Ways to Beat the Winter Doldrums

As we settle into the post-holiday season, many of us experience a seasonal mood shift. With this winter being especially unique due to Covid-19, it can be more difficult to find ways to break out of a dull winter mood. Here are a few tips for keeping the winter blues at bay until we welcome spring in a few months:

Find Time to Take a Walk in Nature

Many studies of longer (60-90 minute) and shorter walks (15 minutes) in a natural setting have shown that participants benefit after from a lower heart rate, lower fight-or-flight response, and feelings of being more relaxed. Walks in nature have also been shown to boost memory and decrease feelings of anxiety. Walks in urban settings are not shown to provide the same benefits. Ten Trails is located close to area hiking trails and many state and regional parks, giving you ample opportunities to get outside in nature. You do not need to even leave the community to benefit from a walk in nature, however! Our community nature trails are the perfect place for a daily stroll.

Listen to Music that Lifts Your Mood 

Scientific studies show that music has a positive effect on emotional well-being, including improving mood, decreasing anxiety, and helping stress management. Our brains associate specific pieces of music with certain happy memories and music has also been shown to have an effect on the release of dopamine in our brains. Next time you are feeling the winter blahs, put on a song that you remember listening to during a happy time like your wedding, graduation, or a favorite concert and see if it shifts your outlook.

Schedule Daily Exercise

The health benefits of exercise extend beyond the physical! Numerous studies have shown that exercise has a positive impact on mood. Proposed theories are due to exercise’s impact on blood circulation and the resulting influence on the brain and HPA axis. Exercise also triggers the release of endorphins in the body which produces a feeling of well-being. This feeling is often commonly referred to as a  “runner’s high.” Ten Trails has many paved paths and nature trails that are ideal for use for daily exercise like jogging, walking, or biking. www.TenTrails.com 360.469.4043  

Alternatives to Resolutions to Start off Your New Year

This has been an unprecedented year for the entire world, with many of us looking for a big change in the new year. Rather than making the same tired old New Year’s Resolutions that you likely will not keep, why not switch it up a bit and try a different approach to mark the beginning of 2021? Research shows that a focus on creating new habits is way more effective in changing unwanted behaviors than traditional resolutions. For example, instead of resolving to lose weight in the new year, create a new habit for 2021 that you will take a walk for 30 minutes every day after dinner. Need some inspiration for new healthy habits for 2021? Here are a few suggestions you can try out:

Practice Daily Gratitude

According to Psychology Today,  a regular gratitude practice is correlated with a greater sense of overall happiness. Practicing gratitude helps release feel-good chemicals in our brains and cultivates a sense of mindfulness. When you are focused on your many blessings, you are not dwelling on the things that are perceived to be going “wrong.” With so much turmoil and uncertainty over the past year, it can be easy to feel uneasy and anxious. Adding a gratitude practice to your day may be just the thing to turn those negative feelings around in the new year.

Reach out to Someone to Connect Once a Week 

The pandemic has made life for many much more isolated than ever before. With restricted ability to travel and see friends and loved ones, the past 10 months may have been very lonely for some. Make a new habit in the new year to reach out to a friend or family member once a week for a phone call check in or virtual visit. As humans, we crave connection and these weekly check-ins with friends may not only do you a world of good, but might be what your friend or family member needs as well!

Move Your Body Every Day 

Make a habit to move your body each day in a way that is most fun for you and that will not feel like a chore. If you hate running, do not make a new habit of running miles every morning or you will quit before January is even over. Dance, walk, play with your dog, ride your bike, or hike local trails. Daily exercise contributes to better overall health and a sense of well-being. Find the thing that you enjoy doing and make a habit of finding time for it every day! 360.460.4043 www.TenTrails.com

Beat Cabin Fever with These Winter Outdoor Activities 

Too many winter months trapped indoors can make even the happiest of households a little stir crazy. Luckily, the area around Ten Trails offers ample opportunities to get outside during the winter months and enjoy all the wonderful outdoor activities the Pacific Northwest is well-known for!

Soak up Thermal Waters in Washington Hot Springs

Washington State is home to many natural hot springs, some primitive and some part of larger resorts. Within a day’s drive from Ten Trails, families can visit  Carson Hot Springs, located near the Oregon border where an authentic bathhouse and hotel accommodations make for a relaxing winter weekend.  Beginning March 20^th, families can head to Olympic National Park to visit Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort. This seasonal resort offers cabins for rent and several outdoor thermal soaking pools for visitors to enjoy.

Wildlife at Oak Creek Feeding Area 

Watch winter feeding of elk and bighorn sheep at the Oak Creek Wildlife Area in nearby Naches. A program run through the Department of Fish and Wildlife Services, this supplemental winter feeding program helps to maintain the Yakima elk herd which roam the state lands during the winter months. Head to the Visitors Center first for information. Feedings happen daily at 1:30 pm and a Washington State Discover Pass is required to enter the wildlife area.

