These Boots Were Made For Hiking...
Craig and I always joke about whether we would be allowed to put "likes to hike" in a dating profile if we had one. We've gone on hikes during our travels and have also done some close to home. We always enjoy ourselves, but is that enough to claim it as a hobby? Exactly how many hikes do you have to go on in order to be considered a
"hiker"?
My personal argument is that saying you "like to hike" suggests that you go all the time and have all the special equipment - like hiking boots, backpacks, special clothes and fancy water bottles (None of which we own). I'm actually the girl you see in regular sneakers and leggings, trying to hike with her purse over her shoulder. It could be worse though - at least I don't go in skirts, heels or flip-flops! We've all seen those people.
Don't get me wrong, I definitely enjoy a good hike, but more often then not I
find myself exploring areas with flatter terrain. I don't mind a strenuous path at all, but most of the trails we've been on would likely fall in the "easy" category. I guess
that would make me more of a "walker" than a "hiker". That sounds so basic though, so I'm claiming dibs on being called an "expert walker" at the very least.
Almost every time we return from a hike or a walk, I always comment on how great it was and how we should do it more often. It's hard to keep up with though, but maybe one day we'll do it enough that I could justify actually calling it a hobby. Who knows!
In the meantime, below are some of our favorite places to hike or walk - from one expert walker to another.
NY Hiking and Walking Trails
Breakneck Ridge Loop
Cold Spring, NY
The Breakneck Ridge Loop is the only New York location on the list that I would actually consider a hike, as opposed to a walk. It is definitely rough terrain and a strenuous climb to the top. The start of the trail is by far the hardest and, in my opinion, the most fun part. Specifically, you start almost immediately with a "rock scramble" which takes you only partially to the top. You'll be happy when you finish climbing the rocks, but you will still have a long way to go - so be prepared.
I would say this hike is definitely challenging, but if you take your time then it's absolutely worth the effort. The views are breathtaking and you end up right near the village of Cold Spring, which is a very cute town to explore.
At some points during the hike, we found it a little confusing to follow the trail markers but there were always enough people to ask or follow. It is a VERY popular hiking trail, so you can expect to be sharing the path with other people. The best advice I can give you is to arrive super early in order to find a parking spot that isn't miles away from the start of the loop.
One thing to note, this trail is currently closed for construction but will open back up in a few months. Also it's a bit of a drive if you are coming from the city or Long Island, so plan accordingly.
Norman J. Levy Park and Preserve
Merrick, NY
Norman Levy Park and Preserve is "hidden" near the sanitation area / dump in Merrick, but don't let that fool you. It's a beautiful park that is typically not crowded and provides an overall very flat and easy walk. Near the end of the path, there is a slight incline that takes you to the highest viewpoint - but I would barely even call it a hill. At the top you'll find a very open area (no shade), with a windmill and a small pond. And on a clear day you'll even have a view of the New York City skyline, albeit a very far one.
The park is extremely clean and the path is wide and flat in most locations. You'll walk along a little creek and can make your way to a pier overlooking the water as well. If you're lucky, you will also run into the herd of Goats that live at the park.
Muttontown Preserve
East Norwich, NY
Although there are plenty of paths to explore, it's really the estate grounds at Muttontown Preserve that steal the show. The various structures you encounter before even starting your hike make for amazing photo ops and were my favorite part of the experience.
The trails themselves were very rustic, woodsy and at times a little muddy. You really felt like you were hiking in a forest here. There were different trails you could follow - the most popular being the ones that take you past the ruins. We didn't make it that far on our first adventure here, but plan to go back to check them out one day.
Garvies Point Museum & Preserve
Glen Cove, NY
When we went to Garvies Point, we took the trip with Craig's brother, sister and her kids. It was a very flat and easy walk and definitely a good one to take with children. The trail was pretty short and you could make your way through it pretty quickly if you wanted to. It started off through the woods but eventually brought us to a rocky beach - which was a really nice surprise and made for a nice change of pace.
After hiking, don't forget to check out Garvies Point Brewery and Restaurant. We haven't been since they opened the new location but it looks like a great new space.
Other Hiking and Walking Trails
Mount Rainier National Park
Seattle, WA Vicinity
Even though this is not local, I added it to the list because it is one of the best hikes we have every done. It is located about 2 1/2 hours outside of Seattle and if you are ever in the area, I would highly recommend making the trip.
When we went, we opted to take the Skyline Trail, which started at the Paradise Visitor's Center. I did my research beforehand and read that you would be waiting for hours to get into the park and would struggle to find a parking spot if you didn't get there before 10 am. And let me tell you, they were not wrong.
