outdoor fitness

Stevens Creek County Park hiking trails

 in Fitness  tagged fitness / fitness gear / hiking / hiking gear / lifestyle / outdoor fitness by
stevens canyon hiking trails stevens creek county park cupertino california
stevens creek county park hiking trails cueprtino
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Wearing: winter jacket (machine washable and packable! Under $100) / knit hat (old, also love this one) / long sleeve tee / backpack / G buckle belt / light wash skinny jeans / spring nail polish / hiking boots (old, also love this pair) /

How pretty is this view! We hiked at Stevens Creek County Park for the first time last weekend, and it was a real treat! This large park puts you out in the wilderness just steps from Cupertino. There is a large network of hiking trails, some of which allow dogs, if your dog enjoys hiking too. You can also ride your bike on the some of the trails. Please refer to the trail map when you arrive to see which trails allow dogs and/or bikes.

The hiking trails at Stevens Creek County Park start from the multiple picnic areas where you can enjoy a picnic and then catch a trail. We hiked the Stevens Canyon Trail for the majority of the hike, which was just over three miles, and roughly two hours long. We had my daughter’s girl scout troop (they’re teenagers) with us, and her friend’s parents brought two dogs along for the fun. We had a blast!

The main attraction from the Stevens Creek County Park hiking trails is the view. You can see Silicon Valley from the viewpoints along the trails, and of course when you get to the top. These trails are medium difficulty and offer a lot of elevation changes, which is super fun!

Stevens Creek County Park is easy to get to from Cupertino. If you are traveling down N. Foothill Blvd, it turns into Stevens Canyon Road. As soon as you stop seeing homes (civilization), there will be a parking lot on your left. That’s a great place to park and enjoy the park! The ranger’s station is a few yards from the parking lot, hidden down the road. This is where you can find tri-fold maps to take with you on the hike. There is also an ancient communications device at the ranger’s station, aka a pay phone-and it works, we tested it! haha

For more information, please visit the county’s website.

If you’re local, I hope you have a chance to check out Stevens Creek County Park!

Thanks for stopping by!

XOXO

Cathy

stevens creek county park hiking trails

Gearing up for summer fitness

 in Fitness / General Fashion  tagged adidas / fitness / fitness gear / fitness tips / outdoor fitness / outfits / summer 2021 by
summer fitness gear adidas

Wearing: sunglasses / workout tee in black / backpack / cardigan (around waist) / summer nail polish / leggings / hiking boots (old, also love this pair) / (Photo below) blue adidas slides / yoga block / yoga mat / yoga socks /

Summer is here! This means the best season for outdoor fitness is upon us, and I am here for it! I always love the summer season since the kids are off school, and my husband takes more vacation days from work. This allows us to get outside as a family and stay fit together!

There are so many fun, outdoor fitness activities the whole family can enjoy. Plus, they can really help us burn calories while we have fun together as a family. Love that!

Here are a few outdoor fitness ideas the whole family can enjoy this summer season:

Hiking: Of course this one is a no brainer. You know I love exploring hiking trails with my family! Going for a hike is a great outdoor fitness activity the whole family can enjoy. It is also a fabulous cardio workout which is heart-healthy, and burns calories. Love! If you are local the San Francisco Bay Area, be sure to check out the hiking section of my blog to learn about my favorite trails in the area.

Water sports: In addition to swimming laps, there are plenty of fun water sports available which offer a great strength and cardio workout. If you live near a lake, or have a vacation planned this summer where you will be near a lake, here are few activities you will want to try. The whole family can enjoy most of these water sports, while getting a great workout, and having fun! You can rent paddle boats, kayaks, stand up paddle boards, and canoes. That is just a sample of the fun activities you can find at a lake which offer a great workout! If you are local to the San Francisco Bay Area, check out Lake Vasona in Los Gatos for some local water fun!

Neighborhood walk: One of the easiest outdoor exercises to do is a neighborhood walk. You can go for a walk spontaneously, and you don’t need to drive anywhere to take one. You simply walk out your front door, and voila! You are on a walk which gives you a heart-healthy, cardio workout. Be sure to keep it up for at least 30 minutes to reap the full benefits of this workout. The whole family can go for a walk together, or you can go alone; your choice! Wanna spice up your walk? Add some walking lunges and/or running bursts! We love to run in a circle around a cul-de-sac. So when you see a cul-de-sac, do a running burst! It’s a fun game, and gives you a mini-HIIT workout during the walk. Love!

Biking: Do you own a bike? Lucky! Take it out for a bike ride for at least 30 minutes, and you can enjoy the fresh air while getting a great cardio workout. If your city streets are not safe for a ride, find your local elementary school and ride around their yard, or use your local high school parking lot and ride laps. It’s a great workout, and it’s heart-healthy. Love that!

Beach fitness: Live near a beach? Or plan to visit one? You can play beach volleyball, run on the beach, and even take a 30 minute walk on the beach! It’s great exercise and works your legs more than on a flat surface. Love that!

Outdoor sports: There are plenty of outdoor sports you can play with a friend at a park or in a roomy backyard. Tennis, frisbee, and golf are all fun, outdoor activities to help you stay fit this summer season. Love that!

I love wearing my adidas Ultraboost 21 running shoes for these activities, and my adidas Stadium backpack is perfect for carrying all the gear I need for summer fun. It’s great to have versatile workout gear which works well for all your favorite activities!

There are so many ways to stay fit this summer! What are your favorite summer fitness activities?

Thanks for stopping by!

XOXO
Cathy

*sponsored by adidias, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

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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