Take an Outdoor Tram Tour at Northwest Trek

Nearby Northwest Trek offers year-round tram tours of the park’s free-roaming area which is home to elk, bison, moose, bighorn sheep, caribou and more. Tours of the 435 acres of natural space take about 40 minutes, are included with a day pass, and are narrated by an informative park naturalist.

Go Nordic Skiing at White Pass

Take a day trip to White Pass and spend the afternoon cross-country skiing at the White Pass Nordic Center. The more than 11 miles of trails offer terrain that is appropriate for cross-country skiers of all levels. If cross-country skiing isn’t your thing, there’s also opportunities for skate skiing, and snowshoeing.

Ride the Mount Rainier Gondola 

Just an hour away from Ten Trails, head to Crystal Mountain Resort and ride the Mt. Rainier gondola to the summit where spectacular views of Mt. Rainier and the Cascades await. Stay for the afternoon and enjoy lunch at the Summit House restaurant. Don’t forget to bring some extra snacks to feed the local gray jays who can be spotted at the summit being hand-fed by the visiting tourists. 360.469.4043 www.TenTrails.com

Read all the latest news and information on this new master-planned community, located in Southeast King County! Featuring new single family homes, modern duplexes townhomes, parks, trails and a retail village!  

Ten Trails Offers Residents Top-Notch Community Amenities

One of the huge benefits of living in a master planned community is access to community amenities! At Ten Trails, we have a wide variety of amenities to suit residents of every age. From playgrounds to fire pits, our residents have their pick of community features to enhance their lifestyle!

Community Playgrounds 

Ten Trails has a number of parks integrated throughout the community. One of the main community parks, our Civic Park, boasts a huge playground with a basket swing, jungle gym, zip-line and dual slide built into a beautifully landscaped hill.

Paths and Trails

Ten Trails has bike lanes throughout the community’s streets as well as a number of paved pathways perfect for biking! We have miles of trails to explore that connect our parks, residential areas, and upcoming retail village, as well as nature paths that wander through protected forests.

True 1-Gig Internet 

Ten Trails has the connectivity and infrastructure that residents need for personal, work technology, and home office requirements. Every home in the community is wired for 1 gigabyte speed internet through Wave! The 1-gig internet service at Ten Trails provides downloads and uploads up to 1,000 Mbps, with fast performance and streaming. There are no data caps included with your service, so feel free to surf and stream on multiple devices throughout your home. We also offer free Wi-Fi in our Civic Park so you can stay connected while enjoying some playtime.

Sports Courts

Our community is a sports-lovers dream! Our Civic Park has a large sports court with two basketball hoops as well as two bocce ball courts. Homes in Lennar’s East Village Collection are close to our Ten Trails outdoor ping pong table. We have plans to add even more sports amenities to future phases of the community.

Community Gathering 

Ten Trails has a number of amenities that bring together members of our community like our Civic Park performance pavilion which is the site of musical performances and more at our summer Hometown Social events. We also have community fire pits located throughout the residential areas and parks, picnic tables, and we will have future community pea patches. We are adding more amenities as the community grows! Stop by Ten Trails soon to see them for yourself! www.TenTrails.com 360-469-4043

Five of the Area’s Best Spring Mountain Bike Rides 

Did you know that mountain bikers from all over the Pacific Northwest flock to this area for a world-class riding experience? The region between Issaquah and Black Diamond is a mecca for mountain biking at all ability levels. We are fortunate to have these opportunities right outside our doorstep! Here are some of the most popular local trail systems for your springtime ride.

Lake Sawyer Trails 

The Lake Sawyer bike system is  located the area on the west side of Hwy 169 in Black Diamond,  on a mix of private property and King County Parks land. It consists of a web of cross-country trails including some ladder bridges, drops, and other free-ride obstacles with plenty of tight and twisty single-track routes. You won’t find hard climbs here, but there are a few shorter, steep climbs covered in tree roots. As well as some scenic viewpoints. The Lake Sawyer trail network connects to Black Diamond Open Space, Summit Ridge, and Henry’s Ridge.

Henry’s Ridge Natural Area

The official King County name for the Henry’s Ridge Natural Area Trail is the Maple Ridge Highlands Open Space Trail.  In Maple Valley, this network of trails is similar to the Lake Sawyer system with more climbing and descending. This is a suitable spring ride because it boasts good-draining soil and tree cover, keeping the trails from getting too muddy. There are currently eight miles of trails with new trails coming soon.

