outdoor fitness

Relaxing family walk

 in General Fashion  tagged family / outdoor fitness / outfits / staycation / summer 2020 by

We finally visited Hakone Gardens! OK, you might be wondering what I am talking about. Well, let me introduce you to a hidden gem in Saratoga, California; Hakone Gardens!

These beautiful Japanese gardens are located in Saratoga just past downtown as you head south-ish on highway 9. Hakone Gardens is a relaxing property which includes Japanese Gardens, a small museum, and event areas. The gardens are currently set-up to encourage social distancing with one-way signs, and some areas blocked off to walkers. It made our visit very private, relaxing, and safe. Loved it!

The self-guided tour is a nice and relaxing walk along the paths inside the gardens. There is a little bit of uphill and downtown walking, making it a nice little exercise. I would place this walk in the easy hike category. It’s a great place to bring kids!

Hakone Gardens is a great place to see some local Japanese history too. It is over 100 years old, and one of the oldest Japanese estates in the Western Hemisphere. You can learn more at Hokone.com.

If you decide to visit, be sure to wear walking shoes and bring some water with you. It took us 45 minutes to walk through the gardens on the designated pathway.

wearing: earrings / mask / grey tee / black joggers / necklace / gold chain bracelet / chain cuff / turquoise and gold cuff / summer nail polish / blue handbag / white sneakers /

I’m looking forward to returning to Hakone Gardens in the near future. It’s so nice to have a beautiful place to visit and walk around, so close by!

Thanks for stopping by!

XOXO

Cathy

Rancho San Antonio County Park hiking trails in Cupertino

 in Fitness  tagged family / hiking / hiking gear / outdoor fitness / summer 2020 by
rancho san antonio perserve hiking trails cupertino review

Rancho San Antonio Park is a large Santa Clara County Park with a series of hiking trails, and a small farm. I have always wanted to hike there, and we finally did!

We took our family hiking at Rancho San Antonio County Park on a Saturday morning, when we thought it might be slow. We were mistaken! This is a popular park, and the multiple parking lots fill up quickly. I recommend getting there well before 9am if you want an easy time finding a parking space.

Although the park is heavily trafficked, it is very large, so it can accommodate a large volume of hikers; even during this time of social distancing.

Rancho San Antonio County Park hiking trails are set up to ensure social distancing. The county made the trails one-way, so you cannot turn around and go back. Get ready to hike!

The one-way trails are a gift, and a curse. If you get tired, you have to keep going; there is no turning around and going back from where you came from. Luckily when my kids saw the one-way signs, they were mentally prepared to gut it out. They did the whole hike!

We were out there for two hours, and hiked roughly four miles. It was really fun, and a very pretty hike. While there wasn’t an abundance of views, as there are on other trails I have covered, there was a cute farm, known as Deer Hollow Farm, and lots of trees. We loved the large amount of shade on these trails! The shady trails are perfect this time of year.

The one-way trails may end at a different parking lot than the one you started at. Don’t worry, all the parking lots are in a line, so you can easily find your way back to the lot where your car is parked.

The terrain isn’t very steep, this hike is more sloped; making it ideal for families with children, and anyone who isn’t into steep hikes. I would say this is an easy hike, but right now, it is long-so bring water and snacks!

There is a mask ordinance in the State of California, so you will need to wear a mask while hiking Rancho San Antonio Reserve hiking trails. I like to hike while wearing a balaclava which is easy to pull down around my neck when no-one else is around. You can wear any mask you are comfortable hiking in.

Rancho San Antonio County Park hiking trails are easy to find. Take the Foothill exit off 280 and head west. Turn right onto Cristo Rey Drive and drive a couple minutes until you see the large sign. Then you can enter the parking area and find a lot with open spaces. You can’t miss it! It’s easy to find 🙂

Have you hiked on the trails at Rancho San Antonio County Park in Cupertino? What are your thoughts?

Thanks for stopping by!

XOXO
Cathy

Almaden Quicksilver Park Mine Hill Trail

 in Fitness  tagged almaden quicksilver / family / hiking / outdoor fitness by
Quicksilver Mining equipment on display at the Almaden Quicksilver Park Hacienda Trailhead in San Jose.

We are have having so much fun exploring the trails in Almaden Quicksilver Park! We decided to park at the Hacienda Trailhead in order to catch a trail from there. It was fun to see some historical mining equipment near the trailhead, and learn more about the quicksilver mining history in the area. Isn’t the equipment cool!

There are a few trailheads you can catch at the Hacienda entrance, and we decided to hike the Mine Hill Trail. It was a nice, uphill hike with views of Almaden Valley’s more rural areas. We could see historical homes, buildings, and rolling hills. It was really pretty. The trail was wide too, allowing for easy social distancing.

Mine Hill Trail in Almaden Quicksilver Park was slightly busy, but I believe it was due to the fact that hiking is one of the few things open right now.

This trail attracted more than just hikers. We encountered a lot of bike riders, and a few runners and dog walkers. The bikers rode pretty fast, and as a hiker, you had to be aware of them or you would get run over. Just a warning 🙂

Once again, I wore my balaclava as a mask. It’s easy to slip up and down when people are around. I would say 80% of the people on the trail were wearing masks. If you go, be ready to turn your head if someone comes by without a mask.

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This was a great trail for my kids to hike on. It wasn’t too steep, and they were able to keep up with only a couple of breaks. There was a mix of bright sun and shade during the hike. It was a comfortable hike, and it felt like medium intensity. We really enjoyed the Mine Hill Trail!

I hope you are getting out there and enjoying the nice weather! To find the Hacienda Trailhead in San Jose, take Almaden Expressway to Almaden Road. Continue all the way through the historical part of Almaden. Shortly after the museum, which you can’t miss, you will see the parking lot for the trailhead. There are several trails you can catch there. We will definitely go back!

Thanks for stopping by!

XOXO

Cathy