5 Reasons to Go Hiking

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Top 5 Reasons to Go HikingRaise your hand if you have a gym membership but haven’t used it since March! ME!!! I remember I saw a video on Youtube of a dad who said they wasted over $1,000 on a gym membership that they used a hand full of times. I thought to myself, that won’t be me! Boy, was I wrong.

Let’s rewind a bit to the fall of 2013. I was about to turn 30 and I did something I never thought I would do… RUN! I found a program and I stuck to it.  I loved to go running early in the morning, just in time to see the sun rise. Just me and the smell of the dew. By the time I turned 30 I had run my first ever 5k and now I’m training to run a half-marathon (13.1 miles). I am still very self-conscious and think to myself, “I’m so old to be running a half-marathon.” I was so wrong, I found out that the amount of women who started to run/jog a few times a week were between the ages of 25-34 and the number of women has increased 70%, according to the NSGA. That opened my eyes to the outside world and I realized I was not alone. Check out Tonya’s post who shares “5 Reasons Every Mom Should Become a Runner.”

Back to the beginning, I ran several 5k’s so I thought to myself that getting a membership to the gym was the next step. Again, I was so wrong. I missed the outside and now had a toddler who was up at the crack of dawn and couldn’t go running at my usual time. Here is where hiking came into play. Hiking was something I found I could do with the whole family and it turns out that it’s also better for heart health. Hiking is so much more interactive, in my opinion, with nature, each other and just more fun. Here are my top 5 reasons to go hiking !

saTop 5 Reasons to go Hiking

Home to 9 world birding centers!

From Roma to South Padre Island, wherever you are in the valley there is bound to be a birding center near you. A big reason many people don’t go hiking is because they think there is nowhere in the valley to go…. Myth debunked!

Family Friendly:

The best hikes are the slowest because you get to take in all that nature has to offer!

Work-out Less:

Did you know that as an adult you need at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity. But if you go hiking, you only need 75 minutes in a 2-week period according to the CDC.

You’ll SLEEP Better:

After having three children I have never slept better after we started going hiking!

Reptiles, Birds and Bugs, Oh My!

Did you know there are Alligators in the valley. Estero Llano Grande State Park is home to two alligators and they are expecting! You can take a tram-ride to alligator lake and many other parks in the area that host events for the whole family!

Now, what do you want to do this weekend? GO ON A HIKE! Like I mentioned many of the state parks and birding centers have toddler and family friendly activities and an indoor visitor center where you can still enjoy the center without getting too hot. Fall is just around the corner, temperatures will be cooling down and there are also night hikes you can enjoy, too. In October the temperatures are in the mid-to-high 80’s!

Newbie?

If it’s your first time heading outdoors try attending a tour. All the nature centers are very helpful, so ask as many questions as you’d like. Also, if it’s your first time, don’t go alone. There are also many apps you can use to track your activity, make it fun and even challenge family and friends. You can also join a group like HikeItBaby.com. There is a chapter in Hidalgo County that hold hikes of all sorts each week and again, as the temperature cools down there will be more hikes. Check out their website and facebook page for more information. Want more ideas on what to do outdoors? Check out the Outdoor Foundation. You can also visit your local Library or Visitor Center to learn about places to go hiking in your area.

On a Night Hike
Juan and Sophia Martinez enjoying a “Creatures in the Night” walking tour at Frontera Audubon in Weslaco (July 25, 2015)

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