Black Diamond Open Space Trails 

On the north end of Black Diamond near Maple Valley, Black Diamond Open Space is 1,240 acres of popular riding trails. You’ll find the area’s parking lot on the east side of Hwy 169. Less technical and more flat than other local parks, this is the most family-friendly ride on this list.

Duthie Hill Mountain Bike Park 

Duthie Hill Park in nearby Issaquah consists of 136 acres in a thick evergreen forest on the Sammamish Plateau. It was designed specifically for mountain-biking and is the most-visited mountain bike trail system in the state. The park offers several activity options including technical free-ride trails and XC trails that can be connected into a 5-mile loop. Technical riders will enjoy the progressive jump lines and skill-building features like drops of varying heights, tables and step-down jumps. Although beginners are welcome at Duthie, moderate and advanced riders will love this park!

Tiger Mountain

Tiger mountain offers 12 miles of intermediate to advanced trails plus some fire roads. Riders usually begin by taking the fire road up 3.5 miles to the East Tiger summit then descend via single-track or take a loop on the lower mountain. The climb to the summit takes a lot of effort and is considered quite challenging but worth the Mt. Rainier view on clear days.

Learn More about Nearby Mountain Biking

The Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance is a great resource for all things mountain biking. Visit this site to learn about these rides and all the others in Washington. This is where you can find maps and directions to help you find your next spring mountain bike adventure…Have fun! 360-469-4043 www.TenTrails.com  

It’s almost time for the running and wearing o’ the green! Start a new tradition of a St. Patrick’s Day family race. There are many local opportunities available for Ten Trails Residents. Here are just a few of them:

Enumclaw St. Paddy’s Day 5k Race Enumclaw, WA

March 16, 2019 https://www.databarevents.com/enumclawstpaddysday5k  

Finaghty’s St. Patty’s Day Race 5K

Snoqualmie WA March 16 https://www.signmeup.com/site/online-event-registration/128605  

ShamROCKin’ 5K and kids’ Run 

March 16 Joint Base Lewis-Mccord, Tacoma More Information Here  

St. Patty’s Day Fun Run 5K/10K

Puyallup, WA March 16 More information here  

Woodinville Leprechaun Leap 5K and kids’ Run

Woodinville, WA March 16 https://runsignup.com/Race/WA/Woodinville/LeprechaunLeap5KRunWalk  

St Paddy’s Day Run

March 16 1K/5K/10K/Half Marathon/Relay Tacoma, WA http://stpaddyruntacoma.com/  

St. Patrick’s Day Dash 5K

March 17 Seattle, WA http://stpatsdash.com/ www.TenTrails.com 360-469-4043  

Nearby Yoga Studios

Is a regular yoga practice part of your fitness routine? You are in luck! Ten Trails Residents have their pick of nearby yoga studios! With so many great studios nearby, residents are sure to find a studio and class that best suits their practice style, fitness level and schedule.

Studio Barre and Lounge

First on our list and located right around the corner from the community, Studio Barre and Lounge is currently the closest yoga and fitness studio to Ten Trails. Not only a place for yoga, Studio Barre and Lounge also offers barre classes with a separate studio specifically built for barre. The studios all have a heating system that attains the ideal balance of heat/humidity for the best hot practice. The fun doesn’t end when class is over, either! Studio Barre and Lounge regularly hosts events like their Girls Night Out event featuring a photo booth sponsored by Ten Trails on December 7th. 

Get Hot Yoga

Get Hot Yoga advertises “yoga for every body” with classes in various yoga styles including Vinyasa, Hatha, Yin, Sculpt, Barre and a hybrid of Yin and Vinyasa they call, Yin-yasa. Get Hot Yoga also offers private session and specialty workshops for practitioners who are looking to up their skills in a specific form of yoga like arm balances or inversions. Get Hot Yoga’s studio lives up to it’s name, with temperatures in its classes that range from 78-105 degrees.  The lovely studio is located just a few miles from Ten Trails in nearby Maple Valley, next to Ristretto’s Coffee and Wine Bar.

Yoga Family, Inc.

Unique to the area, Yoga Family, Inc. offers non-hot yoga for the entire family. Adults along with teens, seniors,  people with special needs, and young children are welcome in this inclusive studio in Maple Valley. Yoga Family Inc. offers a full schedule of weekly classes only with events and workshops like their upcoming Earth Yoga, Autumn Series workshop which helps introduce children to the natural world through yoga.

Soul Spark Yoga

Last but not least on our list is Soul Spark Yoga, located in nearby Kent near Lake Meridian. Located on the second story of building off Kent-Kangley Road, the space exudes peace and serenity. Yoga enthusiasts who are looking to deepen their awareness of body, mind and soul will enjoy classes at this studio, where teachers focus on controlled breathing, poses and meditation. www.TenTrails.com 360-469-4043