2025 came and went—and Lord have mercy, what a year it was. Like every year, 2025 had its share of ups and downs (but mostly ups), so I was more than ready to start the new year on the right foot. Coincidentally, on the same day I started talking to my husband about my ideas for 2026 New Year’s resolutions, my friend and editor at the Chronicle, Bryn, asked if I’d be interested in reporting on a local hike happening on New Year’s Day.

I chuckled when I read the text message, because if you know me, you know I am not an outdoorsy person. Honestly, I’m probably the last person someone would ask to go on a hike. My version of “hiking” is pushing an overflowing cart down crowded aisles at T.J. Maxx (yes, I am that person). Still, eager to tell a good story and try something new, I accepted. I asked my brother’s fiancée—and longtime friend of mine—McKayla to come with me, because if I was going to stick out like a sore thumb among a group of hikers, I wasn’t about to do it alone.

So, with Starbucks in hand, we showed up at Lexington County’s newest state park, Pine Island State Park, and, as you probably guessed, we stuck out. Let me emphasize again: we were the least likely two people to show up to an event like this. I was definitely touching up my lip gloss before getting out of the car, because I don’t like to be seen without it. The temperature on my car’s dashboard read 42 degrees when we arrived, and that didn’t even account for the wind chill coming off Lake Murray. Everyone else was dressed appropriately for the cold; we, on the other hand, were dressed more so to look cute. Because of the cold, we assumed turnout would be low, but apparently, this “First Day Hike” is a legit thing. We were shocked by the size of the crowd. People from all over showed up for Pine Island’s first-ever First Day Hike.

As it turns out, people gather every Jan. 1 to hike state parks across the country as a way to kick off the new year—literally starting off on the right foot. We had never heard of something like this, but we thought it was really cool. As we stood in line with the other hikers, McKayla had me laughing as she called the large group of fellow First Day hikers a “movement.” According to some of the more experienced hikers in our group, this hike was a little different from traditional First Day Hikes. Since Pine Island only recently opened to the public after previously being a privately owned island for employees of SCE&G/Dominion Energy, this was the island’s first-ever First Day Hike.

We were relieved to find that this was not much of a true “hike,” but rather a scenic tour. A park ranger led our group and explained the changes that have been made to the park since the state acquired it. She even pointed out a few bald eagle nests along the way. While we didn’t see a bald eagle during the hike, it was still exciting to know there are active nests on the island. The hike itself was relatively short, but meaningful.

On a more sentimental note, with my dad having retired from Dominion Energy, Pine Island was a special part of my childhood. This cherished spot on the lake hosted countless summer days, birthday parties, family reunions and even a few of my high school first dates. When it closed in 2020, it was devastating for our family, and I was honestly nervous when I heard it would be reopening as a state park. What would become of one of my favorite places? If I’m being honest, a big part of me just wanted to hold on to the Pine Island I knew—as if it were frozen in time, remaining exactly as it always had been.

But after walking through it again, I felt relieved. It was the same Pine Island that had played such a meaningful role in some of my favorite childhood memories. It was refreshing and surprisingly emotional, as I recalled memories of my brother and me playing on the playground overlooking the lake. In a strange way, it felt like coming home to a place I had missed so dearly. It will be wonderful to see life breathed into this beautiful place again, and I’m glad that such a special place in my heart will now become a special place for so many other families, too.

When I’m asked how I spent the first day of 2026, people look surprised when I tell them I went hiking, because, again, I look no part of an experienced hiker. But for me, it was really an emotional hike down Memory Lane. And when I think about the new year and all the new beginnings it will bring, isn’t it wonderful to know that change doesn’t have to be scary? It can be refreshing and inviting, making room for new memories, and sometimes, that’s exactly what’s needed.

Happy New Year, and may God bless you with many new beginnings.

And don’t forget to sometimes “go take a hike.” You might just find it leads you down familiar roads in your heart, too.

Finally, I look forward to informing Chronicle readers about more Pine Island facts I learned on the hike! Stay tuned.