Pinnacles National Park: Dramatic rock formations, varied trails, and a landscape that feels nothing like the rest of the region. Plan a half-day and bring plenty of water.
Harvey Bear Ranch: Open grassland, oak-covered hills, real climb. A favorite when we want to feel like we ' ve earned it. There is also a two-mile, flat-paved loop at the base of the hill. Plenty of parking.
Carmel Downtown & Carmel Beach: Walk the village, stick your toes in the sand, and let the afternoon slow all the way down. Some walks aren ' t about miles, they’ re about adventure! Plan an entire day here. Eat, drink, relax, and get some steps in for fun.
Twin Lakes Beach, Santa Cruz: When you are in need of instant grounding, there is no better place. Time stops and the day lasts forever.
Downtown Los Gatos: Charming streets and easy walking. Two or three miles go by while you enjoy yourself shopping boutique establishments and strolling the town square and farmer’ s market.
Our walks range anywhere from 3 to 5 miles. Weekdays we tend to keep it local and manageable; weekends are when we ' ll load up and head somewhere new. But a consistent 3-mile neighborhood loop, walked regularly, adds up to far more than steps.
If You ' re Just Getting Started
Don ' t overcomplicate it. Walk out your front door, go five or ten minutes in one direction, turn around, come back. That ' s day one, and day one is what everything else is built on.
From there, add time before you add distance. Build up to 20 minutes, then 30. Now, start to add distance gradually. A 10-20 percent weekly increase in distance is a geat goal. As you increase distance, your body will adapt— it just appreciates not being rushed about it. Within a few weeks you ' ll have a route you recognize and you ' ll be logging miles! Before long, you ' ll have a habit you ' d miss if you skipped a day.
Want to change things up evey now and then? Contact the San Martin Animal Services Center / 408-686-3900. Sign up to walk sheltered dogs. You ' ll make their day, and they ' ll make yours!
A few things we ' ve picked up along the way:
1. Pay attention to your shoes. If your feet, knees, or lower back are unhappy, your shoes are usually the first thing to look at. Try a different pair before assuming something is wrong. And of course, don ' t hesitate to check in with your doctor if something persists. Remember, you ' re walking to improve health, not degrade it!
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