Great
Walks
written,
compiled and/or edited by Gene Taylor
Since beginning the Walking Connection in 1989,
Jo Ann and I have had numerous opportunities to walk in some
of the greatest places in the world. Here are articles about
those walks along with directions on how to get each place.
This page is mostly all text. If you would like to see pictures
from many of these places, please visit our Travel
Photo Galleries.
Sequoia National Park
Posted By Lisa Siegel on April 21, 2000
There is a trail in California within the
bounds of a national park. It is a long trail of over eleven
miles that follows a ridgeline until the very end where you
are asked to climb over 2,000 feet in less than a mile. The
only sounds that you will hear are the occasional trickle of
water as it flows down the rock face, and your own breathing
as you put one foot after another after another. Of course if
you stay too quiet then you may stumble across a foraging black
bear. If you're lucky then he will continue looking for juicy
berries instead of juicy humans.
As you continue to walk you will soon realize
that you are walking deeper and depper into a canyon. You will
also soon realize that the water that carved out this canyon
is so far down that you can't hear it. But even if you can't
hear it, you are still grateful to it for having made such a
masterpiece. Of course after a while you wonder if brown is
the only color in this world, dirt the only surface, and whether
there are any trees to protect you from the unrelenting sun.
As the trail winds on you find yourself becoming
more and more thankful for the little things, like the cool
sack of water that has been gently bumping itself against your
hip. You also become grateful for the National Park Service
which has limited access to this trail so that you can enjoy
it in solitude, because do you really want to be seen when you're
this dusty? So why would you want to walk this lonely stretch
of our national park system? Because not only does it lead to
over eighty miles of trails that culminate in Mt.Whitney
the highest point in the Continental U.S., but it also leads
to the Bearpaw Meadow Campground. This campground is
like an oasis in this part of the Sierra Nevada offering gourmet
meals, solar heated showers, and actual mattresses to sleep
on and blankets to sleep under. Wonderful luxuries to have in
the middle of the backcountry! And you get to share this hotel
with other residents of the rock: marmots! But search as you
might you will probably not see a bear or his pawprint.
There are no televisions or telephones in this
oasis, but there is camaraderie around a campfire as you watch
the sun set against the canyon wall. Who knew there were so
many colors in the rainbow? If you'd like to enjoy this backcountry
oasis too then you need to reserve early, go to the Sequoia
National Park and follow the signs.
(Back to Table of Contents)
Crystal Christmas Tree
by Susan Lehr, Published
January 1, 2000
There are many times when nature hands you
a gift to enjoy. We had that experience on the recent Christmas
Spirit trip to Sundance, Utah. On Saturday morning, many
in the group took a walk on the nature trail close to the resort.
The night before we arrived, nature had blessed us with a light
covering of snow.
After passing the satellite dish that brought
the rest of the world to this remote canyon southeast of Salt
Lake City, and leaving the hum of the snow-making machines
preparing the slopes for the soon opening of the ski season,
we were in the crisp quiet of nature. The trail dissected
the side of a deep canyon giving us a view of the canyon and
stream below and the steep, snow-capped mountains above.
The crisp crunch of snow under our boots broke
the silence. At a wide spot on the path, we stopped
to create snow angels, brushing the snow from each other.
Branches of winter-bare trees wore coats of frozen dew.
Many of us spotted cat prints in the snow. Not kitty
cat prints, but mountain lion prints. Later in the
day, around the warm fireplace it was confirmed that others
had actually seen the mountain lion.
As we continued our walk, the walls of the
canyon became narrow. Soon the sound changed from
crisp silence to the rush of water. Over the rise, we
came upon a waterfall rising 10 stories above our heads.
The melting snow had given us a wealth of water cascading down
the rocky boundary of the canyon. Nature’s optimal temperature
gave us the flowing water freezing into crystal icicles that
draped each protruding rock formation creating boughs of a crystal
Christmas tree. The flowing water formed the glistening lights
as it sparkled in the morning sun. Plants and rocks decorated
each branch with nature’s ornaments.
