New Year's Resolutions: A Big Step off theSports Fields and onto the Hiking Trails
Trust me. I get it. Life is crazy, hectic, overscheduled, and full-to-absolute-brim! As I get older, raising a teenager and a preschooler, I realize that choices have to be made and some things must fall away.
Our New Year's Resolution is to play outside more–in the dirt, on the trails, on the beach, in the grass, along the river, near the ocean, in the woods, and by the swamps in all four seasons.
Getting off the soccer fields and onto the hiking trails means that we can enjoy more night hikes in the summer! Most Virginia State Parks offer guided night hikes in the summer season!
In 2014, the one thing thatwill fallaway in my household is organized sports for the kids. The hectic afterschool dashes to practice and the all-day Saturdays at the fields areover for us. My daughter still plays on her school teams, but that's it. The chances of her becominga professional athlete are far less than the importance ofreconnecting to the outdoors.
We are even going to parlay what we would have spent on league registration fees intoa statewide annual parking pass that allows you to visit any state park without having to pay the daily parking fees.We are also going to book two weekend cabin stays with those savings.
Getting outdoors more often means that we'll be exploring the parks in the winter–feeling the crunch of snow under out boots and listening to the trills of cardinals in the trees!
Virginia State Parks are open all four seasons, all year long, 365 days a year (366 on leap years!)
Make it your New Year's Resolution to get outdoors more often! If you know someone who has never visited one of our beautiful Virginia State Parks–encourage them to visit or take them with you on one of your adventures!