Walk More Than 5 Miles in a Day, Starting From Home

There are lots of ways to move around the world – biking, driving, taking a bus or train – but if you really want to get to know a place, nothing beats walking. At a walking pace you notice all kinds of things around you. The people, the shops, the homes, the street, the plants, the conversations folks are having.

Going for a long walk - and 5 miles is definitely a long way - also builds your independence and navigation skills, as you’ll cross neighborhoods, maybe even walk straight out of your town or city. It’s an adventure that builds your skills and helps you understand your own community much better. You might be amazed what you find, and how it helps you feel more connected to the place where you live.

Getting Started: A few pieces of preparation will help:

A good map: This might be on your phone, or it could be a physical map. Either way, make sure you have the ability to figure out where you are, and plan out a route you’d like to take. If your parents are ok with it you could diverge from route and go explore, but it helps to have a starting point.
Parent’s permission: This depends on your family, but likely most parents want to know where you’re heading, especially if you’re exploring somewhere new. Once you’ve decided what your route is, make sure to ask your parents if it’s ok. They may know about areas that are good or less good to walk through.
Snacks and/or spending money: Doesn’t hurt, remember that a 5+ mile walk usually means at least 2 hours walking!
Some way to communicate: You don’t have to have a phone, but if one is available, it’s nice to have the ability to call someone in case you’re lost or encounter a situation where some help is needed.
Last but not least – street smarts. This is something to talk to your parents about, as they know your community and what kinds of issues might come up. But in general, make sure you’re aware of a few basics, like how to get help if you are lost or scared (finding a safe place, like a café, library, convenience store, etc, and asking an adult to use the phone), how to use the local public transit system, and how to respond to any suspicious behavior from people around you, like someone following you (hint: head to that safe place, like a café or store, and ask for help). Make sure you have at least one phone number memorized for an adult you can reach at any time. Discuss these topics with your parents before you set off, just in case.