Each and every person viewed in awe like a kid
experiencing Christmas for the first time. We all had
to have our picture taken in front of nature’s Christmas tree.
With our scarf-wrapped heads, mittened hands and rosy cheeks
we smiled the smiles brought on by the spirit of Christmas.
But then again, that’s what the trip was all about.
To get to this walk, first go to Robert
Redford’s Sundance Resort located in Utah’s Rocky Mountains
– the site of The Walking Connection’s 1999 Annual Christmas
Spirit Tour. The walk is to Steward Falls and the trailhead
is less than a few hundred feet from Country Music Star Juice
Newton’s front door. There is a huge Rock with "Nature Trail"
carved into it at the trailhead.
Editors Note: Susan Lehr has been a member
of the Walking Connection since August of 1995. She has traveled
the world with The Walking Connection and has been to places
such as Puerto Rico, China, Vancouver and Victoria, BC, Heli-hiking
in Alberta, Canada, Monterey, CA and Long Beach, CA. A highlight
for The Walking Connection is that Susan and her husband, Dan
got married on our annual Christmas Spirit Trip to Santa Fe,
NM in 1997! She is the Associate Editor of the Walking Connection
Newsletter and a regular contributor to this web site.
It is members like Susan who contribute to
The Walking Connection and make it what it is. If you get
involved by contributing an article, a link to your favorite
web site or tell us about your favorite walk, this site will
be even better!
(Back to Table of Contents)
Leave The “Crowds” Behind And Take A
Daylong GREAT WALK In San Francisco!, by
Gene Taylor, published 6/28/1998
To get to the beginning of this walk from Union
Square, walk one block up Powell to Stockton.
Turn right and walk for one block to Sutter and Stockton.
Catch the #45 bus from Stockton & Sutter. The ride will
take you through Chinatown almost to Fisherman’s Wharf,
but there it turns left up the hill where it leaves the
crowds behind. Stay on the bus to its terminus where
it will drop you within one block of “Liverpool Lil’s,” a quaint
little pub and restaurant with a long history in the City. If
you like, start with an early lunch here. It will do you good,
because by the end of this walk, you will be hungry again –
very hungry!
We began our walk at the Lombard entrance of the
Presidio, the army post that is now run by the National
Park Service. From the entrance we walked along Lincoln Blvd.
onto the Presidio, which is lined with high Eucalyptus trees,
green fields and army post buildings. This part of the Presidio
sits just below the Golden Gate Bridge so all during
the walk we caught views of the bridge from many different angles.
We followed the signs to the visitor’s center, which is definitely
worth a stop to learn the history of the post and get a map
of the area. From the visitors center we turned left, down the
hill toward the bay. The street goes under a bridge and when
we reached the bay we turned left toward the commissary. Once
past the building we saw lots of walkers, runners and bikers
on a path, and we followed their route. NOTE: For the
next 3 years this area will be changing from military base to
a bird sanctuary and natural habitat. The Visitors Center can
update you as to progress and any detours that may effect this
part of the walk.
(Back to Table of Contents)
Two Great Walks in Southern Arizona
Pima Canyon Trail and Catalina State Park, Tucson
Recently, Jo Ann and I were in Tucson for an employee
appreciation day walk at Tucson Heart Hospital. On the following
day, we had the Walking Connection Walk-Away Tour coming
to Tucson as well. So, we decided we would spend both days in
Tucson rather than drive down each day.
The hospital event ended around 10:30am. and
the weather was cool and quite breezy – a real plus during late
March in the Arizona desert. It was perfect for an afternoon
walk. We had learned of the Pima Canyon walk from a hospital
employee and it is quite close to central Tucson in the Catalina
Mountains. To get there from Phoenix drive south on I-10 and
take the Ina Road Exit. Take Ina east until you hit First Avenue.
From there turn left and take First Ave. to its end. There is
a paved parking and the trail head is on the east side of it.
