Welcome to Broadway Stages’ Spotlight, where we feature local shops, restaurants, organizations, individuals, and venues. The beginning of every new year is a wonderful opportunity to develop your mind, body, and spirit. This month, we will share places and opportunities for you to do just that. This week, we suggest you take a walk! And we will give you a few good options for taking a walk with your like-minded neighbors.  

With the new year, Broadway Stages wants you to take time to take care of yourself. With this month’s spotlight series, we are giving you options to make this a time of growth and healing for your mind, body, and spirit. And one of the best ways to recharge your batteries is to take a walk. As the ancient Greek physician said, “Walking is a man’s best medicine.”

To the outsider, New York City is a concrete jungle. But those who live in the city know there are many good options for a comfortable walk that blends the best of city living with green space. NYC’s park system is home to 300 miles of trails. As you explore these beautiful parks, you’ll encounter all kinds of wildlife, from the majestic ospreys nesting high up on utility poles to turtles sunbathing on rocks in the ponds. These trails snake through some of the oldest forests in the city and past 10,000 acres of wild and untouched natural areas, glacial potholes, and bedrock you can see and touch. Along the way, you can also visit historic places that give a glimpse of old New York and tell the story of our city. For more information on the trails available to you in each of the city’s boroughs, click here and visit their calendar for upcoming events. 

If you are looking in Queens on a Saturday, consider joining the Happy Hikers at Forest Park. While this group often hikes the nature trails of Forest Park, they occasionally walk at other locations. Their Saturday mornings start at 10:30 a.m. and average around three miles with only slight elevation changes. They post their events on Meetup.com and ask that you RSVP. Dogs are allowed on their hikes, but they must be on a leash per NYC leash laws, and owners are responsible for all behavior/actions of their dogs.

Looking for a hiking group on Staten Island? So was James Warchol in 2018. So, he formed the Staten Island Hiking Meetup Group. Since then, it has grown to one of the top eight hiking groups in NYC. This group hosts both weekday evening and weekend morning hikes and sometimes Full Moon hikes. The length of the hikes vary in time and distance. They have even been known to go for a bite to eat or go to a winery. For those parents looking to get their kids unplugged from their devices, the group has started to host Family Hikes when the public schools are closed. 

Shorewalkers New York is a nonprofit group that mainly explores the coastlines of Brooklyn and Manhattan. But they walk over and under bridges, detour to city streets, and hike park paths. Their mission is to enjoy, enhance, and protect the parks, promenades, and trails along the water in and around the New York City metropolitan area. They also want to educate the public and enhance the health of its members. Their signature event is The Great Saunter, a 32-mile walk around the shoreline of Manhattan, which takes place the first Saturday in May. Recently, they launched a second one, the Virtual Great Saunter, to enable members to walk 32 miles anywhere in the world in any number of segments. This group is funded by a reasonable $20 annual membership fee. 

As you think about the best ways to invest your time and money in the new year, Broadway Stages would like to point to the wise words of British Historian G.M. Trevelyan: “After a day’s walk, everything has twice its usual value.” Check out these options for a good walk, or simply ask a friend to join you for a stroll because an investment in yourself will always pay off.