Let’s face it – it’s been dreary recently here in the ‘Boro. A foot of snow, a new record for yearly precipitation and guess what? The New Year starts with several days of rain – go figure!
But let’s play a hypothetical. One day -perhaps a weekend- it will not rain, at all. I’m talking about those glorious days of the past, 60s and no cloud in the sky. Remember those? They have happened before and when it happens again, Greensboro may just turn into the running of the bulls, with everyone rushing outside to soak in their share of the Vitamin D that helps our bodies absorb and retain calcium for bone strength (there’s your medical tip for this blog).
Perhaps, like me, you want to explore the ‘Boro, see what’s changed in the 6 months since it was dry. This blog is for you – 5 Places to Go for a walk or Run in Greensboro. Some may be the typical choice, some you may know of but have never been, and perhaps you may even find a new one you’ve never heard about – until now. Here’s the list:
1. Country Park and Military Park – This is a Greensboro stable. Go out on any Saturday morning and you are bound to see plenty of people getting their workout on. Multiple trails abound, as well as the wider car/walk pathways. Country Park/Military Park allows for a wide range of distances from a centralized location, incorporating nature (Hello deer), history (There was a battle here once…), and even the chance to see the progress of the new happenings at the Science Center (Hello Carousel, coming soon). If you’ve walked/run here before, perhaps stop into the Military Park Welcome Center(when there isn’t a shutdown) and take the official tour and learn about the history of the Guilford Courthouse. There’s a good chance you’ve lived here for years and never took the history lesson – unless you’ve been on a RunnerDude RunTheBoro run with me as a pace leader – then you have!
2. Greensboro Arboretum– Perhaps your fancy is a more foliage based experience. The Arboretum is a 17-acre site features 14 plant collections, special display gardens and distinct structural features and is open year-round. The garden was formally opened to the public in 1991 and according the the website- “a living gallery of beauty, a learning laboratory for all ages, and a unique place for a tranquil walk.”
3. Bog Garden/Tanger Family Bicentennial Gardens – Keeping with nature’s decorations as your backdrop, the combination walk at the Bog Garden and Bicentennial Gardens can provide you an opportunity to experience nature in the midst of the city. The Bog Garden route takes you through natural wetlands with a variety of animals and plant life. A quick cross of the street can show you sculptures, more plant life, at a look at a mill built reminiscent of the 1780s history of the site.
4. Bur Mil Park/ Greenway Trails – For those looking for a more rugged path, the access to walking/biking/running trails at and around Bur Mil Park and the connecting Atlantic-Yadkin Greenway provides miles of lakeside and hillside fun. More than 42 miles of trails surround the source of the city’s watershed, allowing for great sights, chances to see animals and foliage and weekends of new adventure before repeating routes.
5. Downtown Greenway – Perhaps the newest feature, and still in the works, the Downtown Greenway provides a unique way to see the downtown scenes. See the ballpark, unique wall art, and other sights of downtown and explore your city while getting active. A detour route, utilizing existing roads and crosswalks is available.
So there it is. 5 options to get the opportunity to get out, see our city and nature, all while getting active and exercising – for FREE. Of course this isn’t a complete list of all the cool places to take a stroll in the area, but it’s a great place to start. Feel free to let me know what other cool areas are out there.
*Public Service Annoucement*
If you want to get out and moving and are limited by a pain or ache, an evaluation at Greensboro Physical Therapy can help you identify the causes and help you get active PAINFREE!!