The walk starts by traversing the foothills of
the Catalina Mountains. The first 1700 feet of the trail are
fenced in on both sides because it is across private land. However,
each side of the trail is lush in vegetation so you barely notice
the fencing. It takes about 15 minutes to reach the National
Forest Boundary and after you do the trail opens up on both
sides, but we recommend you stay on the trail.
The trail winds its way along the side of the
canyon, which has some dramatic rock formations and cliffs.
While we were there nearly every imaginable wildflower was in
bloom putting on one of the most awesome displays I have ever
seen. The hike goes up gradually for about the first forty minutes
and then drops down to a desert wash that was running
while we were there. We had to cross it at least six times,
but the large rocks made it easy. The path continues up and
down gentle slopes and in places is quite rocky. Use caution.
This is a popular trail in Tucson so the beginning
was rather crowed. However, the number of people we encountered
dropped dramatically after the first crossing of the water.
Because of time restraints, we were not able to take the trail
to its end, but in looking ahead, we saw that it continued to
follow the wash for a ways and then turned up the canyon wall
in a steep climb. We walked for one hour out and one back for
a total of two hours. If you walk this path in the summer, take
lots of water, a hat and sunscreen. There are no trees for shade.
(Back to Table of Contents)
A Day Walking Tucson
by Walking Connection Member, John Williams
Cathy and I just got home from a Walking Connection
trip to Tucson -- hiking in Catalina State Park, a walk
through part of Tohono Chul Park, and a brief tour of some historic
homes dating from turn-of-the century Tucson. A rainy
day this Sunday -- lots of cold heavy rain. Surprisingly, we
had a great time. We got home tired, hungry, dirty and
happy -- a good definition of a successful day. When finally
home, we really appreciated the value of some simple creature
comforts -- a hot shower, dry socks, a cold beer, and a big
bowl of chili all become the most wonderful things in the world!
But the trip, even with the cold rain, was spectacular.
The Catalina State Park hike started by
crossing (barefoot) a small stream -- only 40 to 50 yards wide
and only calf deep but there was snow on the nearby slopes and
the water felt like snow melt. It produced an instant
aching cold, but we had been warned, and had brought extra socks
and small towels to dry off on the other side. Had a nice
hike and though the sky was gray with low clouds, it was not
yet raining and the nearby mountains with their snow were beautiful.
By the time we got to Tohono Chul Park,
it was raining but Tohono Chul has been described as a jewel
of the desert and it is. Even in the rain the spring flowers
and trails of this lovely park were wonderful. We had
lunch there -- in the West House TeaRoom near the Hummingbird
Garden.
The afternoon walking tour of historic Tucson
was hampered by the rain and turned into a driving (bus) tour,
guided and narrated by Tucson Walking Connection member Judy
Dare. With 40 minutes of free time available, some of
us found a Coffee Plantation for muffin and coffee rejuvenation
and then it was back to Phoenix.
All in all a great day and a surprising and beautiful
introduction to places we plan to revisit. The day was
also a good reminder that to really appreciate and enjoy being
warm and dry, you must occasionally go out and get cold and
wet. The zest of contrast is truly wonderful.
Editors Note: To get to Catalina State
Park from Phoenix, take I-10 west and exit Tangerine Rd.
Tangerine intersects I-10 quite a bit north of Tucson. Drive
east on Tangerine to its conclusion at Oracle Rd. (SR-77) Turn
right on Oracle toward Tucson, the park is located on the left
side a few miles down the road.
To get to Tohono Chul Park, drive south
on Oracle Rd. toward Tucson. Turn right on Ina Road. After a
few short blocks, turn right on Paseo del Norte. Tohono Chul
is directly on your right.
(Back to Table of Contents)
Oak Creek Canyon -- An Arizona
Getaway!, by Gene Taylor
Of all the places we've been, Sedona and Oak Creek Canyon
remain one of our favorite places to visit. Recently, we found
a great walk and cozy place to stay in Oak Creek Canyon.
