City Walk Parks And Meditation - Montrose To Midtown ~ 6 Miles

In the middle of the hustle and bustle of town there are several peaceful spots of serene beauty which invite relaxation, reflection, and meditation. Spoiler alert: there will be no meditation during our walk, but you will be introduced to great spots to come back to later and achieve your nirvana.

Parking: Street parking on W Main, Colquitt, Loretto, and other streets around the Menil. Please come early to find a spot, it might be busy on a beautiful Sunday afternoon, so prepare to park at some distance. DO NOT USE THE MENIL PARKING LOT. It is for museum goers.

Wear comfortable shoes and bring plenty of water. The weather is cooler now but your body still need the hydration. Let someone know if you are having a hard time. Light-colored and loose fitting clothing are recommended. For more information about hiking check out this very useful hiking website: https://www.hatsandmore.org/

Our organizers are not guides nor do we have any special training. We are here to come up with hiking ideas and get the hike started. Take the same precautions you would if hiking alone, including the fitness needed to make long hikes. Then enjoy the hike among friends.

COVID PRECAUTIONS:
Use common sense and follow the best practices to prevent the transmission of COVID.

Gathering Place:
Menil Park (1423 Branard St.), near the big statue on the lawn.
Call or text Nomi 281-250-0305 if you need help.

The Walk:
The walk is mainly pavement, with sun and shade. We will walk through the beautifully landscaped areas around the Menil Collection to the communal garden of Mandell Park, and back to the Rothko meditation pool and reflection garden.
From there we will continue to the University of Saint Thomas, to admire the white and gold chapel of St. Basil, and follow the maze in the memorial garden behind it.
A short detour to see the golden dome and the Saints on the walls of Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral, before crossing the Spur and walking to Baldwin Park. Watch for trains as we cross the Metro lines to reach Midtown park on Main and Anita, and for several murals along the way. From there we will thread our way back to the Menil.

More information:
There are restrooms at The Menil at our starting point (free admission). A couple of porta potties in Midtown park. That's all folks!

Weather Forecast:

After Hike:
Southern Yankee Crafthouse, 1312 W Alabama