Finding balance between work and life is sometimes hard to do.  We get it!  So many of us spend our weeks commuting, working long hours in front of our computers, then dashing to daycare or off to errands, only to begin all over again the next day.  It’s easy to forget to take time for oneself.

If you like the outdoors the way we do, you’ll be happy to know that Gables End offers an ideal location for a variety of outdoor activities.  We are conveniently located just minutes away from The Baylands Preserve.  The 1,940-acre Baylands is the largest tract of undisturbed salt marsh and mud flat remaining in the San Francisco Bay.  Considered by many to be one of the best bird watching areas on the west coast, the Baylands has a substantial resident population of birds as well as being a major migratory stopover on the Pacific Flyway. A complete birding map, covering all seasons for year-around fun, can be found here.

However, the Baylands offers much more than birdwatching. There are a variety of activities to do, whether it is on the land – walking, running, golfing or biking – or on the water, wind surfing, and boating (non-motorized such as canoes, kayaks or small, hand-launched boats and sailboards).

There are fifteen miles of multi-use trails providing access to a unique mixture of tidal and fresh water habitats for the whole family to enjoy.  Especially popular is the duck pond!  By living so close to these community amenities, you can make the most of your free-time.

The Baylands, something for everyone and just minutes from Gables End.

I hate the treadmill. It makes me feel like some hapless little hamster on a wheel to nowhere. And even worse than a treadmill is a treadmill that is smack dab in the middle of some meat market gym where everyone is looking at my butt in my gym shorts while I’m trying to run. I don’t want to have to look cute while I’m running (there is plenty of time for that after my workout) which makes the judgmental stares from my fellow gym goers a little uncomfortable. So I toil away in said meat market until the spring and summer months bring out the warm weather.  Once that warm air starts circulating there is nothing I enjoy more after a day cooped up in the office than a refreshing jog on an outdoor trail. There is something kind of magical when it all comes together just right; the warm breeze, the gravel crunching under your feet and the weight of the day falling off of your shoulders. Since moving to Gables End I’ve discovered a new outdoor trail that allows me to enjoy the solitude of an outdoor run, but provides the safety of a gym (minus the dreaded treadmill). The Stevens Creek Trail begins near the Shoreline Amphitheater and gives you a loop of about 4 miles to clear your head. On the trail I’ve seen hawks, quail, opossums and all sorts of wildlife I never saw on my runs in the city. It gives me a chance to feel like I’m really connecting with nature and getting in touch with myself instead of tuning out under false lighting. This is the stuff running dreams and magazines are made of.  And knowing that as always the summer will fade and the gym will become necessary again means that my time is limited on the trail and motivates me to take full advantage of it while I can. Speaking of which, I think I hear the trail calling……