Taking a walk in a city park may not be at the top of most folks' list of morning activities as windchills begin to usher in cooler temperatures after an unseasonably warm December.
However, as someone who lives within the city, I have found that our parks offer many benefits to be enjoyed all year long.
Huff Park in winter, our only nature preserve within our city limits, presents an opportunity to not just experience the recently restored/replaced and (now) elevated boardwalk, it offers as well a quiet space for reflection, quiet conversation, and observation of nature.
Switchback Gear Exchange, a local shop focusing on the resale of sporting goods within the Cheshire business district, is inviting folks to join them on a special morning walk within Huff Park on Wednesday, Jan. 22 at 9 a.m.
Rather than focusing just on a walk in the park on a cold winter morning, Switchback, which offers SOS Courses for folks looking to expand their skill set, have created a fun themed event,
Hot Drink Walk at Huff Park, to warm you up while building connections with your fellow walkers and also with nature.
Folks are to arrive at the park at 9 a.m. where they will discover Switchback staff making hot drinks over a camp stove before inviting folks to join them to walk the 1-mile loop with your piping hot beverages. (If you have to take into the park a disposable cup, please note that Huff has limited trash collection cans in the winter.)
This is a great way to get your healthy steps in for the day as you enjoy your coffee, tea, or hot cocoa while making new friends hiking through this winter wonderland of a nature preserve within the city.
Dogs are welcome if on a leash. (No dogs should ever be off-leash as Huff is a natural habitat for wild animals.)
If you have a favorite mug, thermos, or coffee/hot chocolate/tea hot mix to contribute, then please bring it to share with your new friends. Just do not miss a chance to see Huff Park in winter while making new friends. It is truly a beautiful park worth exploring.