First the walk. Sterling Pass, Trail #46 is located
in the middle of Oak Creek Canyon. To get there from the valley,
drive to Sedona and take 89A into the Canyon. Drive 6.2 miles
to mile post #380.4 just below Slide Rock Lodge. The trail
head is located on 89A and is exactly 400’ south of the Lodge
on the west side of the road. (If you stay at the Lodge or The
Canyon Wren Cabins for Two, park there. If not, turn around
there and look for the closest place to park on the road near
them.)
The beginning of the trail is smooth but uphill.
It then levels out to a gradual uphill walk through a beautiful
canyon and pine forest. Be sure and look straight up at the
beautiful canyon walls. If you have ever walked the Westfork
trail, you'll love this one. Beautiful shear red rock cliffs
and overhangs. The trail becomes increasingly steeper and difficult
as you near the end of the canyon. It then switches back up
the side of the canyon to a saddle. The views along the way
are awesome and because of trees, they are better along the
way than at the top. We walked it in mid- November, but this
walk would also make a great winter or spring hike. For beginners,
the trail is well marked and smooth while it winds its way through
the forest. Regular walking shoes will suffice. You will want
to stop and turn around when the trail starts up the side of
the canyon.
For advanced hikers, continue on. The switch backs
take you up 1000’ and will provide more of a challenge. They
are steep in places as you ascend the canyon walls. Boots are
a must. Also, the trail continues on past the saddle and meets
with two other trails that will allow you to lengthen your walk
considerably.
Where to stay. Jo Ann and I take pride
in finding not only great walks that are “off the beaten path,”
we also love to find great places to stay while we're getting
away from it all. The Canyon Wren Cabins for Two is one of those
great places. They are located adjacent to The Slide Rock Lodge.
In fact, the proprietors Milena and Mike, use to be owners of
that lodge too, but have “downsized” their lives to running
just these four cozy cottages. The front cabin is a single story
log cabin. The other three have two floors and identical floor
plans. Each has a kitchenette with all the utensils, etc., a
wood burning fireplace in the living room, and a two person
whirlpool bathtub. The bedroom is a hanging loft that allows
you to look over the living room area and fireplace.
Milena and Mike will have great muffins, fruit,
juice and coffee for you in the morning before your hike. (The
banana nut muffin toppers are the best). There are no telephones
or television, but unless you go there alone or get in an argument
on the drive up, you shouldn't miss them. This is the
place to get away from almost everything. Including cigarette
smoke. Canyon Wren is a no smoking “inside or out” facility.
Access to Oak Creek is just across the street and the Junipine
Resort Restaurant is within a mile or two just up the road.
Value at Canyon Wren is high, but the rates
are not. $140 for two people, year round in the two story
Morning Glory, Sycamore and Wild Rose Cabins; $125 for the Honeysuckle
Cabin. The best part is that if you are a Walking Connection
member and provide them with your valid membership number, they
will give you a 10% Discount on your stay. (Some restrictions
will apply.)
Reservations can be made by calling Milena or
Mike at 800-437-9736.
(Back to Table of Contents)
A Guided Walk Through Golden Gate Park San Francisco,
California USA, by Gene Taylor
Earlier this September, a dozen guests joined
Jo Ann and me on our first Walking Weekend to San Francisco.
What an adventure! The first afternoon began with an orientation
walk through Union Square and on to China Town for some
of the group while others chose to tour and walk "the rock"
- Alcatraz.
Though we had always planned to walk through Golden
Gate Park, Jo Ann I decided to do some additional research
to locate a local San Franciscan walking guide who could show
us unique sites and teach us about the park. As it turned out,
the guide we found, Yolanda Solorio was as bright, warm and
sunny as the weather we had that morning. She lead us on a great
walk through some of the most interesting sites, up Strawberry
Hill and around Huntington Falls. If you are fortunate
enough to visit this beautiful city and park, you too can do
this great walk.
Yolanda is a volunteer guide with the Friends
of Recreation & Parks in San Francisco. The organization
conducts regular free group walks through various part of the
park. The walks are scheduled everyday, May through October.
To get their regular schedule, call (415-221-1311).
