Before our hike, we stopped at a local coffee shop to get some caffeine and a savory treat. The dogs wished we had gotten them pup cups, but they got plenty of treats once we hit the trail.

Instead of going somewhere we’ve been a hundred times, we took a chance and visited a new trail at a familiar park. It was a little nerve-wracking at the beginning (having reactive dogs can do that), but it was well worth it, and reminded me how fun it can be to explore new places close to home - something we stopped doing as much once we settled into a routine.

This trail was a hit though! It was mostly empty, with long narrow dirt paths leading us among the trees, sunlight streaming in through the branches. Down the hill, you could see the road we drove in on, and the lake we paddle boarded on last summer. Partway through the hike, we stumbled upon an old cobblestone building, and got to explore it a bit with the dogs before continuing on.

We only ended up hiking a small portion of the loop trail before turning back, but even though we stopped early, being surrounded by nature, with only ourselves for company, was truly therapeutic in a way I didn’t know I needed.