Summer Dreams
            Open skies, open roads, open schedule. When I was a kid, the start of summer brought a feeling of endless possibilities. In the weeks before school ended, my brothers and friends and I imagined what kind of adventures we might have together in June, July and August.
            For a brief moment, the world held infinite possibilities. In an era when weeks packed with summer day camps were not a thing, unscheduled free time was plentiful.
            However, as a natural born workaholic who can’t bear to be still, within a day and a half of summer break starting, my excitement about wide open weeks soon turned to frustration at the lack of routine.
            Despite that, I still felt that exciting, visceral sense of freedom and possibility every year as summer approached.
            In modern American society, the idea of long summer breaks without structure has largely disappeared for both children—who are booked to the gills with summer activities—and for parents who have fallen into the ever-shrinking idea of a vacation, with many thinking even a five-day weekend is too long to take off.
            Though the idea of summer break has evolved, I believe that kids still get excited when the school year winds down and summer looms ahead.
            Is there something that brings that magical feeling of anticipation for you? Tap into things that transport you to a special time and place, and keep putting one foot forward!
            This week’s Hike Notes from the archives, Dipsea Trail from Pantoll, takes readers on a key segment of one of the iconic trails of Mt. Tam in Marin County.
            Check the Home page for the broader background story. Click Insights/Hike Update News for inspiring reflections. Browse hikes on the main Hikes page or on the Hike Search by Area page, and scroll to the bottom of each hike page to see full photo galleries.
            If you’d like to support HikingAutism, check out the Support/Shop page! Check out selected articles and interviews under Media. Click World Walks to see or share favorite family-friendly walks! Stay in touch with Lisa Louis and HikingAutism via Contact. The Links page lists a loose collection of helpful information links. Feel free to share and follow on Facebook at HikingAutism, Twitter at @HikingAutism, Instagram at lisalouis777, and Bluesky @hikingautism.bsky.social
This week’s hike from the archives:
Hike Notes 122: Dipsea Trail from Pantoll

Rippled Reflections
            Reflections are entrancing, in mirrors, glass, or on liquid surfaces. A glassy lake surface is magical, whether on a mirror-smooth day, or when wind and currents create ripples that distort the reflected image.
            A little lake in the park near my house often has perfect reflections of the trees and sky above it, sometimes visually echoing the pink of cherry blossoms, others the bright yellow-green of spring growth on a native tree.
            On a recent visit, we noticed that some old paths to the lake were blocked, guiding visitors to stay on a main path to stop eroding the hilly route we liked taking. Our familiar place had changed, but once in front of the water from the other entrance, it was still the little lake we love. 
            A couple of years ago, a huge, iconic tree that was a hallmark of this lake’s scenery had fallen from a storm, now lying horizontally in the lake itself. No one could keep the storm from toppling the tree, and we had no choice but to adjust to the new look of the lake. 
            Our recent visit featured a lovely, rippled reflection of a tree highlighted with bright yellow leaf tips standing at the lake’s edge. The tree image changed as the wind caused more ripples, creating an Impressionist painting effect.
            One of life’s most helpful skills is learning to accept if not embrace the inevitable changes time brings. Learn to go with the flow, and keep putting one foot forward!
            This week’s Hike Notes from the archives, Metson Lake – Golden Gate Park, takes readers to one of several charming, tiny lakes in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park.
            Check the Home page for the broader background story. Click Insights/Hike Update News for inspiring reflections. Browse hikes on the main Hikes page or on the Hike Search by Area page, and scroll to the bottom of each hike page to see full photo galleries.
            If you’d like to support HikingAutism, check out the Support/Shop page! Check out selected articles and interviews under Media. Click World Walks to see or share favorite family-friendly walks! Stay in touch with Lisa Louis and HikingAutism via Contact. The Links page lists a loose collection of helpful information links. Feel free to share and follow on Facebook at HikingAutism, Twitter at @HikingAutism, Instagram at lisalouis777, and Bluesky @hikingautism.bsky.social
This week’s hike from the archives:
Hike Notes 106: Metson Lake – Golden Gate Park

Summer Stunners
            White, orange and neon pink, creating a zingy tie-dye-like effect. A buttery yellow center melting into pink at the edges of outer petals. Apricot-colored blossoms bursting like pompoms. A classic pink bloom glowing as an iconic representative of all roses.
            Roses can be found in bouquets at florist shops year round, but seeing them in an outdoor setting allows us to see them in different lighting, standing alone or in groups, cloaked under cloud cover or blaring against a bright blue sky.
            Summer is when we can find roses blooming in the Rose Garden in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park. We sometimes take for granted the treasures that await in our regional flower gardens. My family often stumbles upon flowers at peak blooming season purely by lucky timing as we’re out for our weekend walks.
            Do you have a favorite flower that you look for each year? Enjoy flowers whether you seek them out or stumble upon them by accident, and keep putting one foot forward!
            This week’s Hike Notes from the archives, Rose Garden - Golden Gate Park, brings readers to one of the many special feature areas of San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park.
            Check the Home page for the broader background story. Click Insights/Hike Update News for inspiring reflections. Browse hikes on the main Hikes page or on the Hike Search by Area page, and scroll to the bottom of each hike page to see full photo galleries.
            If you’d like to support HikingAutism, check out the Support/Shop page! Check out selected articles and interviews under Media. Click World Walks to see or share favorite family-friendly walks! Stay in touch with Lisa Louis and HikingAutism via Contact. The Links page lists a loose collection of helpful information links. Feel free to share and follow on Facebook at HikingAutism, Twitter at @HikingAutism, Instagram at lisalouis777, and Bluesky @hikingautism.bsky.social
This week’s hike from the archives:
Hike Notes 108: Rose Garden - Golden Gate Park

Heart Focus
            Aiming a camera lens and pressing the shutter when elements in the viewfinder fall into a satisfying composition is something I’ve enjoyed since studying photography in high school.
            Teen angst transformed into calm focus as I aimed my camera at a sculptural ice formation along a snowy creek, the reflection of pine trees on an Adirondack lake, or a patchwork of yellow, orange and red autumn leaves.
            Using the camera to focus energy into something positive to share with others is something I still enjoy all these years later. A life well lived inevitably includes some harsh realities. Taking photos of beautiful things helps smooth the painful edges of life.
            Do you have an activity you love that also makes you feel calm and focused? Embrace those positive facets of your life, and keep putting one foot forward!
            This week’s Hike Notes, Cascade Falls-Mill Valley, takes readers on a walk from a redwood-filled park to a redwood-lined waterfall in Marin County.
            Check the Home page for the broader background story. Click Insights/Hike Update News for inspiring reflections. Browse hikes on the main Hikes page or on the Hike Search by Area page, and scroll to the bottom of each hike page to see full photo galleries.
            If you’d like to support HikingAutism, check out the Support/Shop page! Check out selected articles and interviews under Media. Click World Walks to see or share favorite family-friendly walks! Stay in touch with Lisa Louis and HikingAutism via Contact. The Links page lists a loose collection of helpful information links. Feel free to share and follow on Facebook at HikingAutism, Twitter at @HikingAutism, Instagram at lisalouis777, and Bluesky @hikingautism.bsky.social
New this week:
Hike Notes 233: Cascade Falls-Mill Valley