Fat Girl Goes Fit: Howarth and Spring Lake Park

I've come to enjoy some of the perks of living in Sonoma County. I'm not a crazed wine drinker or a hipster by any means, but I love how much nature there is to enjoy all over this county. When I do not feel like taking a long drive (or paying for expensive gas), my go-to walking trail is Howarth Park and Spring Lake in Santa Rosa, CA.

When you follow any of their many trails, you will find yourself exploring both areas. I never enjoyed the heat that comes along with exploring Sonoma County, but many of the trails here have trees to give you moments of shade and the adjacent lakes are glorious. Many families and couples seem to venture here for chats, picnics, and dog walking but you can really do many things here. From fishing to swimming (though not during this pandemic), there are many things for people of all ages.

I had ended up on a trail today that included mini fitness spots to try different workouts, which I felt was a cool idea. Being someone working on her low self-esteem, I thought breaking out of my shell to try these workouts would be a tad embarressing but loads of fun. Wow, who would've thought that someday I would describe workouts as "fun"?

This place can get packed, so there will be times where I cross my fingers in hopes there will be parking. I should also mention that, while many people I've come across during my walks are kind people, Santa Rosa has a handful of rude and entitled citizens. I suppose you can't expect much from one of the "big cities" in Sonoma County.

Overall, I seem to always find my way back to Howarth Park. Follow the many trails and you'll always come across something new. Until my next adventure!

Location: 9/10

Difficulty: 1/10

Beauty: 9/10