Outdoor Activities
Exercising outdoors is good for your physical health and has numerous mental health benefits. Dieting culture has created the belief that to lose weight, you must spend more time in the gym and eat fewer carbs. Remember, the gym is only one hour of our twenty-four-hour schedule. Focusing on activities outside the gym can greatly benefit our next dieting phase. What better time to build new habits and introduce a few new activities than daylight savings week. Luckily, we're in sunny California and have quick access to Santa Cruz County's great outdoors. These are some ways we can maximize our local outdoors while having fun; you won't even know you're losing weight.
Hiking
Hiking is a great way to explore the beautiful landscapes of Santa Cruz County while burning calories. Whether picking flat forest lands or steep hills, our local forests have spectacular sceneries that keep you moving for hours. These are just a few of our favorite and highly recommended hiking spots in Santa Cruz County:
Big Basin Redwoods State Park
This park offers a variety of trails for all levels of hikers. The Redwood Loop Trail is an excellent option for beginners, while more experienced hikers can try the Skyline to the Sea Trail.
Wilder Ranch State Park
This park offers a great loop along the coast. It is absolutely breathtaking and one of Envision's favorite hiking spots.
Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park
This park has a beautiful Redwood Grove Loop Trail, perfect for a moderate hike for the family.
Beach Activities
Santa Cruz County has over 29 miles of coastline, which means there are plenty of opportunities for beach activities. These are great opportunities to exercise your cardiovascular health. Here are some fun beach activities, you won’t even know you’re burning fat.
Swimming
Swimming is a great way to burn calories and stay cool during summer. Seacliff State Beach and Natural Bridges State Beach are great options for swimming in Santa Cruz County.
Surfing/Bodyboarding
Surfing requires a lot of paddling, which is a great workout for your upper body, while bodyboarding involves a lot of kicking for your lower body. Santa Cruz has some of the best surf spots in California.
For beginners, we suggest hiring an instructor to have a better experience in the water. We recommend heading down to Capitola beach or Cowells. Andrea and I spent much time in the water last year, and catching waves during sunset has been my best memories.
Beach Sports
Grabbing a soccer ball, volleyball, or even a frisbee makes running around in a new environment a lot of fun. This is great because sand adds an increased resistance, allowing you to build strength, and is low impact which is friendlier on your joints.
Biking
Biking is a low-impact exercise that is great for burning calories and improving cardiovascular health. Here are some popular bike trails in Santa Cruz County.
West Cliff Drive
This scenic route offers beautiful ocean views and is perfect for a leisurely bike ride.
Monterey Bay Coastal Trail
This trail spans 18 miles along the coast and offers stunning ocean and wildlife views.
Forest of Nisene Marks State Park
This park offers a variety of trails for mountain bikers of all levels.
Running | Walking
Running is a great way to increase your heart rate and burn calories. Here are some popular running trails in Santa Cruz County:
Arana Gulch Trail
This flat and easy trail is perfect for beginners and family friendly.
Wilder Ranch State Park
This park offers a variety of trails for runners, including the Old Cove Landing Trail and the Enchanted Loop Trail.
The University of California, Santa Cruz Loop Trail
This 5-mile loop trail offers stunning views of the ocean and the surrounding area.
Santa Cruz County offers a variety of outdoor activities that can help you lose weight and improve your overall well-being. Whether you prefer hiking, beach activities, biking, or running, there are plenty of options to choose from. Don't forget to consult with a healthcare professional before starting a new exercise program if you have any health concerns. So grab your gear and hit the trails or the beach – your body and mind will thank you!
