Walk it out – Riverview Park in Sebastian is a popular place to hang out and enjoy the outdoors. Large oak trees create a canopy of shade and are home to many squirrels and birds. With a scenic and airy view of the river, it’s an excellent venue for special events and parties. Particularly in the early mornings and evenings, you will find many people here feeding

the wildlife, exercising their pets, and socializing with friends and family. Quite honestly, it’s probably my favorite outdoor spot in Sebastian.

What I love most about Riverview park are the 2 running and walking pathways it offers. One path winds its way through the trees in the park’s main area, and the other is a marked 3-mile course along the river. Running and walking these trails are extremely popular with Sebastian residents, and it’s a great way to take in the sights and sounds of the park while getting some exercise.

If you’re not the running type, walking is a great substitute. Walking helps burn calories, ease joint pain, boost your mood, and increase energy. It can also improve cardiovascular function, reduce cholesterol and strengthen your heart. These are all amazing benefits to walking and should be great motivators to get you out on those trails.

Anyone who is not use to walking long distances, or have some joint or back issues, should start by walking on the sidewlks in the central part of Riverview. There are many benches and pavilions along the way, so you can stop and rest if you need to. Keeping track of your distance or the amount of time you walked is a great way to see how much you progress over the weeks and months.

For the more experienced walkers, you can kick it up a notch by trying some of these boosters. They will help kill boredom and give you some added strength and endurance to your daily walks.

Interval Pace: Increase your speed for 30 seconds, then return to your normal pace for 30 seconds; repeat 10-15 times.

Go the Distance: Increase the distance of your walk by .10 of a mile each week.

Take it all in stride: Walk normal steps for 10 steps, then take larger steps for the next 10. Repeat 10-15 times. Stop and squats: Stop every minute and complete 10-15 squats. Or at the nearest park bench, sit down and stand back up 10 -15 times.

Whether you’re just beginning to add a daily walk to your routine or you’ve been doing it for years, the beautiful scenery of Riverview Park and the health benefits of walking should be enough to get you out and moving.

Bring along your furry friend, and don’t forget to smile and wave at all the other people out there. And if you see me running along the river, feel free to say “Hello!”

Signup for the free Sebastian Daily newsletter for your chance to win free dinners and merchandise!