We are a walking family. Dare I say the family that walks together stays together? 

If anyone knows my husband Mick, he literally cannot sit still. Throughout the years Mick and I have accumulated several places we enjoy walking. The girls sometimes join us, but luckily they are at an age where we can pop out for an hour alone on a Saturday afternoon.

Walking is a great way to exercise without getting shin splints and, to be honest, it is a great way to exercise. It is low impact, inexpensive and what better scenery to distract you from the fact you are on your way to fitting into your “skinny jeans.”

Beyond exercise, we look forward to the breath taking views of Lewis Bay or a wild turkey waiting on a front stoop for his lunch, literally tapping on the screen door to be let in. (Yes, there is a house in Hyannisport with several species of fowl living in the backyard.) And we always have a camera, you know, just in case. 

My father enjoys walking too, so maybe you have seen the three of us—winter coats, hats, gloves, sunglasses—hitting the pavement or the sand around town.

My absolute favorite thing to do is to take a walk with my family. We walk, talk and enjoy the sights around us. 

Here are my five favorite walks in town:

At the top of the list is Kalmus Beach in Hyannis.

I have a special place in my heart for Kalmus because as a child it is where I spent my summers. Before retirement, my parents were teachers and my father worked as the superintendent through the Barnstable Recreation Division at Kalmus Beach in the 1970s and 1980s before we started running the snack bar.

My summers were my mom spreading out her blanket and chair and us kids having the whole “back beach” to play on all day, everyday.

On the back beach is where you will find those fantastic views of Lewis Bay. We walk along the bay side, over the jetty and down the ocean side or “front beach.”

If you are lucky, you can stand on the jetty and wave to the boats headed out to Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard.

Our second favorite walk is when we park at Keyes/Sea Street Beach and head up the stairs to marvel the panoramic views of Hyannisport. We walk across to the roundabout, up the hill past The Breakwaters and down Gosnold Street toward Kalmus Beach. About three-quarters down Gosnold Street we usually take a right onto Estey Avenue and walk to the beach and back.

The third favorite is to park at the Centerville Recreation Center. We head down to Craigville Beach, past CBA, to Covell’s Beach and back again.

What better “eye candy” than the huge expanse of the water on your left as you stroll down the parking lots. It is very calming.

This next one Mick calls the “Osterville walk.” It is kind of obvious - it is in Osterville.

We park at the end of Wianno Avenue at the beginning of Sea View Avenue by the small lot that overlooks the ocean. We walk all the way to the other end of Sea View Avenue. The water is on the left along with majestic homes. It is beautiful. 

If we head to Cotuit, we park at the Cotuit Library on Main Street and head down to the resident’s only beach and back. Again, lovely views and lovely homes. 

Walking is an important part of my life for some very simple reasons. I love spending time with my family and it is a perfect way to nab some exercise during quality time. 

What about you? Where do you walk and what do you do to keep a clear head? If you like being outside like I do, where do you like to go? I would love to hear about it. Share your favorite walks in the comments section.