Dear churchill007,
I must admit this is a bit of an unusual question. However, as an amid
hiker, I'd be pleased to answer your question.
I live in the city. However, public transportation, and the fact that
I could arrive parks and other green spots quiet easily, makes it
quiet comfortable for me to walk also in nature.
Walking outdoors is actually considered much of a city sport as it is
a country sport, and you could enjoy walking, whether you do it in a
shopping mall (when it is absolutely cold), in a park, or actually
travel somewhere in order to hike.
I usually walk around my neighbourhood, Treptow. I am pretty lucky,
because the city I live in is full of parks and is very comfortable. I
live pretty close to two parks. The first, Treptower Park is near the
port and goes all the way south by the river. One of its attractions
is the "Sowjetisches Ehrenmal? (Soviet Memorial,
<http://www.sowjetisches-ehrenmal-berlin.de/>), where there is a
memorial for soldiers who died liberating Berlin.
But this is only one place where the best features of walking outdoors
are intertwined: learning something about the environment, walking (as
a sport), and of course, enjoying a green, relaxing environment.
I also enjoy traveling to further places, especially around Mueggelsee
(see: http://www.wguides.com/city/9/175_67455.cfm), a huge lake in
Berlin, which is part of Koepenick, Treptow's "sister" town. I also
enjoy just walking down the street, seeing new things, although of
course, walking during day light in the parks (or in the summer, also
at nights) is much more fun.
Parks are normally full of trees and grass, of various kinds. This is
for vegetation. There are also animals - from the "mundane" birds, to
deer (it is so exciting to see one!), foxes and other wild animals. Of
course, you should add the city animals: dogs that are taken for a
walk in the park...
Speaking of animals, the only thing I am sometimes afraid of, during
these hikes, are wild boars. Imagine you are walking down a forest (in
that case, in a place in Brandenburg called Kleinmachnow, not really
far away from Berlin), and suddenly you see a sign "Beware of Wild
Boars". Seconds later you also hear a noise next to you, and luckily
for me, the boar was more interested in something else, apparently and
I was far enough not to be noticed. I heard that train attendants in
Berlin have a pack of the meat snack Bifi (http://www.bifi.de/), to
tempt wild boars outside the stations, where they sometimes get during
the summer...
The area of Berlin and Brandenburg is pretty plain and flat, and that
means that it is pretty easy to walk - hiking actually doesn't include
much climbing and also older or less mobile people could enjoy an
outdoor walk in Berlin and the area.
More Information and Links Regarding Walking Outdoors
=====================================================
General
-------
The following sites and directories will demonstrate to you issues and
tips regarding walking.
Yahoo! Directory Outdoors > Walking
http://dir.yahoo.com/Recreation/Outdoors/Walking/
Walking tips for beginners
www.bbc.co.uk/berkshire/outdoors/ berkshire_way/tips.shtml - These
tips refer specifically to Berkshire Way, but would be helpful to
anyone who would like to take up walking outdoors as a sport.
Gay Outdoors - Walking
http://www.gayoutdoors.org/page.cfm?sectionid=150&parent=134
Is a great source, for gays and non-gays alike, about walking, and
contains articles, routes, tips, and much more.
John Partridge, "A guide to walking outdoors"
www.btinternet.com/~jhpart/walk.htm -
A very useful article on walking.
Babies and walking
http://www.devonoutdoors.co.uk/walking.htm
On Walking with a baby/toddler.
Commercial Sites
----------------
The following sites sell an array of walking-related products.
Naturally, they are the tip of the iceberg of such commercial sites
online and they just represent how vast the subject of outdoor walking
is, also from the commercial aspect.
OIA : Outdoor Industry Association
www.outdoorindustry.org/
Not a commercial site, but a site that has many details on the outdoor industry.
Surplus & Outdoors - Walking Boots - Hiking Boots
www.surplusandoutdoors.com/ishop/877/shopscr558.html -
A store that sells walking equipment
Navigational Courses, Group Walking, Outdoors - Walkwise Walk
http://www.walkwise.co.uk/images/Other%20Services/Navigation%20Courses/
navigation_courses.htm
A site that offers courses in Navigation and other outdoor walking sports
Latta Outdoors - Walking In Series
www.lattaoutdoors.com/shop/topic/walkingin.html -
A list of guide books on walking in various parts of the world.
Walking in specific areas
-------------------------
Lake District Outdoors - Walking in and around Cumbria
http://www.lakedistrictoutdoors.co.uk/walking.htm
Walking in Cumbria - from the Google Directory
http://directory.google.com/Top/Regional/Europe/United_Kingdom/England/Cumbria/Recreation_and_Sports/Walking/?il=1
intercelt - outdoors - walking
http://www.intercelt.com/level2/level2.php3?cat=16 - about walking
outdoors in Ireland
BBC - London - Where You Live - Real London Outdoors - Walking
www.bbc.co.uk/london/whereyoulive/ outdoors/walking.shtml - walking in London, UK.
Real London Outdoors, walking London
www.transportforlondon.gov.uk/ tfl/rl_outdoors_walking.shtml
More on walking in London
Crieff, Comrie & Auchterarder - Sports, Golf, Walking, Outdoors
http://www.strathearn.com/st_outdr.htm - walking routes in Scotland
Glasgow West End: Outdoors: Walking and Hillclimbing
http://www.glasgowwestend.co.uk/out/outdoors/
Walking with giants
http://travel.iafrica.com/outdoors/278933.htm
Walking with elephants (!) in Africa.
Outdoors: Walking along the beach
St. Petersburg Times Online: Sports. Devil Rays Forums. Home Sports columnists
Hubert Mizell Gary Shelton Darrell Fry Buccaneers College ...
www.sptimes.com/News/050500/Outdoors/ Walking_along_the_bea.shtml -
30k - Cached - Similar pages
Tourism Yorkton: Outdoors: Walking tours
www.tourismyorkton.com/walkingtours.html
Walking in Yorkton, Canada
Savannah NOW: Diversions: Outdoors: Walking distances 12/00/00
http://www.savannahnow.com/diversions/stories/120100/OUTwalkingdistances.html
Walking in Savannah, Georgia
Scottish walking routes
www.scotlandonline.com/outdoors/walking.cfm
I hope this answers your question. I searched the web for "outdoors
walking" and "walking outdoors" in order to find information for you,
and based the answer also on my personal experience.
Please contact me if you need any further clarification on this answer
before you rate it. |
