Explore These Six Trails to Get Your Nature Fix

Read article : Explore These Six Trails to Get Your Nature Fix

Posted 08/16/17 by Suzanne Matyas in America's Trails, Trail Use, Health and Wellness

The Banks-Vernonia State Trail is a verdant beauty running through its two namesake towns | Courtesy Oregon State Park

Can you imagine your perfect outdoor oasis? Take a moment to picture it. Is it quiet, or is it filled with the laughter of playing children or the melody of songbirds? Are there trees, fields, flowers, shorelines or lots of wildlife? Is it in a tiny city pocket park or a remote reserve?

Doesn’t it make you feel happy?

Being able to spend time outside to connect with nature is a uniquely special feeling and has many health benefits. It’s also something we believe that everyone should be able to experience. Thankfully, trails enable people of all ages and abilities to do just that. In urban, suburban and rural places all across the country, trails can take us to (and are!) incredible natural spaces.

No matter what your dream space looks like, we encourage you hit a trail and try to find it! To inspire you, here’s a list of some great paths for getting in touch nature:

Banks-Vernonia State Trail | Photo by Trailink.com/dabiker

1Banks-Vernonia State Trail, Oregon

Starting in the West, we’ve chosen one of our favorite city escapes: Oregon’s Banks-Vernonia State Trail. Sitting less than an hour's drive outside of the hustle, bustle and delightful “weirdness” of Portland, this trail stretches nearly 23 miles through the foothills of the Coast Mountains and the magnificent L.L. Stub Stewart State Park. The park is an 1,800-acre delight equipped with campgrounds (for people and for horses), RV hookups, an 18-hole disc golf course, wildlife viewing areas and a fun Discovery Depot.

The trail’s completion is in part due to the opening of the spectacular park in 2007; its history, however, extends back to the 1920s, when it was first used to haul timber. Currently, the route hosts hikers, cyclists and equestrians, and travels under 13 bridges and two 700-foot-long, 80-foot-high railroad trestles.

Tahoe Trailways Bike Path is a favorite of hikers, cyclists and former Olympians alike | Photo courtesy Rails-to-Trails Conservancy

2Tahoe Trailways Bike Path, California

When asked about the Tahoe Trailways Bike Path, our team said it “could not get any prettier unless there were rainbow unicorns prancing on it.” And although you will not find any mythical beasts over its 19 miles, you will find this California rail-trail to be a magical place where peoples’ dreams come true—665 Olympic dreams, that is! One of the trail’s three branches travels to the base of the Squaw Valley Ski Resort in Olympic Valley, the home of the 1960 Winter Olympics.

In addition to its golden history, the trail leads its users by the Truckee River, Sugar Pine Point State Park and the shore of Lake Tahoe, the country’s second-deepest lake! The trail also has a bright future as it’s part of a developing network that will link communities across two states to trail.

The Colorado Riverfront Trail is an developing system with nine unique sections | Photo by TrailLink/jmoreco

3Colorado Riverfront Trail, Colorado

Your moment of Zen on the Colorado Riverfront Trail is possible due to the dedication and hard work of the Colorado Riverfront Commission. This 22-mile paved beauty follows the Colorado River and goes through several parks. Starting off with a stunning view of the Colorado National Monument canyons, from the aptly named Monument View Section, the trail soon introduces you to the Walter Walker State Wildlife Area, reaches the Connected Lakes Section and then forks off into two other nature havens: the Blue Heron Section and Audubon Section. From either shady route, you’ll pass by glittering lakes and have the opportunity to spy some spectacular birds, including bald eagles, herons, osprey, owls and hawks.

The trail reunites again near the confluence of the Colorado and Gunnison rivers, and then passes by Western Colorado Botanical Gardens and Butterfly House, the Las Colonias, the James M. Robb Colorado River State and Clifton Nature parks before it ends.

The Ti-Haul Trail lies just down the road from Shelburne Farms, which offers many educational programs | Photo by Brandi Horton

4Ti-Haul Trail, Vermont

In the Burlington, Vermont, suburb of Shelburne, near the mighty Lake Champlain, you’ll find the charming Ti-Haul Trail. This trail is short, sweet, scenic and shady, and was constructed for the sole purpose of moving the Ticonderoga steamboat from the lake to the Shelburne Museum.