To do this walk, first get a map of Golden Gate
Park. The walk begins in front of the world famous Japanese
Tea Garden. Walk toward the Arboretum and turn right. Take
the first right which is a path that leads up Strawberry Hill.
The rocks along this path were especially crafted by the Parks’
architect so they would fit the landscape perfectly. The trail
will lead you to a road way that run along the north side of
Stow lake. Walk along the sidewalk to the roman arch bridge
which will be on your left. Cross the bridge and walk along
the path until you reach the top of strawberry Hill. The views
of San Francisco and the bay are wonderful from this vantage
point. When you leave the top, take the steep staircase along
the side of Huntington Falls.
The stairs can be slippery so watch your step.
Be sure and stop along the way to look back and appreciate the
falls. When you get to the bottom of the falls take a moment
and walk over to the Thaipai Bogota which is a beautiful
pavilion given to the city from China. As you leave the pagoda,
head back toward the Roman Arch Bridge and walk to the
Stow Lake Boat House. It is a great place to watch people,
view the lake, get a cup of coffee or hot chocolate and use
the bathroom. As you leave the boat house take the northern
most road that goes down hill. You will see a giant Statue and
log cabin that honors California's Pioneer Women. This is a
great area for a picnic. From there, turn left and cross the
main road through the park. Turn right and as you walk along,
you will see the new Rose Garden which is quite beautiful.
From the garden you can look back across the main
road and see the back of the de Young Museum which is next to
the Tea House where you started. Cross the road and take the
path that leads along the back of the museum. Total time of
walk at a casual pace: 30 minutes. The guided tour takes 90
minutes.
Golden Gate Park is one of Jo Ann's and my favorite
city parks. It is a hub of activity on weekend mornings. While
there we saw large groups of people doing tai chi, the Leukemia
Society's San Francisco Team in Training walk team doing a training
walk for the Honolulu Marathon, another race walking club out
on a group walk and a huge running club doing a group training
session. Bicyclists and roller bladers were everywhere and there
were numerous pick up football, volleyball and softball games
going on. Even on the busiest days Golden Gate Park also offers
many quiet walking trails through the forests and plenty of
places for quiet reflection such as the lakes, ponds, pagodas,
windmills, tea garden and waterfalls. There are many great places
for family picnics.
Golden Gate Park is only one of the super city
parks Jo Ann and I have walked in this year. Lincoln, Grant
and Lake Shore Parks in Chicago, and Stanley Park in Vancouver,
B.C. are also great city parks to walk in. If you are interested
in learning more about the Walking Connection's travels to San
Francisco, click
here.
(Back to Table of Contents)
The Great Wall Walk & Exploring China
by Gene Taylor
China is a great place to walk. Before going there,
I had so many different images of this seemingly familiar, yet
mysterious country. Like most people, I had seen lots of pictures
of the Great Wall, but I could not imagine what would it be
like to actually walk on it. I had seen the movie The Last Emperor,
which was filmed in the Forbidden City, but I was not prepared
for the visual immensity of the palace. I remember watching
the newscasts of the student uprising in Tiannanmen Square,
with it's familiar mural of Mao Tse Tung – but there was nothing
that could have prepared me for the shear size of it or the
number of people who were there on a sunny and warm Sunday afternoon.
There were no army tanks, just hundreds of thousands of people
walking, talking and enjoying the day. When I was growing up,
I remember seeing television pictures of everyone in the China
wearing the drab communist uniform. Not any more. The people
and the country are now dressed and decorated in every color
imaginable.
Though we did walk on the Great Wall, through
the Forbidden City, the Summer Palace, The Ming Tombs and many
other important buildings and beautiful Chinese gardens, my
favorite walks were those that took us into the heart of life
in China, the neighborhoods where people live and work.
