Walking for entertainment, also known as recreational walking, is a lost art in our community.
Although recreational walking is a popular leisure activity that involves taking a walk for enjoyment, relaxation, or to explore your surroundings, too few Artesians utilize this form of recreation. Recreational walking can be done alone or with friends and family and can take place virtually anywhere in Artesia.
Recreational walking has numerous benefits for physical and mental health. It is a low impact form of exercise that improves cardiovascular fitness, strengthens muscles and bones, and reduces the risk of chronic illnesses such as heart disease, diabetes, and obesity. Walking can also have positive effects on mental health, reducing stress, anxiety, and depression, and improving mood and cognitive function.
Many may remember the Fitbit craze of prior years, and the magical 10,000 steps a day for longevity and overall health. The first 10,000 steps a day campaign started ahead of the 1964 Tokyo Olympics by a Japanese company, Yamasa Corporation, as a campaign to sell their new step tracker, a pedometer named Manpo-Kei which means 10,000 step meter in English, according to an article by Matthew Ahmadi for Inverse.com.
So, how far are 10,000 steps? For the average walker, 10,000 steps equal about 4.5 miles of walking. In Artesia, you can cover many points of interest in a four-and-a-half-mile loop.
The most obvious point of interest is walking Eagle Draw—the city’s longest walking track, registering at around three miles, or 6,500 steps, depending on your entry point. This is a lovely place to stroll, containing paved sidewalks interspersed with playgrounds, exercise equipment, picnic tables, and benches.
If you are leaning toward an “on-foot staycation” walk, check out the 20+ points of interest within a mile or less of downtown Artesia. Follow the Artesia Arts & Cultural District’s mural trail, consisting of nearly a dozen murals within a 2,000-step route. In only 1,700 steps, walk to all nine bronze statues located between 1st and 6th Streets and Texas and Quay Avenues.
Short on time? Create your own mosaic tile trail, starting at the Land of the Sun Theater, through Heritage Walkway, on the east side of B&B Newsstand, and ending at the tiled Artesia sign next to the Trail Boss Bronze, for a speedy 675 steps.
Literature and history more up your alley? Hit up the Train Depot and Artesia Visitor’s Center, Artesia Public Library, and the Artesia History Museum and Art Center in only 1,100 steps.
You could walk to all the parks south of Main Street (Central, Jamaica, Jaycee, and Davis) and barely surpass the 10,000-step range with 10,550 steps.
Start early in the day and do a tour of the water structures in Artesia: Heritage Walkway, the Derrick Floor, MLK Splash Pad, and finish up at the Artesia Aquatic Center. You will have 5,500 extra steps left in the tank to walk off in the lazy river at the aquatic center!
Perspective is everything. The average person walks at least 2,000 steps at a big box store loading up on weekly groceries. Why not reset your frame of mind to search for and even welcome opportunities to travel on foot? Not only is it good for mental and physical health, but walking will also provide a different view of your surroundings. This summer, Artesia is the place to experience it!
