When I think of the Cup of Jo community, three things always come to mind. A love of good books, the saying “babies will be babies,” and exhilarating walks. That’s it! To celebrate the perfect spring walk, we asked our readers to share photos of their favorite trails. Here are some…
Above: “I live in northern Germany, very close to the Danish border. My favorite walks are along the North Sea coast. The smell of salt in the air, the wind in my hair, the sparkling sea.” — Kristin, Suderbrarup, Germany
“After my mother’s funeral, I was walking down the street. Kew Gardens It saved my life. Listening to audiobooks, watching the trees change color in the fall, and seeing snow-covered parks helped me focus on the beauty of the world rather than the sadness roaring inside me. ” — afroma,Toronto
“Every Christmas, my mom gives memberships to my family. north carolina zoo — The world’s largest natural habitat zoo. My kids stop their walks to see giraffes and climb big rocks. The best part is that at the end of the long walk you can take the tram back to the entrance. Feeling the wind through your hair after walking 10,000 steps is heaven!” — Erin, Asheboro, NC
“These magical dunes in Death Valley may seem barren and bland, but they’re full of life. Think about it: beetles leaving patterns in the sand, red foxes running around in the dark. That’s my happy place.” — Hilary, Moraga, California
“A friend of ours owns a cafe four blocks from our house. It’s the perfect place with neighborhood warmth, comforting food, and it’s safe enough to let our kids walk alone.” — Emily O., Pittsburgh
“On a recent visit to my dad in Vancouver, I got to join him on one of his epic walks. He’s 84 years old and does a two-hour power walk every day. Seeing the cedar cathedral always calms him down.” — Emily, Boston
“For the past 10 years, my beloved sheepdog Olive and I have walked hundreds of miles on this trail in Dallas. I have processed major life decisions, made “hi-bye” trail friends, and merlin I was trained to identify local birds and trained to walk the Camino of Spain. When Olive passed away in 2024, I didn’t know if I could go back. But after a six-month hiatus, the trail welcomed me back with room for tears. Now, several years later, I am with an amazing boyfriend. This path has seen me in many different ways. ” — Erica, Dallas
“My son Davey was born a few weeks early. When he got home from the NICU, we started going for walks in Central Park. He learned to see color when the trees changed color, and he still laughs every time a bird flies overhead. The best thing about this winter is that he never lost his mind. It was a good reason for me to have a baby. The first few weeks were scary, but watching him grow up to pack his stuff in a stroller and smile at dogs and flirt with strangers was a miracle.” — Julia, New York City
“I love walking by the rice fields near my parents’ house in an Indonesian village, where I can see the volcano Mount Merapi towering over me.” — Laras, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
“While I was being treated for breast cancer, walking along this forest path near my home became a sacred routine. Even when I lost my hair and had zero energy from chemotherapy, I would put on my shoes and go out. I told my family, ‘I’m going to church!'” AlisonAix-en-Provence, France
“Rain, shine, or too windy, I walked this lake path every day during my maternity leave, which kept me sane and put my son to sleep. The Ontario government closed this lake for a controversial redevelopment project, and I’m currently on my second mat vacation. It’s so nostalgic. This is our city’s green space. May we continue to find ways to protect it!” — Jessica, Toronto
“Prospect Park is my favorite place to walk in New York City. It’s amazing how the seasons change.” — Shruti, Brooklyn
“When our kids were toddlers, our favorite walking spot was the Montmartre Cemetery. It was five minutes from our apartment, there were no cars, lots of cats, and interesting statues. They rode scooters without a care in the world. Once, when my daughter was three, I told a family friend that my daughter was very interested in death and cats. I had to jump right in and explain.” — Michel, Paris
Where is your favorite place to walk? We’d love to hear from you…
PS Some fun facts about walking, Joanna’s favorite sneakers for long walks, and other great reader comments.
Source: Cup of Jo – cupofjo.com
