Articles Reflecting a Vegan Lifestyle used with permission from All-Creatures.org

Staci-lee Sherwood reflects on why autumn is the perfect time of year to reconnect with the natural world in all its splendor. Let this article—and Staci-lee's beautiful photography—inspire you to get out, explore, and enjoy the changing landscape and local wildlife this season.

Autumn is a great time to explore nature
From Staci-lee Sherwood, RealityChecksWithStacilee.com
September 2025, updated November 2025

Photo Credit: Staci-lee Sherwood

Autumn is a great time to go explore the outdoors. It’s a way of connecting to where we belong. We are as much a part of nature as the trees and flowers, we just forget that sometimes. The months of autumn come as a relief from the heat of summer and a warm delight before the cold of winter sets in. This makes for the best time to go walking because cooler temperatures are easier on the body and less likely to cause dehydration. Hiking up mountains is particularly healthier in cooler temps.

This is also the time when many species are looking to find a mate. Deer, wild horses, bison and elk will have the males engaging in fierce battles as they compete for breeding rights with females. This is a prime time to go hiking in the wilderness with a camera to watch nature play out as it has for millions of years.

The Mississippi River in full autumn colors. Photo Credit: Staci-lee Sherwood

Benefits of walking and hiking

There’s nothing like a breath of fresh air and hearing the rustle of leaves as you talk a walk. Autumn is the perfect time to start, or restart, a healthy life plan. Daily exercise of just 15 minutes is what doctors agree can help improve your heart health and a host of other things like hypertension and stress management. Unlike gyms all you need are good walking or hiking shoes and the desire to go. No fancy equipment or expensive memberships are required and it can be done anywhere and at any time. No other exercise plan can boast that. Walking can be done at any pace, alone or with a crowd. You can listen to music, bring a camera or just enjoy the sounds of nature. According to the Mayo clinic the benefits of walking are:

• Helps maintain a healthy weight
• Improve cardiovascular fitness
• Strengthen your bones and muscles
• Increase energy levels
• Improve your mood, cognition, memory and sleep
• Improve your balance and coordination
• Strengthen immune system
• Reduce stress and tension

The bright colors of autumn in the north always brings a smile. Photo Credit: Staci-lee Sherwood

Walking on the beach in autumn is great exercise and much more pleasant in cooler temps. Photo Credit: Staci-lee Sherwood

Connect with nature

As summer winds down the trees change color and then drop their leaves in preparation for the cold winter. It’s a time of regenerating for new life in springtime. Connecting with nature brings its own rewards and combining that with exercise makes for a perfect healthy life plan. A walk in the park is a great way to relieve daily stress from dealing with coworkers, noise pollution and the job commute. Now more than ever it’s important to reconnect with our ancestral roots. We humans were originally nomads and for many of us that lure of travel and exploration still thrive. It lives within our DNA. Many studies have been done showing how a simple walk lowers blood pressure and relieves stress. Other studies have shown that petting a cat or dog can do the same. Combining a brisk walk or long hike while enjoying nature can do wonders for your mind and health.

Getting out into the wilderness makes us appreciate the quiet and peacefulness that a busy life can miss. Despite all the technological advances it’s nature that centers us and brings back harmony and balance we can’t find in a noisy city or work space. As the global population explodes and development is everywhere it’s vital we stay connected and work to preserve the open wild spaces we still have, for both our own species and those that call it home.

Upstate New York in late autumn. Photo Credit: Staci-lee Sherwood

Yellow Bladderwort still blooms in the south in late autumn. Photo Credit: Staci-lee Sherwood

A young male White-tailed deer uses a branch to rub the velvet off his antlers to sharpen them. He’s too young to breed this year but next year he’ll be an adult. Photo Credit: Staci-lee Sherwood

A Bobcat on the prowl. In the fall a female with kittens will be looking for shelter from the cold up north while the males roam waiting for late fall / early winter breeding to start. Photo Credit: Staci-lee Sherwood

Comfortable walking shoes and hiking boots is all you need

When shopping for walking shoes comfort is #1. A shoe that fits properly and is comfortable while walking will help you walk longer and farther. Look for shoes or boots with the most cushion, if needed add cushion for maximum comfort. Soft thick socks are the best way to prevent blisters and sore feet. Durability in shoes, especially hiking boots, is key because you’ll want a shoe that handles rugged terrain and can last more than a few months. When you’re feet feel good your whole body feels good and that’s a boost to your immune system and overall health. Internet shopping may be quick and easy but buying shoes in a store is the best way to insure a proper fit that will last through all your adventures.

Also published on The Good Men Project on October 27, 2025
https://goodmenproject.com/featured-content/autumn-is-a-great-time-to-explore-nature/

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Posted on All-Creatures: November 11, 2025
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