We at the PD have been running a nice little feature this month called ‘Brighten Your Holidays’ which are daily suggestions for fun things to do this holiday season. The other day, the PD’s Bob Norberg pointed out that checking out Jack London State Park could be a pleasant holiday diversion for hikers. Here’s the story.

While the park is closed on Thursdays and Fridays this month, due to state budget cuts and holidays, otherwise it’s accessible and worth exploring. I went out there about a year ago and thanks to some wayward walking, ended up far off the property and somewhere a bit off track. But we regrouped and found our way back.

Anyways, the Jack London article made me think about other ideas for holiday-season hikes. It’s hard between the shopping, holiday commitments, and eating to squeeze in day-long, all-encompassing hikes like I would do other times of the year, but I’m going to try.

What are your suggestions for some fairly easy holiday-season hikes? Maybe places that you love going back to again and again? Or little-known nearby spots that are clearly secrets in our backyard?

(Here’s one of my favorite spots, described well in words and images by my PD colleagues Mary Callahan and John Burgess.)

Drop me a line in the comments section below and I’ll post your suggestions here.