Style Magazine - April 2021
Before becoming a parent, I never truly valued or took full advantage of our region’s public parks. Sure, I visited them for the occasional picnic, jog, or game of tennis, and knew they brought natural beauty into neighborhoods, but never realized just how crucial they are to a community. Now, as the mom to a tantrum-prone toddler, parks—playgrounds, in particular—are a daily destination for us. Give my daughter a sandbox, swing set, and an open field to frolic in, and her attitude instantly improves. In addition to providing hours of free, fresh-air amusement, they’ve also proven to be a primo place to meet fellow mom friends. (If you’ve never watched “Dear Cool-Looking Mom in the Park” on YouTube and feel like laughing, check it out. It pretty much sums up my attempt at having a social life these days.) Lucky for us, our region is overflowing with parks (hundreds, in fact, with even more in the works) waiting to be explored. Turn to “Walk in the Park” on page 22 for 10 of our favorites—picked for their abundance of amenities, environmental components, stunning scenery, or all the above. Next time you find yourself in a funk, the solution might be as simple as going for a stroll in one of these gorgeous green spaces. Readers looking for other outdoor diversions are in luck. There’s plenty more ideas in the pages that follow—from our feature, “Choose Your Own Adventure” (page 59) that’s jam-packed with alfresco activities like chasing waterfalls, nerding out on birds, and discovering local downtown districts; to “Nurture Nature” (page 26), where we talk about the importance of Earth Day and easy ways to lessen your environmental impact today, and every day; and “Home Grown” (page 44) featuring nine secrets to garden success this spring. If you’ve never considered yourself “green” or “outdoorsy,” I hope this issue inspires you to think differently, act accordingly, and play outside whenever, however you can. Because, if you’re anything like me, even 10 minutes of fresh air will make a monumental difference in your day. Cheers! —Megan megan@stylemg.com @meggoeggowaffle
Before becoming a parent, I never truly valued or took full advantage of our region’s public parks. Sure, I visited them for the occasional picnic, jog, or game of tennis, and knew they brought natural beauty into neighborhoods, but never realized just how crucial they are to a community.
Now, as the mom to a tantrum-prone toddler, parks—playgrounds, in particular—are a daily destination for us. Give my daughter a sandbox, swing set, and an open field to frolic in, and her attitude instantly improves. In addition to providing hours of free, fresh-air amusement, they’ve also proven to be a primo place to meet fellow mom friends. (If you’ve never watched “Dear Cool-Looking Mom in the Park” on YouTube and feel like laughing, check it out. It pretty much sums up my attempt at having a social life these days.)
Lucky for us, our region is overflowing with parks (hundreds, in fact, with even more in the works) waiting to be explored. Turn to “Walk in the Park” on page 22 for 10 of our favorites—picked for their abundance of amenities, environmental components, stunning scenery, or all the above. Next time you find yourself in a funk, the solution might be as simple as going for a stroll in one of these gorgeous green spaces.
Readers looking for other outdoor diversions are in luck. There’s plenty more ideas in the pages that follow—from our feature, “Choose Your Own Adventure” (page 59) that’s jam-packed with alfresco activities like chasing waterfalls, nerding out on birds, and discovering local downtown districts; to “Nurture Nature” (page 26), where we talk about the importance of Earth Day and easy ways to lessen your environmental impact today, and every day; and “Home Grown” (page 44) featuring nine secrets to garden success this spring.
If you’ve never considered yourself “green” or “outdoorsy,” I hope this issue inspires you to think differently, act accordingly, and play outside whenever, however you can. Because, if you’re anything like me, even 10 minutes of fresh air will make a monumental difference in your day. Cheers!
—Megan
megan@stylemg.com
@meggoeggowaffle
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| health & wellness |<br />
Take a Hike<br />
Stevens<br />
Trail<br />
by RYAN MARTINEZ<br />
LOCATED IN: Colfax.<br />
DISTANCE: 7.7 miles out-and-back.<br />
DIFFICULTY LEVEL: Moderate.<br />
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO: This is a<br />
long trail with little shade, so bring<br />
plenty of water. Expect rocky and<br />
wet conditions with a super steep<br />
finish; not recommended for kids. Make<br />
sure you don’t leave valuables in the car, as there<br />
have been some reports of break-ins.<br />
FUEL UP: Enjoy classic American comfort food<br />
(think burgers, scrambles, melts, and more), hot<br />
coffee, cocktails, mimosas, or all of the above<br />
Main photo by Alexa Occhipinti; Right side photos top to bottom: Zev<br />
Minow, @zevtara_photography; Chrystie Raggio; Shannon Bedore,<br />
@shannonoutside; Chrystie Raggio; Dine n Dash Pub & Grill photo by<br />
Lizzie Stephens, @misslizzieizzie<br />
36 stylemg.com | APRIL <strong>2021</strong> | /stylemediagroup /stylemediagroup /stylemediagroup /stylemags<br />
at Dine n Dash Pub & Grill<br />
(dinendashpubandgrill.com).<br />
With an inviting ambiance, superb<br />
service, and hearty grub, you’ll be<br />
ready for a day of adventure.<br />
WHY WE LOVE IT: This trail has<br />
beautiful views, waterfalls, and a rich<br />
history. Long with a strenuous finish, it’s a<br />
perfect spring hike and will help prepare you for<br />
longer summer treks.<br />
TRAIL NOTES: Bring shoes with traction. Dog-friendly,<br />
but they must be leashed. Practice Leave No Trace<br />
ethics and enjoy the views!<br />
BEST PRACTICES:<br />
BEFORE & AFTER<br />
What you do both before<br />
and after your hike is<br />
the difference between<br />
a positive experience<br />
versus asking yourself,<br />
“Why did I think this<br />
would be fun?”.<br />
Here are a few<br />
considerations:<br />
BEFORE YOUR HIKE<br />
Nourish your body. Good<br />
nutrition is key; proper<br />
hydration is paramount.<br />
Hydrate early and often.<br />
Choose the right clothing. Bring<br />
enough layers, plan for weather,<br />
and choose the right shoes.<br />
Let someone know where<br />
you’re going. Being lost on a<br />
trail is never fun; being lost,<br />
cold, hungry, and scared<br />
because no one knows<br />
where you are is even worse.<br />
AFTER YOUR HIKE<br />
Stretch. Do some light yoga<br />
or some simple stretches to<br />
help you recover and improve<br />
mobility.<br />
Eat right. Eat protein soon<br />
after your hike to help rebuild<br />
muscles and speed up recovery.<br />
Learn from your experience.<br />
Things don’t always go<br />
according to plan; see where<br />
you can improve for next time.<br />
For more<br />
information, visit alltrails.com/<br />
explore/trail/us/california/<br />
stevens-trail.<br />
Do you have a favorite trail in the region you’d like to see featured?<br />
Tell us all about it at info@stylemg.com.
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