fitness

Alum Rock Park hiking trails

 in Fitness / General Fashion  tagged fitness / hiking / outdoor fitness / staycation by

wearing: adidas sweatshirt / gaiter / spring nail polish / backpack / water bottle / sweatpants / hiking boots (sold out, similar here) /

Alum Rock Park is a large outdoor recreation area in San Jose, California. This park is the oldest municipal park in San Jose, dating back to 1872. It’s located on the eastern side of San Jose and offers playgrounds, picnic areas, multiple hiking trails, and a visitor center with camps and activities where visitors can learn more about the wildlife in the area. In addition to being a great place for outdoor fun and education, there is a historic aspect to the park!

The Alum Rock Mineral Springs were very popular in the early 1900s. While the mineral springs are now defunct, the remnants can be found along the hiking trails and provide a beautiful addition to the natural surroundings.

The hiking trails in Alum Rock are not too difficult, and are perfect for families. We enjoyed hiking through the park and occasionally stopping to take pictures of each other with the ruins from the springs. It was extremely relaxing and beautiful. I cannot believe we hadn’t visited Alum Rock Park before! It’s perfect for a day of fun, exercise, and a little education.

If you are local to the Bay Area, I highly recommend visiting Alum Rock Park; especially if you have children. The park gets very busy, so I recommend going early; before 9am. This way you can enjoy the park stress-free. Love that!

Have you been to Alum Rock Park before? What are your favorite spots? We parked by the visitor center and went on the hiking trails from there.

Thanks for stopping by!

XOXO

Cathy

Gearing up for spring fitness

 in Fitness / General Fashion  tagged adidas / fitness / fitness gear / outfits / sneakers / spring 2021 by

spring workout gearadidas ultraboost running shoes review

wearing: sunglasses / backpack / zip-up hoodie / workout tee / sports bra / cropped leggings / spring nail polish / adidas Ultraboost running shoes in grey /

Spring is starting to. . . spring! The Magnolia blossoms are starting to bloom, and the prettiest cherry blossoms are popping up all over town. The sun is shining, and the days are less chilly as they offer us more sunshine. This means it is time to gear up for spring fitness!

I love switching out my fitness gear each season to fit the weather, and the types of exercises I plan to do. I also like to freshen up my shoes. Footwear is really important as it should be switched out every few months in order to ensure you have proper support; after all, footwear is your foundation.

spring addias outfits

My favorite fitness gear brand, adidas, for whom I am a Brand Ambassador (obviously since I love them so much!) has the perfect gear for spring fitness. I am in love with their new Ultraboost 21 running shoes. They have the most amazing support, and they leave my feet happy after a workout or a run. Although they are running shoes, I also wear them for cardio workouts, HIIT classes, and weights. They are a comfortable and supportive shoe all around. I snapped up a pair in grey, since it happens to be the color of 2021. My feet always need to be fashionable and fabulous 😊

Since spring is a season which swings between cool and warm temperatures, a sweatshirt which is easy to move in, is a must! I am loving this Terrex Tech Fleece hoodie from adidas. It is thin and lightweight, which is perfect for working out, while also being warm and cozy for outdoor fitness. Spring will definitely remain an outdoor workout season, this hoodie is a must!

My spring fitness routine:

Monday: Cardio: UJam fitness class

Tuesday: Interval: The Drop

Wednesday: 30 min walk outside

Thursday: Interval: Tabata and Core

Friday: Cardio: Spin

Saturday: Family hike

Sunday: Yoga

spring workout outfits

I am thankful my gym has classes online, as well as in person classes and fitness outside. Here in California, our gyms are still outside-only, so my workouts are still 100% outside. I have to admit, I love working out outside, it will be hard to go back inside when things start to reopen! The fresh air is really nice, and I love seeing sunshine while I workout too!

What are your workout plans for spring season?

Thanks for stopping by!

XOXO
Cathy

Shop my favorite spring fitness gear online:

*Brand Ambassador for adidas, all thoughts and opinions are my own

spring fitness gear

 

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Marin Headlands Kirby Cove Road

 in Fitness / General Fashion / Travel  tagged fitness / hiking / outdoor fitness / staycation by

One of things I love about the San Francisco Bay Area is all of the history you can find; in almost every corner. While our history is not as deep as other areas, we still have pockets with remnants of our past; and it is important to learn about it as well as share it with the next generation.

The Marin Headlands is rich with history. While exploring the area, you may come across sites from around 1900, WWII forts, and Cold War relics. This is in addition to beautiful views, nature, camping grounds, trails, wildlife, beaches, and more. It’s truly a destination you cannot see all in one day. When we visit, we choose one little spot, and explore it.

We decided to explore the Kirby Cove area of the Marin Headlands. This area is normally overrun by tourists; but during the cold winter months, we are able to park easily and explore stress-free.

PRO TIP: Arrive before 9am during the off-season so you can park where you want to, and avoid crowds.

The points of interest we explored were Battery Spencer, Ridge Battery, and Battery Wagner. We also hiked along the Kirby Cove Road. This road leads to an amazing beach which is less busy than beaches such as Stinson and Muir; as long as you follow my pro tip above.

Kirby Cove Road is wide, which makes it a great trail for hiking right now when social distancing is so important. It’s really easy to keep your distance from others. We enjoyed the unparalled views of the Golden Gate Bridge, beach, ocean, bay, and general nature. It really is a must-see hiking area; especially if you are local to the Bay Area!

The Marin Headlands is really easy to find. If you are coming from the north on 101, take the last exit off the freeway before the bridge, and follow the road into the headlands. If you are coming from the south, take the first Sausalito exit off the bridge and follow the signs; they will take you right into the Headlands.

Be sure to wear sturdy hiking shoes and bring a backpack filled with snacks, water, and lunch. Always bring your trash back out of the trail. There are plenty of trash and recycle cans in the parking areas.

I hope you enjoy exploring the Marin Headlands! Remember, the best time to visit is in the off-season, when tourism is down. Also, arrive before 9am so you can easily park.

Thanks for stopping by!

XOXO
Cathy