In Beijing, we walked from our hotel to Tiannanmen
Square, a two mile walk at the most. On the way we stopped by
a Catholic Church that was just finishing mass. Next, we visited
a post office, which is where our guide gave us our first lesson
about Yuan, the Chinese currency. Next, we walked along a crowded
street and into a brand new Chinese department store. From there
we walked along rows of tens of thousands of parked bicycles
until we reached the Square. Though this was only our first
full morning in China, one of our guests commented that we had
already seen and experienced more of Chinese life by foot than
other tourists would ever see traveling by bus. Later in Beijing,
we would explore a local shopping district packed with street
vendors and shoppers. We would walk through a seemingly deserted
neighborhood (rare for any city in China) until we reached the
“street of antiques.” Our Chinese guide has been escorting tours
for the last fourteen years and ours was the first ever to walk
through these neighborhoods.
In the small township of Suzhou (pronounced “sue-joe”)
our experience was completely different. Less crowded than Beijing,
we were able to see life in China even closer. Known as the
"Venice of China," we walked along numerous canals and narrow
alleyways. The locals would come out of their homes to see us
and exchange a friendly wave or smile. Most had never seen a
western face before, and none had ever seen people who looked
like us in their neighborhood. Some people in our group brought
small toys or stickers to give to the children which, they were
quick to accept. In the true nature of exploration, we got lost
more than once. Yet everyone who lived in the neighborhoods
or worked in the small street markets were quick to help us
find our way. We walked through several Bonsai Gardens with
that were truly works of art -- some with trees 600 years old.
Wuxi (pronounced “Woo-shee”) also provided us
with two different types of great walks. One along the Grand
Canal, where we were met by a Chinese television news crew and
filmed for their evening news, and the other in the countryside
walking through a rice field where we received an invitation
to visit and tour several of the local farmers
homes. We also visited another home where the elder women were
performing a Buddhist ceremony in honor of a deceased family
member. We were invited in to watch and through our interpreter,
learn about the ceremony.
Shanghai offered us yet another different, but
great walk – the Bund. Shanghai is China's largest city and
the 4th most populated city in the world. The Bund is in the
British Quarter along Shanghai Harbor. The walk along it is
filled with street vendors, tourists, and wonderful views of
magnificent European style architecture. In places, it reminded
me more of Chicago or New York City than Shanghai.
China is amazing in its diversity of culture,
environment and history. The people of each city, township,
commune and neighborhood we visited were incredibly knowledgeable,
helpful and friendly. We spent fifteen consecutive days on one
continuous great walk. The impression it left on us was so profound,
we are returning again this October for our third walking tour
of China. Plus, new for this year, we have added Huangshan (Yellow
Mountain) to our itinerary. It is one of China's most important
and beautiful mountains and we will spend one night at the base,
and one night at the top.
It is predicted that in the next ten years, China
will become the most popular tourist destination in the world.
Through our experiences there, I can tell you there is only
one way to see this wonderful country -- by foot!
(Back to Table of Contents)
Crater Lake, Flagstaff, Arizona A Great
Walk, Close To My Home! by Gene Taylor
The more I travel, the larger the Earth seems
to get. Jo Ann and I are very fortunate to be able to travel
quite a bit and walk in some fascinating places. During the
last twelve months we have walked the Great Wall of China, the
beaches of Mexico, through downtown Seattle, Santa Fe, Chicago,
New York City, San Antonio, San Francisco (twice), Shanghai,
Beijing, Sedona, Vancouver and Victoria BC, the San Juan Islands,
Lake Tahoe, and in the Canadian Rocky, Bugaboo and Selkirk mountains.
Each walk provided a new and exciting experience and was far
different than our usual walks around the block at home. And
even though it is always exciting to explore and walk in new
and faraway places, sometimes the best walks can be found in
places close to home. Crater Lake just northwest of Flagstaff
is one of those places.
