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When I mention I love smoothies to serve as one of my meals throughout the day, I get assumptions from most people that perhaps I am a frequent customer of Smoothie King. They would be correct, I certainly do visit and consume many of Smoothie Kings products.

It makes me think about how perhaps Smoothie King might be the most popular name brand of the smoothie franchise if not in the US, than the world. Their flavors and way of how they do their smoothies have grown on me over time.

I realized by the taste of many of their smoothies, Smoothies King likes to employ vitamins and supplements for whatever nutrients could be needed for whatever the workout purpose is. Whether its for muscle building, weight loss, or energy boosting, many of their items are pre- formulated with a vitamin or supplement as part of the base ingredients. It could of course be swapped out for something else or not.

Their smoothie categories range from from bulking up, slimming down, kid friendly, and vegan options. I usually go for their vegan options when I visit their shop.

I must say my favorite item from them is the Super Nutty whole grain and definitely their Daily Warrior.The Daily Warrior is perfect for me as it has ingredients I usually look for to fulfill my nutrition needs. It has spinach for iron, berries for energy, and nut butter for protein. It fills me up right everytime.The Nutty Whole Grain, is so ideal for regulating my digestion system. It’s packed with fiber. I customize a lot of their green smoothies. I usually ask to add almond milk or almond butter if available. Smoothie Kings products satisfy a whole array of ages and dietary needs.

As with many smoothie shops, you can also make your own option. Their prices to me are really affordable, while in many of their establishments you can get a decent size smoothie for under $9. Quite a bargain. They also have Acai Bowls offered at many of their locations. I would rank their bowls awesome as well.

As mentioned earlier,  Smoothie King is nationwide, and some stores work with third- partry food delivery services if you cant pick it up in person.

For more information on Smoothie King, please check out their website here: https://www.smoothieking.com/

When you discover something new or life- changing for the better, if other options or alternatives come about, one still must give appreciation to the first introduction they’ve ever had. This mini soliloquy goes to the smoothie shop Robeks.

The first smoothie I ever had was not from Robeks, but Robeks was the first delicious-tasting smoothie I ever had. Does that make sense? It completely helped me with my dietary and clean food eating way of life. It introduced me to juicing, which helped me tremendously when trying to lose a few pounds within a matter of days. Robeks showed me that a smoothie can be a fulfilling meal for breakfast, lunch, dinner, or even a snack. I feel they have the best strawberry-banana smoothie ever called straw-wana berry. In my personal opinion, its the best meal overall I could have after a workout or jog anytime of the year.

My favorite smoothie flavors are “The Queen of all Greens” and “Hero’s Garden.” They are green smoothies that are vegan, no added refined-sugar, and has a pretty good fiber and iron content. It’s part of their “Superfood Smoothies” line, so this category of flavors has some superfoods as part of the package. I also enjoy their Mango Carrot Tumeric smoothie as well. For those who struggle to eat carrots, this smoothie flavor should do the trick for you. I find that a lot of their smoothies taste refreshing and you certainly cannot sense that its from fruit concentrate or non-fresh fruits. At the same time, it doesn’t seem too sweet as if it were a dessert. Definitely not bland as if its just blended fruits together. In my humble opinion, their smoothie formulas are the most delectable blends.

Whenever Robeks has a new seasonal blend or new permanent menu item, I know its gonna be top notch on my taste buds and will make me feel fulfilled. I found out about Robeks when I was in college when I would see the juice bar walking by to and from class from the subway train. I figured it was a juice bar by the graphics on the store front. It turned out I was right.

I have tried all of the Robeks products,  and I can certainly say I am a fan of all of them. Robeks is a nationwide juice bar.

They are great for all ages and a vast array of dietary preferences and allergic sensitivities.

If looking for a family-friendly juice bar, please take a look at Robeks’ official website at: https://robeks.com/

Creative ways to take supplements is something I developed after realizing the older I get there are some nutrients I need to maintain, and some brand new nutrients I should begin taking. I prefer to keep up with my nutrients intaking through just regular eating. That being vegetables and fruit, but also teas and herbs. I’m always looking for the newest natural breakthrough when it comes to improving wellness.  New discoveries on anti-aging, clearer eye sight, higher defenses against certain illness; I’m willing to look at the research, any reviews from it, and give it a try. When I was getting my smoothies one day from this one juice bar in downtown Arlington, VA  one of the other products sold on the front desk stand were these Cymbiotika Energy Gels packets. I’ve seen them before, and I decided just to give a couple a try to see if there would be any direct aftermath results I would get.

