Some things in life are predictably unpredictable - kids, fishing, the roulette wheel - but perhaps the most predictably unpredictable thing that affects our lives on a daily basis is the weather.   There’s nothing like a rainy day to throw a kink into your plans for a long walk or jog, or to go get some exercise at the local metro park.  For those who don’t have a gym membership, including myself, we have to get creative with our workouts when mother nature throws us a curve ball. Below is a 15-minute workout routine that can be done in a small space without the use of any equipment. All you…

On Sept. 17, Kensington Metropark will be hosting the 28th annual John Rogucki Memorial Kensington Challenge.  The event will host both a 5K walk and a 15K run.  Proceeds will go to The Wounded Warrior Project, a foundation focused on helping rehabilitate wounded veterans who incurred service-related injuries on or after September 11, 2001.  The Wounded Warrior Project (WWP), based in Jacksonville, FL, aims to serve veterans who suffered both physical injuries as well as mental trauma while serving.  WWP has 13 specialized programs and services to help meet each individuals needs. The WWP …

One of my favorite things to do during a clear summer night is to lay on my back in the grass, or in a hammock and enjoy the stars above.  I’ve taken a couple of astronomy classes at Eastern Michigan University, but am far from being able to identify the majority of celestial bodies ahead. Having an expert or a tour guide nearby to point things out can be quite helpful sometimes.  Next weekend, Kensington Metropark will be hosting their 15th annual Astronomy at the Beach, an all ages event for astronomy enthusiasts. The event is hosted by the Great Lakes Association of Astronomy clubs and …

A couple of weeks ago I highlighted a couple of beginner-friendly disc golf courses in the area that are great places to be introduced to the sport and to play your first few rounds.  This week, I would like to show the proper way to throw a disc golf disc since it is very different from throwing a frisbee that you would use to play catch with. Disc Golf is played much like ball golf is, except instead of clubs and balls, specialized aerodynamic plastic discs and metal baskets are used. The object of the game is to have the disc come to rest inside the basket in the fewest amount of throws. …

Instead of getting depressed that the weather is cooling and the summer is coming to an end, now is a great time to enjoy the mild late summer weather and to get some good exercise outside. The Fit-Trail at Kensington Metropark is the perfect place to do it. Kensington’s Fit-Trail is a great way to get a fun balanced workout, consisting of 20 different stations that each have their own set of exercises to be performed before moving on to the next station by jogging or briskly walking. The first couple of stations that you will encounter are aimed at getting you warmed up and your blood …

Linda Brown has no problem standing on the surface of still waters. In fact, she enjoys teaching others how to do yoga and Pilates on water.  No, Brown is not a witch nor a powerful sorceress (if that was your first thought you’ve been watching too much Harry Potter). Brown is a Stand Up Paddle Board (SUP) instructor and independent business owner who has passion for teaching other people new ways to get out and enjoy being on the water. SUPing is not a new sport, having been born in the Hawaiian islands in the early 1960’s, though it’s introduction to the Great Lakes is fairly recent. It …

Few Brighton residents may realize it, but nearby Kensington Metropark is a bird watchers paradise, boasting over 170 species of birds that visit the park each year. The wide variety of bird species can be attributed to the park's vast array of ecosystems, from rolling meadows to lakes and bogs. My favorite area to bird watch within the park is along the 2.5 mile Wildwing Trail that skirts Wildwing Lake near the park's nature center, as it offers the widest variety of birds versus any other trail in the park. Early in the trail, as you pass through a swampy area, keep your eyes peeled for Red…

You may not know it, but there is an abundance of hidden treasures scattered throughout the city of Brighton and its surrounding parks and recreation areas that are waiting to be found by it’s residents. "Geocaching" is a relatively new recreational activity where players try to locate hidden treasures, called geocaches, that are hidden in public areas. Players use a GPS and the internet as tools to help them find each cache. Often one cache will hold clues as to the location of the next cache. Caches are generally small containers that can contain anything that past geocachers have left …

