Some of my favorite places to go hiking....

I can't get out much lately to hike due to weather and pregnancy issues.... but I love to go on a great hike. There is something so wonderful about being outside and walking around nature. I do get a bit paranoid about snakes while I'm hiking but I try not to think about them too much (or go in the hot summer days) and go anyway.

So here are a few of my favorite hikes:

Temescal Canyon in Pacific Palisades, CA

I can't find a pic online of the waterfall - but halfway up there is a great waterfall. It's only running after the rains - so the in the middle of summer and fall it's just a trickle. But in our winter months when there is rain you get to see a really great waterfall. Also, bonus points if you do the entire loop. Because when you get to the top you can see the ocean. It's so magical!

Joshua Tree - CA

I'm not sure where I have hiked here - I should really pay more attention to details. But it's beautiful everywhere there. I love seeing the actual Joshua trees, the amazing rock formations and the bright blue sky against the reddish-brown rocks. It's a true desert and very beautiful.

Arches National Park - Moab, Utah
Oh how I miss Moab.
I think I love Joshua Tree so much because it reminds me of Moab. I went to Moab a lot while I was in college and have a lot of great memories there. The hikes are amazing and range from simple to hard. But once you finish the hike and you're on top of a huge boulder/mountain lookout you really feel as if you've conquered the world. There is nothing better than getting to the top of the climb and looking out over the valley below. It truly is one of the amazing things we can all do. I once took a creative writing class for a week nearby. THAT was a great experience in and of itself. But to top it all off we ended the weekend by hiking up to Delicate Arch (one of my favorite places on earth). I spent a spring break in Moab one year and took a hiking class one weekend my freshman semester (very informational, btw, but also a TON of fun with my friends). That weekend was life changing for me. For whatever reason it cemented my friendship with two girls on that trip. They are still two of BFF's to this day. All because of Moab.
I just realized tonight, though, that it's been 16 years since I was last there. I wanted to cry when I realized it. It just didn't feel that long ago. Sigh.
Where does the time go???


So while hiking is out of the question right now - I just decided that I'm going to go in the Spring of 2012 with my kids and baby in tow! We are hiking to Delicate Arch (or at least I am) as soon as I can go hiking again!! I miss it!!

I've been on many other beautiful hikes and definitely recommend doing it as much as possible. And don't think that hiking is limited to just the "wild." I also feel at peace while "hiking" around small towns in Europe (Assisi, Italy being one of my favorite towns to hike around -- hello the hills there are NOT an easy feat!)


Take a look at this photo I just found online from Assisi:

photo from Tennessee Journalist

Like I said -- it's hilly and you get to take in a lovely little town in Italy. Not so bad, eh?

Anyway, hiking truly is one of my favorite things to go do. I definitely need to do it more often and I think that will be my goal for the latter half of this year (after bambino arrives and I've healed!). I'm going hiking!

Do you have any favorite places you like to go hiking? Please share with me! I'd love to know.