I live on Long Island. It’s a big place with lots of beautiful beaches on the South Shore, cliffs on the North Shore, farms out east and, of course, lots of congested suburban neighborhoods.
We spend most of our time in the congested neighborhoods. When my kids were small and even still today, one of my favorite pastimes has been to drive to the less congested areas and see what there is to see. And trust me, I thought I’d seen just about everything.
Then I started walking and running. It’s amazing what you miss when you are in a car. I’m just sayin’. This weekend, my friend Jen and I went walking in an upscale neighborhood (an understatement). The neighborhood is probably one of the most upscale in central Suffolk County. The couple mile walk up the main road is spectacular. Million-dollar-plus homes with the Long Island Sound in the backyards. Gardens to be rivaled. Tree-lined streets. Even the air is cooler in this neighborhood. I’ve driven on this road before. My husband and I love to visit neighborhoods we could never afford and pick out the house we would buy if we won the lottery.
But walking it, which I’ve now done two weekends in a row is much more spectacular. Not so much because of the beautiful homes and pristine yards. You can find those in lots of neighborhoods on Long Island.
But when you reach the end of this road, there is a little fence and a short patch of woods that you can only walk through. No cars. That little path leads to a cliff. A cliff that reaches out to the Long Island Sound for as far as the eye can see. There’s a dune you can walk out on (a little tricky to get to but so worth it). Out on the dune, all you feel is the salt water breeze. Just this hidden little gem that I would never have known existed if I didn’t start walking with Jen.
In my neighborhood, where I run, I pass this home with a spectacular garden. Sometimes I take this route just because the garden gets me through the rest of the run. I’d have never found this garden had I not started walking and running.
I have a new appreciation for a little beach that I used to take my kids too. The walk to the end of the nature preserve is about a mile and a half, but the view from the end is worth the effort.
Today I have pictures from the cliff. I’ll remember my phone the next time I pass the house with the garden, or stroll down West Meadow Beach, so I can share some of the gems on Long Island that you can only get to if you use your feet.
Just one more benefit of exercise.
Do you have a favorite spot you discovered when you started walking/running/biking/moving?
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I agree with you. Being in car you might miss some beutiful sights as you are constantly moving. But walking gives those opportunities. You can just stop for a while and enjoy some sight seeing. Walking also benefits to shop around,specially for ladies. It also benefits the health.
So one must not miss out on walking opportunities as much as possible.
It’s really beautiful Diane!
I agree that you see more when you walk, run or bike but I haven’t really discovered a new spot where I live.
I think anytime I’m outside in nature walking/running/hiking/etc I feel much more at peace. I love being able to take the time to really take in the scene around me. What a beautiful post!