For me, spending time in the woods at any time of year is a rejuvenating experience. Almost as soon as I step into the woods my mind begins to ease as my worries fall away. The further away I get from the sounds of the manmade world as I walk deeper into the woods, the more I am able to connect with the nature around me and forget about the stresses of my life. Walking in the woods rekindles my spirit and this is even more true in winter. When I take these walks I get the feeling that once I totally relax my mind and enjoy the woods completely and unequivocally for just what they are and nothing else that the nature around me actually is glad to have me as a visitor. I am not there to change anything just to enjoy what I see – maybe to learn from it if I am lucky. If I tread lightly on the natural world around me I feel that I am a welcome guest.
The real beauty of such nature experiences is that they are not unique to the Carolinas. If there is forest near where you live then you can enjoy similar experiences near your home. Even if you do not live in or near a forested area you can enjoy nature walks with equal reward in desert, mountain, swamp, beach, and even urban terrain. Included in my Steve’s Carolinas Travel Tips section below are links to some of my favorite local parks with wooded nature trails and I encourage you to look for parks in your area of the world that offer nature experiences as well. They are often under-used and could use the support of local nature lovers. Happy winter nature walking!
Steve’s Carolinas Travel Tips
My favorite parks with forested nature trails in the Greensboro, Winston Salem, and High Point area of North Carolina: Piedmont Environmental Center - High Point, NC - Consists of an environmental education building with gift shop, 376 acres of protected land, 11 miles of unpaved nature/hiking trials some of which meander along High Point City Lake, and access to Guilford County's Bicentennial Greenway.
Bicentennial Greenway - Greensboro and High Point, North Carolina - This 16 mile trail connects High Point City Lake to Guilford Courthouse National Military Park. Much of this trial is paved and appropriate for walking, running, and bike riding. The majority of the trial runs through wooded areas.
The copyright of the article Walking in a Wooded Winter Wonderland - Page 2 in North & South Carolina is owned by . Permission to republish Walking in a Wooded Winter Wonderland - Page 2 in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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