As I prepared for my walking adventures this spring, I spend a good deal of time searching for a walking route with smooth, even footing, gradual inclines and declines, and a shaded trail that goes on for miles and miles. I know, I thought it would be easier to find a unicorn in a haystack, but to my great surprise and good fortune, such a trail does exist.

On the hottest day of late spring, I found the most walkable trail in North Jersey called the Paulinskill Valley Rail Trail.

It’s appropriate that I post this on the last day in May as the monthly topic in my book Walking Inspiration is on tracking your progress on your way to health and fitness. My 16-year virtual run around the United State is a great example of tracking progress! Keeping a record of your walking miles will provide you with a wealth of information on your fitness progress. This brings me to my “Virtual Walk Around the United States” and how I’ve tracked my running, now walking miles, since January 1, 2004.

I love coincidences and I’m amazed how often they happen in my life.

So, how does a coincidence wind up in a post about walking in High Point State Park? It all began late last summer when I received an email from John Zaccone the creator of the app Walk the Distance. John read my website bio about My Virtual Walk Around the United States and wanted my input about his app. Basically, when you use Walk the Distance, the walking and running mileage measured by your health app is transposed onto a map of the Appalachian Trail. In effect, you are doing a virtual walk (or run) of the AT.

Malls, the large structures full of stores, teenagers, and memories of stress-filled crowded holiday shopping days. But let’s step away from the crowds, do something that will save you money, and possibly your life. Mall walking for fitness and health is a great way to get fit, stay fit, and do it within a climate-controlled environment. Now listen to the Audio Version!

I just started walking the Appalachian Trail, would you like to join me? No need to bring your backpacks or tents though, I am walking the AT using an iPhone app called “Walk The Distance”.

Piermont, NY is a quaint little town in southern New York nestled between the Palisades and the Hudson River. It's a town more noted for the number of bicycle riders that travel up from New York City than for walkers but, because of the low volume of car traffic, walking in Piermont, NY is a great way to spend several hours!