I recently told Caleb that my perfect weather is about 70-75 degrees, sunny, and a slight breeze. Cliché? Maybe. But such is my dream day! We were hiking as we talked about our favorite weather and I just so happened to be the lucky one that day as it was about 72, partly sunny, and a slight breeze : )
As you can imagine now knowing my perfect weather, summer is my favorite season! And yet something I really love about Wisconsin is the changing seasons throughout the year. The colder seasons make me appreciate and truly enjoy the warmer seasons even more than I already would (and someone with the opposite preferences could say the reverse!).
No matter what the season is, Caleb and I have found that getting outside every day is a critical part of our well-being. Whether it’s a fresh snowfall coupled with the jolt of crisp winter air to refresh the lungs, or the warmth of sunshine rays on my bare skin, there are SO many health benefits for spending time outdoors! I recently read something interesting about how as humans, we have made ourselves “too comfortable” by avoiding conditions that are not “ideal” for us; our bodies are not learning how to fight off disease or deal with harsh environments as well as they used to because we are obsessed with putting ourselves in comfortable scenarios only. An interesting thought.
During quarantine, getting outside has been our saving grace. I think a lot of people can relate to this! Hiking and exploring nature together has been something that has felt so “normal.” It is an activity where we can easily escape distractions and opportunities to feel stressed that seem to present themselves multiple times a day. We can breathe easier, slow down, have intentional conversation, enjoy beautiful sights, and simply “be.” We’ve always loved to do this but now, more than ever, we are truly experiencing the amazing benefits (mental & physical) of moving our bodies and spending time outdoors.
To conclude, I thought I would share the list of Dane County Parks — it can be found here! — since we love to walk and hike in new places and the county parks have been a great resource for ideas! Some of our favorites are:
- Indian Lake County Park
- Lower Yahara River Trail
- Pheasant Branch Conservancy
- Stewart Lake County Park
- Anything on the Ice Age Trail
Lastly, a few photos from our most recent hike at Stewart Lake County Park (all taken on an iPhone). Even E likes to hike with us so it’s a win-win for the whole family ; )! Happy (almost) June and YAY summer!!
If you’re curious about other posts on wellness, I wrote a trio series on “whole being health & wellness” including:
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