We got there early and waited about 10 minutes at the gate to pay our entrance fee and were able to snag a spot in the overflow lot easily. But despite our early arrival, there were already hundreds of cars that made it there before us. And when we were driving out after completing our hike, the line of cars to get in was miles long and easily would take 2+ hours for anyone to get inside. So be warned.
That being said, this hike was absolutely incredible. We were a little nervous that we wouldn't have a clear enough day to get views of the mountain, but luckily the weather cooperated. Overall, the trail was spectacular - one view was better than the next, with the mountain peak being the star of the show. If I am being honest, the first half of the adventure was much better
than the second (the way down), but it was all absolutely beautiful and
an amazing experience.
This hike is not for the feint of heart though - it took us over 4 hours to complete, half of which was uphill and at some points there were very narrow walkways and steep inclines. It was definitely extremely cold at various times and warm at others, so prepare yourself and layer up.
Grand Canyon National Park
Arizona, USA
I know a lot of people who joke that the Grand Canyon is breathtaking, but that all you need is a quick 10 minutes to experience the view and then you can turn around and go home. And maybe that's a valid point - to an extent. It's definitely true that the view you get doesn't really change when you are walking along the South Rim. So once you see it, you're just going to continue to see the same thing over and over again.
That doesn't mean there isn't more you can do while you are visiting to enhance the experience and boost the adventure. Specifically, and not surprising given the focus of this post, I would recommend taking a hike into the canyon itself.
Hiking into the Grand Canyon may sound overwhelming and like a huge undertaking, but it doesn't have to be. If you take the South Kaibab Trail like we did, there are multiple "stopping" points where you could just turn around and hike back up.
When we went, we weren't as fit as we are now so we chose to take the shortest path - hiking to and turning around at the aptly named Ooh Aah Point. The entire trip (down and up) is just under 2 miles, although be warned that it it takes twice as long to hike back up and out of the canyon.
The trail starts with multiple switchbacks and then turns into dusty narrow pathways along the rocks. There were points where I was definitely a little nervous and made sure to hug the wall as I walked. At other times, we had to move over to the side of the path to let the mules pass by. Overall though, the experience was incredible and the views were indescribable - no photo does it justice.
It can get very hot and sunny, so bring plenty or water and maybe even a hat.
Castle of San Giovanni
Kotor, Montenegro
The climb up to the Castle of San Giovanni was a bit more spur of the moment than other hikes we have taken. We were on a cruise with my family and our friend Billy and I wasn't really intrigued by any of the excursions offered by Norwegian. I did some quick research and read that there was a nice hike that you could take close to the port, so I suggested this to Craig and Billy. Billy asked me how strenuous it would be and if I thought he needed to wear sneakers - I said I didn't think it would be that bad and he could probably get away with any shoes he wanted. Lucky for all of us, he wore the sneakers just in case.
The climb up to the Castle was definitely a lot steeper, harder and longer than any of us expected. We weren't exactly prepared for it either, which added to the struggle. That being said, the views along the way and the ruins at the top were well worth it. We were all exhausted at the end, but happy we made the ascent. On the way down, Billy saw another tourist starting to climb in flip-flops and commented about how he almost made that mistake and was glad he didn't. He had fun warning everyone entering that the hike was a lot harder than they might think.
If you ever visit Kotor, this hike and the views are more than worth the time and effort.
Mount Batur Sunrise Trek
Bali, Indonesia
There is no "official" website for this adventure, but if you Google it you will find many tour operators advertising tickets and guides. Craig and I went as part of an larger organized trip to Bali and I have to say it was my favorite part of the entire trip.
This hike was so much different then any other we have taken - mainly because most of it was done at night, in the dark, with headlamps and flashlights. We had to wake up at 1am to drive over to the volcano, where we met our local tour guides who were going to lead us and accompany us on the trek. It took us two hours to make it to the top and the climb up was very steep and rocky. But the views of the stars along the way were incredible.
There are tons of people who make the climb every day, so the paths up were crowded at various points. At the peak, there were benches for people to sit and relax and wait for the sun to rise. Local vendors also walked around selling snacks and drinks - hot chocolate if you were cold or a cold beer to celebrating making it all the way up.
We were lucky enough to catch a beautiful sunrise, which was definitely the most amazing one I've ever seen. We've heard that not everyone gets so lucky though and the day before, people climbed to the top and all they saw were clouds. Perhaps I wouldn't have considered it my favorite hike had we not got the sunrise experience, but either way it is a hike I would recommend taking for the experience.
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