San Diego Strolls: Name that Palm
Until I moved to San Diego, I thought a palm tree was, well, a palm tree. But the longer I lived here, I began to notice differences. When I made a switch from riding my bike everywhere to walking more...
After spending the summer reading books about nature, I've noticed an interesting pattern. I started this series reading about how nature affects the human brain. Then I explored how it influences health, stress, creativity, attention, belonging, and community. But The Light...
The Transformative Power of Shared Outdoor Experiences: A Book Review of A Walk in the Park
Many books about nature focus on personal benefits like lower stress, improved health, greater focus, a stronger sense of wonder...yes, those benefits matter, but A Walk in the Park by Kevin Fedarko explores something equally important: How outdoor places bring...
San Diego Strolls: The Science Of “Blue Mind” as You Walk Along the Bay
I’ve mentioned in this column that my go-to walk is the Embarcadero. Why? The obvious answer is that it’s downtown’s premier uninterrupted pedestrian path (and by “uninterrupted,” I mean, no red lights or major street crossings). But there’s something else...
Getting to Know a Place Through Movement: A Book Review of Walk, Ride, Paddle
Most of us move through our communities quickly, often driving here, there, and everywhere. The United States, in general, seems set up for getting to places via motorized vehicles. As a result, we often know how to get around a...
San Diego Strolls: There's no such thing as a "seagull"
While walking along downtown San Diego’s Embarcadero with a birder friend, I learned something that surprised me enough to send me down an internet rabbit hole: there is no bird species officially called a “seagull.” The birds I was casually...
Meet the People Behind The GO Deck: Kierstyn Beck
Behind The GO Deck is a group of people who are passionate about helping others discover nearby nature. From local photographers and writers to interns and expert consultants, these individuals help bring our products to life. In this series, we're...
Nature Teaches Us How to Belong: A Book Review of The Serviceberry
Many books about nature focus on what we can gain from spending time outdoors: better health, lower stress, improved focus, greater happiness, etc... Robin Wall Kimmerer's The Serviceberry asks a different question: What can nature teach us about how to...
San Diego Strolls: Jacaranda’s Purple Season
In recent months, certain streets in downtown San Diego appeared to have experienced purple rain. The trees lining the streets burst into clouds of bluish-lavender blossoms, and as they shed these blooms, the sidewalks became carpets of soft purple petals. ...