Bicycling and hiking are two of my three favorite sports activities. (The third is Nordic skiing.) These are two destinations that I adore:
When hiking the Dolomites, you almost feel like you can touch the clouds.
The Lofoten Islands in Norway are ideal for cycling. Here, the mountains meet the sea.
Wherever I travel, I include outdoor activities, whether cycling, hiking, walking or cross-country skiing. These are three venues that offer phenomenal hiking opportunities.
Hut-to-hut hiking in the Dolomites is a rigorous but enchanting experience.
To truly experience the drama and beauty of the Grand Canyon, I hiked all the way down to Phantom Ranch, stayed overnight and then hiked back up the next day. (Going down is definitely harder on your legs.)
All my many trips to Norway involved outdoor adventures, including hiking in Jotunheimen National Park.
Strolling along the trails in this expansive wetland (Marais de la Riviere-aux-Cerises) is a treasure for bird watchers and eco-focused visitors alike.
A walk along the Greenwich Dunes Trail is a must-do when visiting Prince Edward Island. The setting that includes serpentine boardwalks (including a floating boardwalk) and tall sand dunes couldn’t be more bucolic.
Even in cloudy weather, strolling along the floating boardwalk is an enthralling experience.
Walking along the Black Marsh Trail in western Prince Edward Island couldn’t be more idyllic. You’ll see dramatic cliffs, curious botanicals, numerous bird species and this signature rock that’s red, like much of the land on PEI, because of iron oxide.
Whether in the forests with their dense canopy or the red rock cliff tops with stunted foliage and towering wind turbines, I ambled this trail, feeling like I was wandering through a wonderful dreamscape with butterflies fluttering about, delicate orchids growing near my feet, the azure sea crashing far below, and the occasional eagle soaring overhead.
The clouds swell and the sea churns as a prelude to the arrival of Hurricane Fiona in Prince Edward Island. Here, I notice the rustling of the tall grasses, and the humming of a wind turbine that rises in the distance.
One minute I was in a quiet Connecticut suburb (Trumbull) and the next, I’m on a bucolic trail, wading through fallen leaves and pine needles in the wooded Pequonnock River Valley.
Just two hours from New York City, Greenport on the North Fork of Long Island is a more low-key alternative to the scene in the Hamptons.
Roaming around Greenport early in the day before high season started has many advantages, including finding artistic shapes outside restaurants that had not yet opened.
I found plenty of artistic inspiration in Greenport, Long Island even without visiting the myriad galleries.
In fact, not all the creative art in Greenport, Long Island is displayed in the galleries.
A short drive from Main Street, numerous shaded boardwalks zig-zag through the wetlands that provide abundant bird watching opportunities in the Arshamomaque Pond Preserve, which was renamed for an environmental champion, Paul Stoutenburgh.
When I travel all the way to Tahiti, I can assure you it’s not for sun, sand and sea. No, for me a trip to Tahiti is all about connecting with the verdant and wild interior. Tahiti has hikes and activities for all skill levels, whether you’re a thrill seeker or you prefer a more chill vibe. I recently interviewed Gisele Moana Tromeur, Tahiti’s first female nature guide, on her recommendations. Here’s my article for Forbes Life.
Ridgefield, Connecticut has managed to preserve and maintain so many green spaces that they have an entire book devoted to these. (The Ridgefield Walk Book is sold in town.)
The Woodcock Nature Center is one of these green spaces.
One of the loop trails in the Woodcock Nature Center wanders beside wetlands and across snow-covered pedestrian bridges over the myriad waterways. When I recently hiked there, I was completely alone in the woods that are laden with old oak, maple and hickory trees as well as a network of low stone walls,
As I’ve continued my explorations in Ridgefield, Connecticut, I found that the Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum has been hosting an outdoor sculpture exhibition. Frank Stella’s Stars are perfectly placed in the snowy landscape.
A few minutes from Main Street, I found a tranquil hiking trail in the Seth Low Pierrepont State Park that paralleled the lakefront and then angled into the woods.
Just one hour from my home in New York City, Ridgefield, Connecticut is blessed with abundant green spaces.
In addition to lush expanses, Ridgefield also is known for its creative institutions. Near the trailhead for the two-some-mile rail-trail — a converted rail corridor— I spotted this photo mural outside the Ridgefield Guild of Artists. This is Miles Davis by Anton Corbijn.
I’ve hiked all over the world. And, by far, the trail that always puts a smile on my face when I think back to my journey is the Camino dos Faros (Lighthouse Way) in Galicia Spain. A streaming Spanish program recently invited me to talk about my experiences on this trek and why I adore this trail. This is my 10-minute interview with Cristina Alonso.
At most any posh accommodation, pampering is de rigueur. But, I look beyond the spa features and wine tastings, craving myriad outdoor experiences. Two luxe properties in Aberdeenshire, Scotland are not only set in bucolic surroundings, but both are rich in activities that connect guests with the natural environment. This is my latest for Forbes on Glen Dye & Cottages and The Fife Arms.
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