Hiking isn't scary!

To escape the heat, we've been visiting a local park often. There are lots of trails for both walking and mountain biking, picnic tables, bathrooms, water fountains, an off-leash dog area, and a playground. I love the opportunity to get away from traffic, cell phones, and computer screens.
I used to think that hiking meant scrambling over boulders, climbing vertical rock faces, and wading through creeks, but it can actually be much more low key than this. Some parks have trails that are simply stamped dirt and cleared rocks. Some parks have trails that are paved or laid with loose gravel.

See? Easy trails! Plus, all of the shade and greenery kept us extra cool.

Studying plant and tree identification. Isn't it strange that we're surrounded by plants and trees but have no idea what they are? It's really satisfying to solve that.

Time for fun plant trivia! Did you know that some plants actually want animals to eat their fruits? This is because the fruits contain the plant's seeds and, when the fruits are eaten, the seeds travel with the animal until they're eventually "eliminated" in a pile of "fertilizer." That's why some fruits are sweet. Furthermore, some plants ripen their berries at different times. Otherwise, one animal would eat all the fruit at once and the seeds would only have one opportunity to spread. Staggering the ripening process spreads the bets. Neat!

Lunch. The sandwich had refried beans and cheddar cheese inside. Also, tons and tons of water.

Spending a few hours hiking in the woods is a great way to be active when you don't feel like "exercising" and it gives you moments to clear your mind. I also love the excuse to enjoy lunch outside.

How do you stay active when you don't feel like exercising?