My Favorite Places to Take a Walk (When I Don't Feel Like Hiking)

Not every day calls for a hike.

Sometimes I don't want hiking boots.

I don't want to climb a hill.

I don't want to check how many miles I've walked.

Sometimes I just want to get outside.

Take a deep breath.

Move a little.

And enjoy where I am.

That's one of the things I appreciate most about living in San Luis Obispo County.

There are plenty of places where a simple walk is more than enough.

These are the places I find myself returning to again and again.

Moonstone Beach Boardwalk Never Disappoints

If someone asks me where they should go for a relaxing walk, this is usually the first place that comes to mind.

The boardwalk isn't long.

That's part of its charm.

You don't need to commit to an afternoon.

You simply park, start walking, and let the ocean do the rest.

Some mornings the waves are calm.

Other days they're loud enough to drown out every conversation around you.

Both are equally beautiful.

I never seem to walk this boardwalk at the same pace.

Sometimes I stroll.

Sometimes I stop every few minutes to watch the surf.

There's no wrong way to enjoy it.

The Morro Bay Embarcadero Is Always Worth Another Walk

There are very few places where I slow down as naturally as I do in Morro Bay.

Maybe it's because there's always something to watch.

Fishing boats heading out.

Sea otters floating in the harbor.

Pelicans patiently waiting for breakfast.

Even if I've walked the Embarcadero dozens of times, I still find myself stopping.

Not because I have to.

Because I want to.

Paso Robles City Park Is My Favorite Everyday Walk

Some walks don't require ocean views.

City Park has become one of those places for me.

I'll grab a coffee downtown.

Walk a lap around the park.

Watch people going about their day.

Kids playing.

Neighbors catching up.

Someone reading beneath one of the old oak trees.

It's simple.

But that's exactly why I enjoy it.

Bob Jones Trail Feels Like the Best of Both Worlds

If you want something a little longer without calling it a hike, Bob Jones Trail is hard to beat.

The path is wide.

The grade is gentle.

You'll see walkers, runners, families, and cyclists all sharing the trail.

By the time you reach Avila Beach, you've almost forgotten you were exercising.

That's usually a good sign.

Sometimes the Best Walk Isn't Planned

One thing I've noticed over the years is that some of my favorite walks weren't on my calendar.

I'll finish lunch in Cambria.

Instead of driving home, I'll wander through town for a while.

Or maybe I'll park in downtown San Luis Obispo just to see where I end up.

Those unplanned walks usually become the memorable ones.

You notice a mural.

A bookstore.

A garden tucked behind an old building.

The kind of things you'd miss if you were in a hurry.

Walking Helps Me Notice More

Driving gets you there.

Walking lets you experience it.

You hear conversations drifting from café patios.

You smell fresh bread coming from a bakery.

You notice flowers planted outside a storefront.

The details become part of the day.

That's one of the reasons I try to park once and walk whenever I can.

The Best Walk Is Usually the One You Didn't Rush

I don't think I've ever finished one of these walks and wished I'd gone faster.

Quite the opposite.

I usually wish I'd stayed a little longer.

Sat on one more bench.

Watched one more wave.

Ordered one more cup of coffee.

If you've read my article "The Local Restaurants I Keep Recommending to Friends," you'll know I almost always suggest taking a walk after a good meal. Around here, the walk is often just as memorable as lunch or dinner.

You Don't Have to Go Far to Feel Better

We sometimes think getting outside has to be a big event.

A long hike.

A day trip.

An ambitious adventure.

I've learned it doesn't.

A thirty-minute walk can completely change my day.

Especially when it's somewhere that reminds me why I love living here.

Sometimes that's all I need.

Maybe That's Why I Keep Coming Back

I've walked these places in spring.

Summer.

Fall.

Winter.

I've watched fog roll across the coast.

I've watched the vineyards glow in the evening light.

I've watched families, visitors, and longtime locals enjoying the very same paths.

And every time I leave, I think the same thing.

I should do this more often.

Maybe that's the real beauty of living on the Central Coast.

You don't always need a destination.

Sometimes all you need is a good place to walk.

Amber Johnson, Founder
Pillar Real Estate
805.835.3425
[email protected]
1345 Park St. Paso Robles, CA 93446
DRE# 01925434