Though the rail-trail itself only covers 1 mile, it links to Shelburne Bay Park and the park’s slightly longer Rec Path, and sits a mere half-mile away from the expansive Shelburne Farms. The entire length of the trail runs along this iconic property, which operates as a nonprofit dedicated to “educating for a sustainable future,” and encompasses 1,400 acres of working farm and forest as well as an estate that was designated a National Historic Landmark. The property has maintained the spirit of its roots, as it was originally created in 1886 to be a model agricultural estate by Dr. William Webb and Eliza Vanderbilt; the design was in part guided by Frank Law Olmstead, the famous landscape architect of New York City’s Central Park.

The John Heinz Refuge Trail winds through pristine natural lands and connects to the Circuit Trails | Photo courtesy Heather Jerue/USFWS | CC 2.0

5John Heinz Refuge Trail, Pennsylvania

If you imagined your ideal space as an idyllic island surrounded by the thrum of industry, then you will absolutely love the John Heinz Refuge Trail. But even if you did picture something different, you will still fall for America’s first urban wildlife refuge and its residents: deer, opossums, foxes, turtles, frogs and more than 300 species of birds. Conveniently located within eyesight of the Philadelphia International Airport, this nearly 8-mile trail is as much a sanctuary for wildlife as it is a refuge for city dwellers.

While navigating its two wide loops along Darby Creek, woodlands, meadowland and the Tincum Marsh, trail users need only look northeast to feel welcomed by the City of Brotherly Love’s skyline. The trail also serves as a key piece of the developing 750-mile Circuit Trails Network and is part of the Maine-to-Florida route known as the East Coast Greenway.

One of the New River Trail State Park’s highlights is the impressive 950-foot Hiawassee trestle | Photo by Lee Hogan

6New River Trail State Park, Virginia

Rounding out this list is one of our southern belle routes: Virginia’s New River Trail State Park. Truly the bell of the ball, this delightful rail-trail was declared an official National Recreation Trail by the U.S. Department of the Interior for good reason! Graced with the good looks and shade from the surrounding Blue Ridge Highlands—the professed Birthplace of Country Music—the majority of the verdant route is within view of the New River. Visitors can cool off and become fully “immersed” in nature by going for a swim or canoe ride in the refreshing water, or taking a forest bath underneath the tree canopy.

The 57-mile trail’s natural beauty is complemented by its manmade garnishes, including two cavernous tunnels, impressive dams, railroad trestles—such as the 950-foot Hiawassee trestle—the historical shot tower, train depots and even a red caboose.

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Suzanne Matyas is RTC’s social media and campaigns coordinator. She is an inline skating and skiing enthusiast, and a mediocre runner, and loves corny jokes.

You’ll be twisting by the pool at this Rose Bay private oasis

Read article : You’ll be twisting by the pool at this Rose Bay private oasis

4A Beresford Rd, Rose Bay.

FINDING a peaceful home base that ticks all the boxes when it comes to location, isn’t always easy in Sydney’s busy eastern suburbs.

But this big family home is just minutes from the water’s edge in Rose Bay, near parks and eateries, the ferry and sought-after schools.

With its guide of $4.8 million, the five-bedroom, two-bathroom home at 4A Beresford Rd, Rose Bay is up for auction on Monday, August 21 through Ashley Bierman, Ray White Double Bay, and D’Leanne Lewis of Laing + Simmons Double Bay.

The bonus is just how quiet the home is, tucked away down a battle-axe block and protected by a high fence and hedges.

4a Beresford Rd, Rose Bay.

The ground floor is home to the living spaces and the private main bedroom suite with each room opening out to the yard.

In the galley-style kitchen there is lots of storage space, a double oven and dishwasher and in the adjoining dining and lounge room area there is plenty of room for entertaining both inside and out in all weather.

Through to the main bedroom and there is a vast walk-in wardrobe, a grand ensuite with twin vanities, separate shower, a freestanding bath tub and even a bidet.

4A Beresford Rd, Rose Bay.

In addition to all this there is also a guest toilet at entry level.

That parent’s retreat is cleverly separated from the rest of the bedrooms — ideal for a family with teenagers who like to stay up late.

Upstairs there are four more bedrooms, each with built in wardrobes (two have walk-ins) and three with charming Juliette balconies that overlook the pool terrace.

The same level has a big common bathroom with a bath and twin vanities plus there is also a large laundry to suit any active family.

