At the end of this month, my husband will be traveling to Colorado with some friends to hike up Mount Bierstadt, a 14,065-foot-high mountain summit. (I’m very jealous that I don’t get to guy. Guys trip.) We live in Florida. Where it’s flat. So back in February I suggested he start walking every day to work up his stamina. He’s a healthy guy, works out at the gym regularly, but has never been to that altitude. The round trip to the summit takes about eight hours. Certainly not a stroll in the park.

As the trip grows closer, I wanted to find a place close to home to go hiking so he’d get used to walking a good distance. Ten minutes from my house is Brooker Creek Preserve, which has turned out to be a wonderful place to hike. I’ve driven by the entrance to the park dozens of times and have never stopped to check it out. Did I quickly discover what I was missing!

Our first time there, we walked 5.6 miles in 2 1/2 hours. It didn’t take us long to acclimate to the heat. We went early in the morning, which helped. The paths are shady and once we got moving, our rhythm helped to make the time enjoyable. When we finished, the temperature was hovering close to 90 degrees.

The main loop is 4 miles. If there is no standing water blocking the way, that is. Of course, we didn’t know that, although the name Blackwater Cutoff should have given us a clue. We had to backtrack a few times, which made the trip longer, but I had my trusty walking stick to help me along.

For our second trip, we had a better idea of which trail to follow. No water! We did the entire loop in 2 hours. Still hot, but we got so caught up in the beauty of the preserve, it wasn’t uncomfortable. We had plenty of water, just in case. My husband also carried the backpack he’ll be taking on the trip, filled with necessary items to get used to the weight. What started out as a way for him to get used to walking for miles was a great time for me too. (Especially since I didn’t carry any weight!) I’m actually the one in the family who likes to hike, usually dragging everyone else along when we go on vacation.

We will certainly return to hike the preserve before and after my husband’s trip. It’s amazing that the natural hiking paths are so close to home, yet we’ve never been there. A gem of a find and a great place to spend a few hours minus the phone, social media, and all the stresses of everyday life.

It’s also a reminder of what a magnificent world God has given us. You can’t walk through a place like this and not marvel at God’s creation. God is good!

Tara Randel is an award-winning, USA Today bestselling author. Family values, a bit of mystery and of course, love and romance, are her favorite themes, because she believes love is the greatest gift of all. Look for her latest Harlequin Heartwarming romance, HER SURPRISE HOMETOWN MATCH, available now. For more information about her books, visit Tara at www.tararandel.com. Like her on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/TaraRandelBooks. Sign up for Tara’s Newsletter.