What if…we could find our center this fall without traveling far from home?
We’re looking forward to our late early fall trysts this year for a few very special, very healthy reasons.
I have been talking about the benefits of a good time that the Delaware River provides us all summer – from the adventures we have with our friends and family on the water to the memories we make under the stars, from our riverside campsites, with our tent flaps open and the breeze rustling through the trees. We’ve made a lot of memories, found a lot of friends, and even celebrated one of the greatest music events of human history this year. And whew, it’s sure been a lot!
With the autumn air, crisp and inviting, calling us out and about, it’s come to mind that we need to take a few minutes, a couple hours, a day or two, to just unwind and remember the great things that we have right here in our backyards. Some food for thought on things to be thankful for before Thanksgiving and some cheer to splash into our buckets before the Christmas season.
That’s a little deep – let me take a step back and explain what I mean here.
This fall, we’re bolstering the need to go outside and catch as much of that fresh air as possible before the snow hits us in a couple months. Cool thing is, with our special little hamlet in the Delaware River region we are perfectly positioned to take complete advantage of the natural world around us. That’s right – I’m talking about a river adventure.
One of the most beautiful things about the region is the plethora of ways to experience the river that make it easy to ditch the car, and the couch, for a couple of hours and warm up with some fresh air. A river adventure is one of those things that you can do with us for three seasons of year and will always get something different out of it. In the summer, you’ve got that high intensity work out under the grueling sun; in the spring, you’ve got that last frost feeling slipping out of your bones and the river run off; in the fall, you’ve got that last breath of warmth before the world gives way to Jack Frost and his hoard.
River adventuring has some great physical and mental health benefits.
Rafting, canoeing and kayaking has been proven to have a plethora of benefits for both your physical and mental status – something that is increasingly important as we head into the holiday season and our kids get deeper and deeper into that school year grind.
For starters, it has been proven in several major studies that it improves your cardiovascular fitness. Work on your core, work on your balance, and work on losing a little bit extra around the waist before those big holiday meals can all be added to the list of benefits that come from those endearing nature walks. Or work on building your relationships with those you invite with you.
A benefit (and my personal favorite) is that a river adventure, like any other outdoor activity, has been proven to improve your mental health. A couple of years ago, Stanford did a study that proved that one of the best things we can do for our mental health is go outside. Through their work with their Natural Capital Project, they have led the way in scientific research toward the benefits of nature on the human psyche. What their findings have boiled down to is that, at the end of the day, people need to go outside to feel…well, human.
And what is the best thing to do after a river adventure?
Go camping and hiking! Our Narrowsburg and Skinner’s Falls campsites are near some local favorite hiking trails like the Tusten Mountain Trail on the New York side and the Damascus Forest Trail on the Pennsylvania side. Both of these beautiful, relatively easy to traverse trails allow for ample time along the Delaware River and are a short drive away.
There is nothing better after a day on the river than a s’more, a ghost story, and the sound of the world settling around you on the other side of your tent. Our beautiful campgrounds also have comfort amenities, like running water, and activities for the kids to help you relax after your day’s adventure. We’ve got nothing better for you to do than stick for some camping with us and some hiking in the Delaware River region. We’re heading into one of the most stressful times of the year and we all need a break. So, spend some time on the river, grab some of your favorite refreshments, a waterproof speaker so you can play some of your favorite tunes on the river, and some of your friends, and get out there.
We’ve still got a couple weeks of good weather ahead of us and we’re looking forward to some time on the river and pitching a tent afterwards– hopefully we’ll see you there!
River tip: Okay, more of a hiking tip, but there’s a reason why trail mix is called trail mix. I recommend a hearty nut and dried fruit blend for your hiking snack, it’ll give you an energy boost without weighing you down too much.