To take this walk, drive to Flagstaff and turn
left on SR180. Drive north toward the Grand Canyon for approximately
18 miles until you reach milepost 234. Take the first left-hand
turn on Forest Service Road 760. Follow it for about 2 miles
until you reach Forest Service Road 9009D on your left. Park
here. The walk begins along 9009D that is in a pine forest that
is currently being thinned out. It doesn't make for a great
start, but after the first ½ mile, the pine forest returns
to its natural unspoiled beauty. Because the walk is along this
old forest service road that is not suitable for vehicles, it
is an easy walk. As you wind your way through the forest there
will be off shoot paths and roads, but the main path is quite
easy to follow. After about a mile walk, you will reach the
trail head that is not marked. This is an advantage because
it keeps foot traffic on this path to a minimum.
The road really narrows and you will reach a definitive
Y in the road. On the right hand side, you will see a badly
deteriorated sign that says “Official Notice.” (Whatever the
Official Notice was, it is long worn off this sign.) At the
Y, bear right and begin a 200’ ascent up the hill. Along the
way there are great views of the valley below and the surrounding
mountains of which Mt. Kendrick dominates. At the top you will
reach a fence and a maze type gate. Proceed through the gate
and walk straight for a few hundred feet. Crater Lake is the
small pond on your left. There is a grassy meadow that is a
beautiful spot to relax, enjoy a picnic and take in the pine
and aspen forest.
Jo Ann and I walked to Crater Lake in the middle
of August and the water level was low, full of flowers, lilies
and birds. We did not see any other people on this short but
beautiful great walk. We hope you will find time before winter
sets in to visit Crater Lake.
Special Note: Though I would like to take
credit for being the first to discover this great walk, I must
give credit to Dick and Sherry Mangum, authors of the book “Flagstaff
Hikes.” In my opinion, Dick and Sherry have written the best
books on hiking in Flagstaff and Sedona. They are precise in
their information so you can learn about the hike in advance
and enjoy your hike without having to search all over for the
trail head. More specific details on The Crater Lake can be
found on page 62 in their 3rd Edition of Flagstaff Hikes.
(Back to Table of Contents)
Great
City Walks!, by Gene Taylor
Chicago & New York, USA
During the past several years, Jo Ann and I have
had opportunities to walk in some truly amazing places. We have
walked through pic-turesque country sides, across snow-capped
mountains and through virgin rain forests. But some of our most
enjoyable and memorable walks were in large cities. New York
and Chicago offer exceptional opportunities for walking that
we think you would enjoy.
Chicago
During the autumn, the Windy City is a wonderful
place to walk and people watch. We stayed in a hotel on Michigan
Avenue that is located in the heart of downtown. Our first day
there, we walked from downtown toward Navy Pier. There
is a wide walkway that is bordered on one side by Lake Michigan
and Grant Park on the other. You can walk south for about 3
miles and end at the Alder Planetarium and Shedd Aquarium.
We turned around there and made our way back to Navy Pier, which
is a large pier that is converted into a combination amusement
park and shopping center. Our timing was just right to end our
walk. It turns out that most of the actors who are in the television
show Chicago Hope were filming a scene on the Pier so we got
to watch for a while.
The next day, we headed in the opposite direction
and walked to Lincoln Park and the Zoo. We walked north through
downtown and as we entered the park, we passed a dog lovers
club. There were about 50 people gathered with their dogs enjoying
the sunny day. Like Grant Park, this park is huge and borders
Lake Michigan. There are many historic statues and athletic
fields, a sculling pond and numerous basketball courts. In addition
to the Zoo, the Lincoln Park Observatory and Chicago Academy
of Science are also located here. We walked through the park
until we reached the Lake. From there we continued north along
a pre-measured "Jogging Path."
You could spend the entire day walking around
the park and we did! We estimate our entire walk was about 11
- 12 miles total. As we headed back to the hotel, we found ourselves
walking along a street which is lined with turn of the century
mansions and historic homes. I didn't note the name of the street,
but during our 4-night stay, we walked in several more great
places around the city and I didn't make a note of them either.
Because there is still a lot more to see, we look forward to
our next visit to the Windy City.
New York
Jo Ann and I are originally from Upstate New York.
We moved to the upper west side of Manhattan in the late 70's
and lived there for about 2 years. At that time we walked all
over the city - not because we were walking enthusiasts, we
were in school and it was the best way to save money. New York
City was very different then. Walking or riding the subways
was not very safe. But this city has changed for the better.