For outdoor entertaining the long pool is ideal for laps and the Mediterranean tiled courtyard is the perfect spot to hold a barbecue gathering.

Outside there is also a water feature, automated irrigation, gas outlets and grand mature hedges that frame the pool.

The Beresford Rd residence is also close to the convenience of Plumer Rd shops, the Royal Sydney Golf Club as well as private schools such as Kambala, Cranbrook, Scots plus Bellevue Hill and Double Bay public schools.

Napa Valley Spa Day: Mud Bath in Calistoga!

Read article : Napa Valley Spa Day: Mud Bath in Calistoga!

Have you ever had a mud bath? Have you ever heard of something or saw a picture or video of something and just decided you had to do it? Well that was me after I saw a picture of a friend on Instagram taking a Napa Valley mud bath. Last summer I went on a girl’s getaway to Napa Valley. While planning our trip, I mentioned to the ladies that we should do a spa day. There are amazing spas all over Napa Valley but Calistoga is known as the mud bath capital of the U.S.! The mud in Calistoga contains volcanic ash. It is mixed with mineral water located in the hot springs. This combination is thought to be very healing and nutritious for the skin. I just learned there is actually a name for this-“fangotherapy”. These are treatments that involve mud.

Napa Valley Spa Day: Mud Bath in Calistoga!" width="740" height="555" />Indian Springs Calistoga

Our Napa Valley mud bath adventure began when we checked into Indian Springs Resort & Spa in Calistoga. It is a beautiful tropical oasis in Calistoga. The resort itself consists of a lodge, bungalows and cottages of Spanish architecture. They have several pools including the Olympic size mineral pool. SF magazine named the pool at Indian Springs “2016 Best Pool”. It was recently remodeled and offers poolside dining and beverage service. In addition, Sam’s Social Club offers American cuisine for breakfast, lunch and dinner. We checked into the spa which offers massages, body treatments, facials and of course-mud & mineral baths.

Napa Valley Mud Bath at Indian Springs Resort and Spa in Calistoga!" width="740" height="900" />

From our arrival at Indian Springs spa the service was impeccable. It was a party of 9 women but they handled all our appointments with ease. A few of the ladies in our party decided to be brave and try the mud bath. We were first directed to a changing and relaxation area. One of the things I loved about this property was the indoor outdoor feel. The relaxation area was located outside with water fountains, creeks and palms trees. Prior to our mud bath, we were asked to rinse off in the shower and remove…everything! Yes it is a bath so you were expected to do it naked. However, you are not in a private room. There were 4 mud bath tubs in a large room with showers located on the back wall. Fortunately, one of my friends was in the bath right next to me. We really bonded that day lol. The mud was very heavy and very warm. Once inside the tub a spa assistant covered us from neck to toe in mud and even smothered some on our cheeks. We were told to relax in the bath for 15-20 minutes. And guess what-it was relaxing! After the bath we were escorted to the showers. The mud was surprisingly easy to wash off. My skin didn’t initially feel any different but the treatment did not stop there.

Napa Valley Mud Bath at Indian Springs Resort and Spa in Calistoga!" width="740" height="900" />Don’t I look pretty? 🙂

Napa Valley Mud Bath at Indian Springs Resort and Spa in Calistoga!" width="740" height="900" />

After the mud bath and our showers we sat in a mineral bath in an adjacent room. After the mineral bath we were led into a steam room for about 10 minutes. This was followed by a room in which you were alone, laying on a bed cooling off for about 10-15 minutes. I can’t even explain to you how pampered and relaxed I felt at that moment! And yes, my skin did feel incredibly soft. And, the spa day kept going! It was time for my massage. After my 50 minute massage I joined my friends at one of the outdoor pools surrounded by gorgeous plants and mountainous views of Napa Valley. I honestly did not want to leave!

Napa Valley Mud Bath at Indian Springs Resort and Spa in Calistoga!" width="740" height="900" />

If you are ever in Napa Valley I highly recommend going to Calistoga for a mud bath. The Indian Springs Resort & Spa is the perfect place to have this experience. Have you ever had a mud bath? If so where?

Be sure to read my other helpful posts on Napa Valley wineries and restaurants if you are planning a trip there!

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Pop-Up Room in a Bag Instant Portable Changing, Shower and Bathroom with • $33.97

Read article : Pop-Up Room in a Bag Instant Portable Changing, Shower and Bathroom with • $33.97

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