Today, we welcome a new guest blogger, who will post here on the 1st and 15th of every month. Anne P. is the writer behind the food and fitness blog fANNEtastic food, which she started in October 2009 as a way to motivate others to lead happier, healthier lives through nutrition and exercise. Anne blogs daily, sharing healthy (but delicious) recipes, fitness and health tips, quick and easy packable lunches and daily adventures of life in Chapel Hill. After six years of office work in Washington D.C., Anne changed careers last fall and headed back to graduate school to become a registered dietitian. She just finished her first year in UNC's masters of public health in nutrition program and will spend the summer at her first of three dietetic internships. Stop by her blog for delicious recipes, health and fitness tips, travel photography and more.
One of my favorite things about living in Chapel Hill is that there’s so much hiking nearby. My boyfriend, Matt, and I love hiking, so a couple weekends ago we decided to explore a new trail. We headed south from Chapel Hill about 10 miles to Haw River for a little hiking along the riverside trails.
It was beautiful. Very peaceful! We found the remains of some fun rope swings and tree forts, took pictures of enormous cicadas and had a blast exploring and enjoying nature. We ended our hike with a delicious packed lunch – I packed us carrots, grapes, and some trail mix – but the real star was a delicious Lemony Spinach Quinoa Bean Salad. (Click here for the recipe.) We enjoyed our lunch with a beautiful view of the water and the company of a small lizard. The perfect way to end a perfect day.
Check out the slideshow for photos of our adventure.
Where’s your favorite place to go hiking in or near Chapel Hill? Comment below. We’d love some new places to explore.
