Coffee Mom Walks: 16 Ways to Chat, Sip, and Stroll

This post is part of our Summer of Simple Walking series. Check out the intro post
for more information and links to other helpful posts.

During the summer, connecting with friends can be challenging. Everyone has their own chaotic schedules: work, vacations, driving kids to and from their activities. Those times when you and your friends manage to have the same time open tend to be few and far between—and that makes those moments even more special.

Back before my friend Kate abandoned me and moved back to our home in Michigan, we used to go on regular Coffee Mom Walks. It was a great way to catch up while also getting some movement and enjoying our favorite beverages. We were multitasking three of our favorite things!

Kate and I were lucky. Our local Dunkin was right next door to a small park that had a trail—as well as a pond that our kids liked to explore. We could meet at Dunkin, pick up our coffee, and sip while walking laps—all while keeping an eye on our kids.

Of course, not everyone has a perfect setup like we did. But here are some other ideas for your own Coffee Mom Walks.

Keep It Simple

If you want something simple and relatively effortless, you can create a plan around your coffee run:

1) Walk to coffee
Start from your meetup point and walk to your favorite coffee shop. It gives you a specific destination, as well as a good mid-point for your walk.

2) Coffee first, walk later
Like the walks that Kate and I used to take—you can meet at your favorite coffee shop, grab your coffee, and walk nearby. It may not be a high-intensity walk, but it’s perfect for an easygoing stroll.

3) Meet halfway
Each pick your own starting point from your favorite coffee shop and meet in the middle.

Make It Special

A Coffee Mom Walk is already pretty special—especially when you don’t get to see your friends often. But you can make it even more special by trying one of these ideas:

4) Sunrise Coffee Mom Walk
It takes a special kind of person to get up extra early and enjoy coffee and a walk with you. But sometimes that’s the only time you’ve got. And the cooler temperatures and quieter trails make it feel extra special.

5) Golden hour + coffee
There’s just something magical about a sunset walk. The light is soft and colorful, and it makes your walk feel therapeutic. Add in a much-needed chat with a friend and your favorite beverage, and it’s pretty much perfect.

6) Try something new
Your favorite coffee shop is like your favorite hoodie: comfy and dependable. But you can turn your Coffee Mom Walk into an adventure by checking out a new shop. If you’re not looking for that much of an adventure, try a different drink. Or take a walk on a different route.

Give It a Twist!

Want to spice up your Coffee Mom Walk a bit? Here are some ideas for kicking things up a notch!

7) Coffee Mom Crawl
When one stop just isn’t enough! Plan ahead for a number of different stops along the way. Make one stop for coffee. Make a second stop for a snack or a pastry. Choose some other stops, too—a boutique, a book store, a fitness store—and incorporate them into your walk.

8) Make it a challenge
Set a goal for mileage or number of steps to reach before your coffee stop. For instance: plan for 3,000 steps as a brisk pace before picking up coffee and switching to an easy stroll.

9) Give it a theme
Most chats with friends tend to meander from one topic to another. If there’s something you really want to cover—whether it’s vacation planning or goal setting or even brainstorming fun activities for your families—set a theme for your walk and keep each other on topic (well, mostly). You can even set guidelines for your chat: things not to talk about (like your crazy neighbor, whose ridiculous behavior only stresses you out).

10) Road trip!
While most of us are lucky to fit in an hour here and there, if you’ve got more time to spend together, make a plan to get out of town and go somewhere different for your Coffee Mom Walk. Explore a nearby town or a trail you’ve always wanted to try. Be sure to plan your coffee stop before you leave—because you don’t want to miss out on that all-important part of your Coffee Mom Walk!

Go with a Group

Walking doesn’t have to be just about two people. You can make it a group activity, too!

11) Weekly Coffee Mom Club
Make it a regular event! Set a day and time when most of you are available and stick with it. Some weeks, maybe two will show up. Some weeks, maybe you’ll have a crowd. Meet at a favorite coffee shop—or BYOC (Bring Your Own Coffee). No matter how many walkers are available on any given week, it’s a great way to connect with your friends and enjoy coffee and some movement.

12) Bring a friend
Plan for a Coffee Mom Walk with a few of your favorite walking buddies—and have everyone invite a friend. In no time, you’ll have your own Coffee Mom Walk group!

13) Make it a family event
Your Coffee Mom Walk doesn’t have to be just for your coffee-drinking mom friends. You can make it a family-friendly event by including the kids (or just your kids). Go for a walk to your favorite shop to get a treat. It’ll give younger walkers a little extra motivation to join you on your walk.

Make It Restful

Your Coffee Mom Walk doesn’t have to be high-energy. You don’t have to go fast or far. You can make it about taking care of yourself.

14) Go phone-free
Before you set out, turn off your phones, set them to Do Not Disturb, or at least agree to leave them in your pockets. The time away from chaos and distractions of everyday life plus coffee and time with a good friend is the ultimate treat!

15) Walk and sit
You aren’t required to walk the entire time. You can pick up your coffee, walk to a favorite park, and sit while you sip. Then head back.

16) Go solo
Walking and talking with a friend is great, but a Coffee Mom Walk doesn’t always have to be a social outing. You are absolutely allowed to go on a Coffee Mom Walk by yourself. Walk and sip while listening to a podcast or a book—or just enjoy the sounds of nature.

Some of my favorite walks are walks with a good friend—and coffee makes everything even better! That means that Coffee Mom Walks are the ultimate in multitasking—especially during the summer, when self-care time seems hard to come by. It’s the perfect way to enjoy a treat, catch up with a friend, and get some extra steps at the same time.

Do you have a Coffee Mom Walking buddy? Where do you go for your walks?