Three main flavors I gave a go were the Liposomal Longevity Mushrooms, Heart Health, and Golden Mind. I had done extensive walking and jogging, so definitely during that time a mini sweet pick me up could certainly help calm my mind and taste buds. Liposomal Longevity is chocolate flavored charged with mushrooms. I was very pleased with the energy gel.

First, I want to start off mentioning I think all the flavors are great. I didn’t sense a hint of any vitamin or chemical bitter aftertaste. Quite nice. So back to the chocolate. It was a smooth taste. The superfood mushrooms were suppose to help athletic performance. I believe I felt extra stamina after my jog and walk.

The following week I tried the Heart Health after jogging. It was a sweet, fruity, light citrusy flavor. I definitely felt like I had better circulation in my body after doing a workout.

My favorite was the Golden Mind. It had a vanilla flare. My brain for sure felt more alerted after giving that a try. I sensed the Golden Mind would probably be my favorite, and I stand corrected. Vanilla can add a nice smoothing taste to either tart or bitter foods. It can also add a cooling effect to spicy items.

I feel Cymbiotika delivers one of the best creative ways to incorporate superfood supplements and nutrients conveniently when doing a workout with awesome flavors. It can also be added to a drink of water for faster absorption. The way I feel after taking their products is usually a great mood with energizing results.

If looking for superfood supplements to incorporate in your dietary regimen, feel free to check out Cymbiotika products at: https://cymbiotika.com/

Truly a mini- wonderland with its whimsical- designed playground that can be accessed by passing rows of lush green farm fields is Watkins Mills Park. I would rate it Prince George’s County, Maryland’s most attractive and kid-friendly parks and recreation center in the Washington DC metropolitan area.

To encompass the total park and trails in its entirety took me approximately 2 1/2 hours to complete. Parking, I find is a no breeze. Its very plentiful.There is parking near the playground, near a tennis court and near a baseball field. Watkins Mill Regional Park also has an abundance of restrooms during allotted hours at the park. There are more than 3 near the playgroundand area which includes a family restroom. There are also several water fountains near that site as well. I’ve used the water fountains several times throughout various seasons, and it has worked all the times I accessed it.  

Watkins Mill Park is adorned with a carousel  ride and mini-golf center. No doubt friendly for all ages from toddlers to Senior citizens.  If you visit closer to 12 noon  or later you can stop by the Nature Center and view animals. It’s truly like a museum, zoo, exhibit center, farm, garden and amusement park all in one.

The best part is that it’s free and opened to the public. I find that Watkins Mills  park is very ideal to do daily morning workout routines, where one can clean off in a family restroom later and go about their day. Watkins Mills also has a camping space. Since it’s so close to amenities like the community center near the tennis court, offering restrooms and 24/7 water fountains,  it’s lessens the sorry of camping out in a wilderness site  with no indoor plumbing. I’ve seen many senior citizens roaming the trails daily since there are walker friendly amemties to use.

If within the Largo or Upper Marlboro, MD area, Watkins Mill Park is a park that is highly unlikely one will regret visiting.

For more details about and if interested in how to have events there, please check out the official website: https://www.pgparks.com/parks_trails/watkins-regional-park

Checking out walking trails is probably one of my favorite pasttimes. I feel I’ve done some pretty lengthy workouts while exploring walking trails, aiming to go a minimum of 2 hours total back and forth. So 1 hour each way. A trail I find that unleashes great vibes for a combo workout of high and low intensity cardio is the Woodrow Wilson Bridge Trail.

This interstate trail originates from either the Oxon Hill, MD, side or Alexandria, VA, connecting both states via Washington DC. A really neat feature of the trail is that its decorated with a lot of historical fact markers from the Maryland Border, over the bridge and onto the Virginia border. You can read the history about how the Addison Family got Addison Road named after them or how the Oxon Hill area derived its name.