Now it is a fun place to walk -- especially at Christmastime.
Last Christmas Eve (1996), we flew into New York
City where the temperature was a balmy 63º. It was the
first time we have been there together since we had left, so
we were not quite sure what to expect. Manhattan Island is long
and narrow and runs north and south. Our hotel was located in
mid-town on the east side. Christmas Day was our first full
day and our walk was awesome. We left the hotel and walked north
up the east side along Lexington Avenue and the mansion-lined
5th Avenue. "The Avenue borders the east side of Central Park
where we walked along the bridal paths, past the Reservoir up
to the top of the park near where we use to live and on to Harlem.
We then turned around and headed south along the west side past
the Museum of Natural History (That's where they have all the
huge dinosaur bones). We kept heading south along 7th Avenue
and Broadway until we reached Greenwich Village and Washington
Square. We walked and "people-watched" around the Village and
then walked through Soho up the east side and back to our hotel.
We do not know for sure but estimated the walk to be 8 - 10
miles.
We spent nearly a week in the city visiting our
old stomping grounds and acting like tourists -- the museums
by day and Rockefeller Center, the theaters and Times Square
by night. In addition to being one of the great walking cities
in the world, New York City, specifically Manhattan, is also
one of the safest. Unlike years ago when we lived there, we
found it to be safe and quite clean. New York doesn't usually
get as cold or as much snow as the rest of the state, so when
they holiday decorations are out, you will find New York a great
place to walk.
(Back to Table of Contents)
The Corfe Castle Walk, England
When the word "Castle" is in the title
of the walk, it has to be a "Great Walk!",
by Gene Taylor, April 3, 1998
Usually I have difficulty deciding which walk
to write about. When JA and I are out and exploring by foot,
we frequently find ourselves with too many walks, one right
after another that could easily be subjects of this column.
Our recent visit to England is no exception -- nine full days
of fantastic walks in both the countryside and cities.
We walked the grounds of Arundel and Dunster Castles, through
"The Lanes" of Brighton, the beach at Bournemouth, around Stonehenge,
The Earl Bathurst's Estate, Exmoor National Park, the quiet
streets of Kingscote in the Cotswolds, and more than 20 miles
in London.
As great as all those walks were, one walk still
out-shined them all. JA and I call it the Corfe Castle Walk.
Corfe Castle is located on a peninsula on the southern coast
of Britain just north of a small town named Swanage. At
the time, it was just a spot on our map that was located somewhere
between where we were and where we wanted to spend the night,
which happen to be New Year's Eve. It seemed to be close by,
so we decided to check it out. The castle sits on the top of
a very steep and high hill. We couldn't see much of it as we
pulled into the parking lot. However, when we got out of the
car and looked almost straight up, there was an incredibly dramatic
scene in front of us. The castle is in ruin with some of the
walls either missing or lying flat on the ground. From our viewpoint
the sun was directly behind a standing wall which made for a
perfect and dramatic silhouette.
Our walk began as we followed a path along the
base of the hill that led us to the castle entrance. We explored
the ruins of this once magnificent and important castle in English
history and then decided to walk through Corfe Village, which
is fully restored and residence to several hundred people. We
walked through the village until we hit one of England's famous
"Public Footpaths." The path was too muddy to walk so we decided
to stay on the road and see where it would take us. We walked
about 3 miles out from the village on a private farm. We were
treated to the ultra-green rolling hills of the English countryside.
When we turned around to head back, we were both taken with
the view of the castle and how it dominated the scene. It was
easy to imagine the impact it must have had on the people who
walked upon it during medieval times when it was in its full
splendor.
That day we viewed Corfe Castle from every angle
possible. The pictures in my mind are still as vivid as those
in our photo album. And the walk was the greatest walk we took
during our stay in Britain. If you are headed in that direction
and want specific directions on how to get to Corfe Castle,
e-mail me and I can provide you with directions.
(Back to Table of Contents)
