rating hikes because I really enjoy it when they go up, up, up). But almost better than the hike (and this is saying something) was the drive out to Salisbury. It was just so lovely. It was a great way to spend an afternoon. The full hike is a 6 mile loop. Somehow I’d goofed and brought us to the wrong trailhead, which if you can find it actually give you easier access to the peak (never what I’m looking for).

Enjoy walking. It is without a doubt one of the best things you can do for your health!  And we are so lucky to have so many beautiful walks in Connecticut.  Take advantage.

Keep Reading

When you take a walk making sure your butt does a lot of the work is important.  This blog has some tips on how to engage your glute muscles.

And on a different note for a healthy spine and pelvic floor, you may want to consider wagging your tailbone.

Balance plays a role in healthy walking.  So here are some tips to help you balance.

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