Leading up to the bridge is where I like to engage in low intensity cardio walking in place as I read the history facts. To cross the Woodrow Wilson Bridge roundtrip took me less than 2 hours. I believe it might have been 1 hour and almost 50 minutes. Once I crossed over the bridge, I encountered Washington Street, which is also known as the George Washington Memorial Parkway. From that point, to my left is where the connection of the Mt Vernon Trail begins that could lead me to George Washington’s Mount Vernon Estate. If I make a sharper left turn, it leads me to go under the bridge where I could get to various points in Old Town Alexandria, VA.

 To my surprise under the bridge is not empty as it offers a basketball court, restrooms and water fountains. I can also access from that site Jones Point House, Ford’s Landing Community, and the Alexandria Waterfront.

I first noticed Woodrow Wilson bridge had a trail after I would see several couples and families jogging across it. Crossing the bridge can be quite noisy, with a lot of vibrations felt if going on foot, as it spans across the Potomac with a highway of cars. That’s the part of the trail when I get the vibes to do a high intensity cardio jog, cause once I hear the roaring cars I get a bit of a thrill, stamina boost, and almost rocket-like energy trying to race alongside the traffic crossing that VA finish line.

When visiting the trail, I prefer to park on the Oxon Hill side as I feel it’s easier to access with ample parking then on the Alexandria side. Plus parking on the MD side, there’s a sign welcoming you to the Woodrow Trail and you’re surrounded by shopping outlets, so if you need to use amenties or get something before hand, resoures may be available.

You can get an up close in-person view to walk by the MGM Grand Casino and take a cut away stroll towards National Harbor and its iconic ferris wheel. Children certainly enjoy the Merry-go-round. I would categorize the Woodrow Wilson Bridge as one of the best trails for beginner hikers and for short to medium- term walkers from teens to senior citizens.

There’s so much to do and so much to see when making the trip. What can beat walking on the Potmac river.

For more information about the Woodrow Wison Trail, National Harbor of Maryland and Alexandria, VA Waterfront, please see the links below: https://www.pgparks.com/parks_trails/woodrow-wilson-bridge-trail#:~:text=Overview,including%20the%20Mount%20Vernon%20Trail. and https://visitalexandria.com/things-to-do/waterfront-activities/ and https://www.nationalharbor.com/

Stretching as an intestate biking path is Rock Creek Trail nestled between NW of our Nation’s capital to Montgomery County, MD.

First thoughts that come to mind when visiting this part of Rock Creek Trail stemming from Georgetown, DC is that its one of the most scenic trails I believe in the area.

I did a 4 hour roundtrip visit to this section and along the way I passed Connecticut Avenue where the National Zoo is located and got close towards signs to meet Piney Branch Trail. There’s a lot of towering architecture and natural landscapes that’s a bit breath taking when on that path. This portion of Rock Creek is very popular with college students as Georgetown University has a close proximity to the path. The National Cathedral is also a landmark located within the same quadrant of the trail.

Some of the lovely scenes when exploring Rock Creek is by going under the bridges when on the path. The way the bridges arc is similar like a Cathedral roof top to me. I feel like I’m looking at a nice picture. It would be a lovely holiday card. There is a lot of elevation from the trail paths to then hills and hilly roads all to the top to where you would see bridges being the cross over. To access this portion of Rock Creek, I parked at Theodore Roosevelt Island and walked toward the E Street Bridge exit in which you would pass the Kennedy Center. The trail actually begins after passing the Kennedy Center. I went down a wheelchair ramp to meet the trail that would lead me to Rock Creek.

After about an hours walk on Rock Creek, I started to see advertisements of the Pandas at the National Zoo. There is a cut away trail that goes up, where one can walk to the Zoo from this path. I noticed when voyaging this pavement that the many rocks and pebbles saddled at the bottom of the waterways is why perhaps its called Rock Creek.

There’s a whole host of types of participants and users on this path. Most are joggers or runners. You can see bicyclist. There may be parents pushing there children on strollers. I would say, Rock Creek is really neat to do as a jogger. There’s not much street crossing  points,  however it’s always wise to check by looking both ways whenever at a crossroads. In terms of restrooms and water fountains; it’s wisest to bring your own water and try to use the restroom before embarking on a lengthy walk.

There are not too many convenient places to go to as a rest stop. I would say if you are a tourist visiting Washington, DC checking out the National Mall, Rock Creek Trail may serve as a nice sightseeing stroll if you really want to get an idea of that area.

