NORTHWEST ARKANSAS — Even the slightest hint of autumn puts me in the mood to get outside. Arkansas is once again a wonderful place to be now that the hottest part of the summer seems to have bid us farewell, at least for the moment. The cool eve- nings and milder daytime temperatures indicate that we have endured the worst of it, and the sky seems to have finally remembered how to rain again.

Life is good here in the Ozarks. It is time to enjoy the natural state once more and, in my case, to reclaim a regular outdoor exercise routine.

Last week, I heard once more a presentation by Donald Wleklinski, pro- fessor of mental health studies in the school of nursing at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, regarding how very impor- tant it is to the overall well- being of both children and adults to spend time out of doors. Studies have proven what we already know, or at least what I believe. There are all kinds of benefits to spending time in nature. I believe God created us with a need to connect with him through nature. We’re go- ing to feel better if we do that in some capacity. And, the good news is, we live in a great area to make this happen, with options widely varying depending on how far from home we want to wander. Here in our corner of

the state, the number of walking, biking and hiking trails is growing, as more towns, parks and other or- ganizations get on board in supporting these kinds of recreation and exercise opportunities.

I spent some time on city sidewalks and walk- ing trails a few evenings last week and it was great to see so many others out doing the same. Families on bikes, mothers push- ing baby strollers, cross country teams practicing and friends chatting as they walked in pairs were all part of the scene. It was good to get out.

For those who are more serious about hiking and want to mingle with oth- ers with similar interests, several outdoor-focused groups sponsor hikes throughout the year. These events naturally pick up as summer heat dissipates and more bearable hik- ing conditions re-emerge. IfIcancomeupwitha relatively inclusive list of NWA groups who regularly sponsor group hikes, I will pass that along in the future.

For those who don’t nec- essarily want to hike, but still want to enjoy other great things our state has to offer, there is no end to possible options. Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism’s website (www.arkansas.com) is a great source of ideas. One of my favorite links on the site is “one tank travels,” at which readers are urged to have “more fun per gallon” by visiting various destinations around the state that take one tank of gas or less. There are interesting suggestions on the website described by writers after their visits, and I think there are plen- ty in our area that could be added. I’d like the job, actually.

For more ideas, the state parks site, www.arkan- sasstateparks.com, also holds a wealth of infor- mation about all 52 state parks around Arkansas, things to do and related events.

No matter how much or how little a person wants to hike, fall is still a terrific time to get outside and experience some of the many benefits nature has to offer. Sometimes it takes extra effort to break our usual routines, but getting outside is one of the easi- est ways to improve the quality of life. At the very least, dust off the patio furniture and spend some time sitting outside listen- ing to evening sounds, or take a walk around your yard or neighborhood. Just get out, breathe fresh air, get some exercise and observe the cool things of nature. And, if at all pos- sible, take a kid with you.

Annette Rowe is a free- lance writer from rural Gentry and a speech-lan- guage pathologist at Si- loam Springs High School. She may be reached by email at [email protected].

Opinion, Pages 6 on 08/29/2012