I am really bad at finding time to workout.

I am not particular fond of running despite running distance on the track team in high school and I am not very good at going to a gym and doing the whole lifting weights thing.

My favorite workouts by far are playing pick-up basketball and swimming laps. The issue is with my current schedule at work, neither of them is very tenable. By the time I get off work, the pool and the basketball gym are closed at local gyms.

Over the last month I have found something I enjoy doing, doesn’t cost me anything (since I bought an annual pass) and I can fit in at least once a week with my hectic schedule. It is going for walks at Vicksburg National Military Park.

Parking at the visitor center and walking to the Illinois monument and back (Wednesday I cut through the service road and walked back Confederate Avenue instead) makes for a perfect walk.

I put in my headphones, queue up a podcast or Pandora (its after Thanksgiving so it is a go on Christmas music) and walk. The loop is between 2.5 and 3 miles and as I’m not power walking and there are hills it takes me about an hour for the stroll.

When I first moved here I did the full driving tour of the park with the audio guide that you can call into and it was great, but my almost weekly stroll of the park is by far my favorite way to experience the park.

It is quiet. There is little traffic and the traffic there is, is crawling along at a slow speed. The scenery is picturesque and I have seen three deer during my walks.

It is also nice to have the challenge of the hills instead of just walking along flat ground.

Then when I reach the Illinois I enjoy sitting at the top of the steps leaning against one of the columns just taking in the sweeping views.

Every time I go out there I see a host of walkers, runners and bike riders and I get why they are there.

The military park is a treasure and the perfect place to go for a stroll whether you just want fresh air or are trying to do some serious exercise.

Last week when my parents were here for Thanksgiving I took them out there for a walk. We started at the visitor center, cut through Pemberton Avenue and then over to the Illinois and back along the main tour road.

It was a pleasure to share this treat that is uniquely Vicksburg with them. My mom had been in the park before a couple times, but it was my dad’s first time. When they come back for Christmas I can’t wait to go through the full driving tour with them and show my dad the Cairo.

There are a lot of great things I have found about Vicksburg in my short time here, but so far VNMP is by far my favorite for all it has to offer.

Brandon O’Connor is a staff writer for The Vicksburg Post. You may reach him at brandon.oconnor@vicksburgpost.com.