If planning a trip or maybe if you are into hiking routes, as am I, please check out the link for details about Rock Creek Park trail right here: https://www.nps.gov/rocr/index.htm

On my list of “Must Try Trails” I’ve compiled of walking trials I felt quite certain I could accomplish was the Mount Vernon Trail starting in Alexandria, VA. My goal was to walk the trial ending at George Washington’s Mount Vernon Home and Visiting Center.

My starting point was at the Belle Haven Park across from Washington Street and Belle Haven Street, also where one can enter to boat and fish at the Dyke Marsh.

There is usually ample parking, with a public restroom and water fountain. I’m unsure if the fountain is offered year round, but the restrooms are expected to be. Boy, I tell you from the Belle Haven Park starting point, it was quite a walk for me. Months prior, I journeyed a portion of the trail from Belle Haven park to an entrance point called Fort Comfort Station, which passed the Cedar Knoll in. That’s mostly a parking lot to do fishing and view the Potomac River. That took me about 4-5 hours round-trip.

When doing the scheduled walk from Belle Haven Park to George Washington’s Mount Vernon’s Estate, I tracked that I took approximately 6 hours, just under 6 1/2. I tell you my legs were so wombly. Trying avoid extreme fatigue (although I terribly was) I walked back quite slowly, just trying to make sure I stayed hydrated and using any support rails if available. That’s probably why it took a little over 6 and a half hours. Trail users should expect to stop and caution at traffic crossings and cars.

Of course when preparing to do a prolonged walk or workout (by perhaps, I mean over 30 minutes), making sure you use the restroom beforehand and having a container of drinking water would be a wise way to prep with if going to attempt on embarking such a lofty voyage. After the Belle Haven park restroom, other public restrooms and water fountains were quite spaced out. It would be about 2 hours before I came across another restroom, which was located at Fort Hunt Park. The first water fountain I found was about an hours walk in going through a residential area, paired with a bike pumping station. I’m uncertain if the water fountain is available year round or 24/7 , so always trying to have your own source of water is usually a safe bet.

Continuing from Fort Hunt Park to arriving at the end of George Washington’s Mount Vernon, took take me almost an hour and under 10 minutes to complete.  When arriving at the Mt. Vernon visiting center, it should be fine to ask staff to use the amenities provided and restrooms during their standard business hours.

No doubt the Mt. Vernon trail has several picturesque peaks through the foresty trees when on the scenic route. The trail weaves in and out between the George Washington Memorial Parkway and the Potomac River, being pieced in between some large and lovely Colonial-inspired homes. As the trial is designed along many marshy areas, during the summer and humid weather, expect to sway away a lot of nats or flies. As the more frigid temperatures blow in, prepare to protect against its chills from the neighboring Potomac waters. Throughout much of the trail excursion, across the Potomac you can still see Maryland’s National Harbor’s iconic ferris wheel.

Emergency signs are placed throughout the trail if needed to call Park Authorities for any questions or help. Please see that this post is not a recommendation or suggestion to engage on any 7 hour or long-term walking expdetion daily. I’m just sharing what it was like for me trying to fulfill my little personal goal doing such a trip and my findings along the way.

There are countless bikers blazing the Mount Vernon trail. Kids being whizzed through on strollers for a family workout. Not leaving out other fellow joggers you may find yourself greeting here or there. That goal certainly gave me more than a workout I could say for sure.

I don’t think a 6-hour walking routine is possible to commit to everyday as it’s not a reasonable form of exercise to put my body through.

Exploring parts of the Mount Vernon trail for about an hour a day, mile by mile, driving along the entry points on the parkway can be a great way to seek out its totality if attemped to be done daily.

If looking to visit George Washington’s home, hometown of Alexandria, VA and it’s share of the Mount Vernon Trial, please see the included official website links: https://www.nps.gov/gwmp/planyourvisit/mtvernontrail.htm; https://www.alexandriava.gov/public-transportation/multi-use-trails; and https://www.mountvernon.org/plan-your-visit/directions-parking-transportation/visit-mount-vernon-by-bike.

As it should be an expected convenience for those who live close enough to passage is the Henson Creek trail, which lies mostly in Temple Hills, MD. Its frequented by members of the Joint Andrew’s Air Force Base. This trail spans approximately from Temple Hills Road to Oxon Hill Road, cutting through Tucker Road and the Tucker Community center.

