As a pedestrian walking in dim, dark, or even daylight, it’s increasingly important to make sure you are visible to oncoming traffic with drivers’ attention being challenged by any number of distractions. In fact, statistics in the past few years have reported a dramatic increase in the number of pedestrians killed and injured by motor vehicles—a May 2022 release by the Governors Highway Safety Association estimated 7,485 people on foot in 2021.

What precautions can you take to keep safe while out for a walk day or night? Here are nine tips that you’ll want to take with you on your next outing.

Let’s face it, we all need a little motivation from time-to-time. There will come the days—maybe more often than not—that you have no desire to get up and head out the door to take a walk. But those are the days where you need to dig deep, reach into your motivation toolbox, and walk anyway. Is your toolbox looking a bit empty? Luckily, we’re going to share six tried and true hacks to get you the motivation you need to maintain your walking practice and achieve the mind, mood and body you desire.

1 in 8. We’ve all heard the statistics.

1 in 8 of us are likely to get that terrifying call: the biopsy is malignant. And for sure, we are all very, very likely to know someone—probably someone close to us—who has battled breast cancer.

Yup, the numbers are scary, but there is some good news. A regular walking practice can help reduce your risk of breast cancer, aid in your recovery and lower the chances of recurrence.

I don’t know about you, but there have been times when I’ve gotten to the end of the day and couldn’t figure out what I had actually accomplished. Don’t get me wrong, my day had been jam-packed and I didn’t have a second to stop, so why is it that I felt completely unproductive? Reflecting back on it, my guess is that I gave into the busy and didn’t focus on the important. 

Have you noticed that the information you take in day-to-day makes an impact on your mind and mood, both internally and externally? Feeding your mind with positive, affirming and relatable stories can help shift your mindset to one that reflects a happier and more productive self. In order to fuel yourself with inspirational conversations that will help you reset your mind, join Joyce Shulman, 99 Walks Pack Leader and CEO, as she hosts Walk + Talks, casual conversations featuring guests from all areas of expertise. Perfectly packaged in a 30-minute recording, these Walk + Talks are ideal if you’re heading out for your daily walk or need a quick reset throughout the day. 

The autumn season is a favorite for many. Our thoughts turn to football, pumpkin spice, warm layers, and calming colors. But it’s also a time of year that calls us outdoors with a break from the heat of summer temperatures and all-around natural beauty. It’s the perfect time to take a walk, or even rekindle a routine of walking for exercise. Sure, there are plenty of mental and physical health benefits you get from walking, but it’s also the best way to capture the the splendor of the season. Here are nine reasons why autumn is a great time of year to lace up your shoes and walk.

In our fast-paced, technology-driven world, the pursuit of longevity seems to call for complicated diets, expensive supplements, and high-tech gear and gadgets. But around here, we know that one of the simplest and most accessible ways to increase your chances of living to 100 is right at your feet—walking. This low-impact, free, and natural activity offers a multitude of physical, mental, and social benefits that can significantly impact your lifespan. 

If you’re looking for ways to change up your walk, consider taking it up—up the steps of a lighthouse, that is! Whether along the coast or lakeside, lighthouses dot the landscape offering unmatched views of our country’s natural beauty. To give you a little inspiration, we’ve compiled a list of fourteen lighthouses from sea to shining sea that you may want to add to your bucket list. Don’t let our list be the only light to guide you, though. Keep a lookout for numerous more with history and stories to keep you stepping up your walks.

If you’ve been on a walk, you probably know how it’s great for your mind, mood and body, but if you walk the same route too often, you might find your enthusiasm waning. Nope, you don’t have to find a new form of exercise, you just need to find a way to spice up your walk. Like turning it into a walking scavenger hunt!

It’s likely that you’ve encountered someone who’s grumpy and has an all-around gloomy disposition. If you’ve ever spent any time around a teenager, you can say this with certainty. It’s as if they got up “on the wrong side of the bed.” And perhaps, according to Roman history, this frame of thought—turned idiom—could be true. Romans had strong superstitions and believed the side of the bed from which you arise each morning impacted whether you would be surrounded by positive—right side—or negative—left side—forces. Literally, there was a right and wrong side of the bed.

My favorite thing about watching a toddler learn to walk is the way they walk like Frankenstein. With stiff legs and little bend in their knees, they keep their arms outstretched, steadying themselves as they walk along even the smoothest surfaces. But as they grow stronger and more confident in their new skill, they start taking on new challenges. The bumpy mulch in the playground. The wobbly scattering of rocks near the edge of a clearing. The trail through the woods with tree roots littering the path. Bit by bit, they learn to maintain stability while walking on uneven surfaces.

Within months of getting married, Eric and I committed what we called “the great puppy caper.” Long before Google Maps, we navigated via a paper map to the end of a long driveway in a small town in Connecticut and left 20 minutes later cradling eight pounds of fluff who, over time, grew into 40 pounds of pure love. His name was Kibo. He taught himself to lifeguard our kids when they were swimming, became a working therapy dog at two, and understood more than 100 words. He accompanied us everywhere, loved hotels and never needed a leash. He was the dog of dogs.

We’ve compiled a list of 11 great books about walking. They walk us through history, take us on their journeys, tell us stories, and provide inspiration that we hope will inspire you to keep moving forward, step by step.