It seems on the top of almost everyone’s new year’s resolution list and if you are the typical American, you’ve probably already fallen off the wagon by the time you are reading this. We all have good intentions of exercising, but unfortunately for many, it stops there.
It doesn’t have to be that way. There are loads of fun options for exercising in the DeLand area that you may not know about. One might be just for you.
1) Spring-to-Spring Bike Trail. If biking is your thing, western Volusia County has you covered. When complete, the Spring-to-Spring Trail will stretch 26 miles from Gemini Springs Park to DeLeon Springs State Park. It is being designed to accommodate walkers, joggers, in-line skaters, bicyclists and people with disabilities. To date, Volusia County has completed several segments of the trail totaling nearly 15 miles.
2) Me Strong 5K. 5K races are great to hold you accountable. On January 28, 2012 the first ME STRONG Linda’s Run for the Dream took place in Historic Downtown DeLand. The race was initiated when four women, Kim Winters, Barbara Underhill, Kim Martin, and Kathy Guyer wanted to honor their friend Linda Ryan who was diagnosed with recurrent cervical cancer at the age of 43. The event has grown each year with over 2,500 participants last year raising $100,000. This is a walk/run, so it’s not just for runners. This year’s event is January 28, 2017, and you can sign up here.
3) YMCA. DeLand has several gym facilities, but none more popular for families than the YMCA. There is literally something for everyone, including:
4) Walking/Jogging Trails. If you enjoy walking or jogging in the open air, there are several tracks that are safe. Earl Brown Park has a great one-mile path that is not far from Downtown DeLand. If you want a little more open space and trees, Lake Beresford Park is just the place. There is a 1.8-mile multiuse trail that follows the perimeter of the parcel. This trail connects to the Spring-to-Spring Trail mentioned above.
5) Kayaking/Canoeing. Volusia County is fortunate to have many opportunities for paddling trails in inland waterways on the east side and on the St. Johns River on the west side. It is a great way to get exercise while enjoying pristine waters and wildlife. The county has several state-designated paddling trails. The Hontoon Dead River Paddling Trail is a 10-mile paddling trail in west Volusia County. The trail travels along the St. Johns River and around Hontoon Island. Paddlers may follow the Hontoon Dead River or Snake Creek. Also, Deleon Springs and Blue Springs parks have kayak and canoe rentals.
Whatever your flavor exercise, we wish you a healthy 2017!