Summer just wouldn’t be complete for many Brighton residents without pulling at least one fish out of Mill Pond. Local artist and children’s book illustrator, Mike Glenn Monroe, said that he remembers spending countless hours fishing at Mill Pond as a boy.  In fact, it was those hours spent down on the boardwalk, and those boyhood memories that served as inspiration for one of downtown Brighton’s newest sculptures, a four-foot long sculpture of a blue gill titled “It’s a Keeper,” located near the Imagination Station playground. Indeed, fishing roots go deep at Mill Pond Park, with this year …

What better way is there to spend a hot July day than out splashing around on the water? At Kensington Metropark, boat rentals offer Brighton residents a fun, cheap way to cool down. Kensington’s boat rental offers a few different types of vessels to fit you and your family’s needs. One and two person kayaks, as well as rowboats, canoes and paddle boats can be rented by the hour. The park requires that all rentals are pre-paid, however if you return your boat early, some of your money will be returned. Life jackets are provided at the rental area as the park requires them to be worn at all …

Disc golf is a fun sport that is accessible to people of all ages and abilities and is really easy to pick up. There are a few beginner-friendly courses in and around Brighton that are great places to play your first rounds. The game is played much like ball golf is, except instead of clubs and balls, specialized aerodynamic plastic discs and metal baskets are used. The object of the game is to have the disc come to rest inside the basket in the fewest amount of throws. Many disc golf courses are played through the woods using the trees as obstacles to add difficulty to the course. The …

The Brighton Recreation Area boasts two beautiful, well-maintained hiking trails that offer Brighton residents a great way to get out and enjoy nature. For a short hike, the Kahchin hiking trail measures two miles in length and meanders through a dense hardwood forest, interspersed with small, but scenic meadows throughout.   Parts of the trail wind through boggy wetlands, so bug spray is essential, especially if you are planning for a morning or an evening hike. There are mild elevation changes throughout, with only a few semi-steep inclines that must be traversed.   The rolling terrain and …

The crown jewel of Michigan disc golf courses recently went into the ground in anticipation of the annual United States Amateur Disc Golf Championship that will be held at Kensington Metropark Friday through Sunday. Disc golf, a rapidly growing sport, follows rules similar to golf but uses discs and baskets instead of clubs and balls. The famed, “Toboggan Course,” is installed at Kensington solely for the tournament and only stays in the ground for a couple weeks each year, making it something that disc golf enthusiasts look forward to all year long.   The course offers a disc golf experience…

There are very few times in the average golfer’s life where he or she has a chance to bag a hole-in-one on a par 4. Fortunately for Brighton residents, every time they play The Jackal Golf Club they get a chance on the very first tee. The Jackal is located on Mt. Brighton and plays up and down the mountain’s dramatic ski hills providing golfers a very unique golf experience. With tee elevations as high as 180’, the course offers amazing views of the surrounding area.   The first hole, a par 4 dog leg right, has golfers tee off from the very top of the mountain. On the cart ride to the first …

Riding that first trail of the season is an exciting thing for mountain bike enthusiasts. After excruciating weeks of anticipation waiting for the snow to melt and the ground to dry out, hitting the trails for the first time is truly a sign that winter is long gone, and spring and summer are here to stay for a while. However, it's not a good idea to go full throttle at first and try to shred the trails like you did at the end of last fall. It's important to take it easy the first couple times out to let your body adjust. For the first ride, it's a good idea take a trail that is easy to …

As we wake from our long winter slumber and dust the snow off our shoulders, for many of us the burning desire to get outside and do something is overwhelming. Fortunately, for Brighton residents there many different ways to spend a beautiful Spring or Summer day out in the sunshine at one of the surrounding metroparks or state park recreation areas. Below are just a few of the activities that are offered at these facilities. Bike Trails Kensington Metropark has a 8.5 mile paved bike trail that circles around the picturesque Kent Lake. This trail isn't very difficult for most, but offers a …