Walking the full trail between Temple Hills Road and Tucker Road for me took under 3 hours round trip. It might have even been 2 1/2 hours to be precise. I would categorize this trail as a “shorter neighborhood trail”.

Giving shine, there’s some eye-catching scenery to take in when you choose to stroll by the creek. During the winter season, I found it be bone- staklingy cold passing on the trail since a good portion of it is adjacent to the water. A nice pro for low- impact- preffered hikers is that much of the trail doesn’t hold major elevation levels or points, so its great for a daily walk and hopefully a lot eaiser for anyone with more delicate knees or hips.

Going back to what it felt like trekking it during some days in the winter; although it felt extremely chilly for me closer to the water, once one can be about 6 to 12 feet away, the temperature may warm up.

I should give slight caution as I noticed trekking during the warmer season, especially when humid, some snakes popped up a few times along those paths. Now of course those reptilian creatures could be anywhere, but I noticed it as least 4 times for the probably about 40 times or more I’ve worked out on that trail. If that doesn’t deter you, then Henson Creek Trail may be an ideal site for your hike.

Parking options are plentiful, whether you visit the trial from Temple Hills Road entrance or the Tucker Community center. If entering at the community center, there are restrooms and water fountains during the center’s opened hours. Also there are some outdoor park cardio equipment such as standing bikes.

I’ve had many calm, tranquil, and peaceful walks along Henson Creek Trail. If perhaps you are one who looks to travel for hiking activities, as do I, you may want to consider this trail, even if you are local to it.

Please see the link for more information about Henson Creek Trail at the official website: https://www.pgparks.com/parks_trails/henson-creek-park

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Discovering new walking trails for me has been a great way to learn about a particular area or community. Living in the Washington DC metropolitan area, I’ve actually resided in certain areas after exploring their local parks and bike paths. From there I was able to determine how walkable a city is, while also getting a layout of what other necks of the woods are like. In one early fall, I was actually attempting to check out one trail path, until I felt I ran into a dead end, and saw signs for another major trail path. I stumbled upon the W&OD Trail which signs point to it from Washington DC, but it officially starts in Arlington, VA and ends in a town called Purcellville, VA.

I walked a portion of the W&OD Trail from the Shirlington neighborhood in Arlington, VA to East Falls Church Park. I’m quite certain the W&OD trail is the longest, most consistent trail in Northern Virginia at least. The trail acronym stands for Washington and Old Dominion Railroad Regional Park. Along the trail paths are historical markers, especially in the Arlington area of how, as is stated in the official name, this path was a rail way from Washington, DC to Old Dominion in Virginia.  It’s quite remarkable when on the paths to imagine a whole railroad once lied it’s tracks there with a huge train fitting the spot that now bicycle paths travel on and Moms pushing babies in strollers. I timed my walk from Shirlington, VA to East Falls Church Park and back for a total of 3 hours. So within that time frame, I could walk as far as East Falls Church from Shirlington one-way.

Although, the trail is very pronounced, consistent, and easy to track, there are several portions of the trail users have to stop at crosswalks and look for traffic, as crossing the roads are quite wide. The trail is parsed out in between neighborhoods in Northern Virginia. This portion of the trail seems really popular with bicyclists and your standard jogger. The Shirlington W&OD path doesn’t have a lot of wilderness surrounding it too much, so perhaps being able to stop at a convenient store to get something to eat, or use the restroom is more of a capability to do. There are public parks and playgrounds with restrooms near called Glencarlyn and Bluemont. So perhaps this Arlington, VA portion of the trail may not be too risky for senior citizens to endure or anyone who may have to stop often for restroom breaks or needs to be near facilities that could come handy in case of an emergency.

I would not classify this portion of the trail path as scenic, as their are no outstanding architectures to notice or large bodies of water to reflect at.

This trail seems really convenient for a resident in that area to have a free exercise path to workout on or live a walkable city life if one perhaps needs to go to their local grocery store or wants to catch a movie. One can access those amenities via a trail path, instead of a sidewalk or driving.

There are historical markers of the history of W&OD Regional Park that make the trekking experience feel like a free outdoor museum I find really neat as well. It’s certainly, I feel, a trail to try to check out if ever visiting the Arlington, VA area.

If the W&OD trail may spark your interest,  feel free to take a look at their official website, which can be found at: https://www.novaparks.com/parks/washington-and-old-dominion-railroad-regional-park.