My niece and I attended a "Historic Cemetery Walk" last week as a Halloween-season fundraiser for a local charity. The tie-in between Halloween and cemeteries was a clever "hook," and I was happy to support a good cause and to spend some quality time with my niece. But, truth be told, I like cemeteries any old time of year. They're great places for urban and suburban walks.
Nothing Creepy About It Strolling a cemetery? Why on earth would I do that? Sure, I'd rather be in the mountains or at the beach when I go for a hike, but sometimes I'm stuck in town. And when that's the case, where else besides parks and golf courses can you find more rolling lawns and beautiful landscaping than a cemetery? Given the snooty attitudes of golf course patrons and staff, not to mention the expensive maintenance paid for by those exorbitant greens fees, strolling on golf courses is usually not an option. Parks are grand, though sometimes dangerous for a woman walking alone. Cemeteries offer a pleasant alternative.
Sprawling And Park-like Not every city can boast memorial facilities such as the 200-acre Arlington National Cemetery near Washington, D.C., or world-famous Forest Lawn Memorial Parks and Mortuaries, with six locations in the greater Los Angeles area. But most have room to ramble a mile or two, and you can't beat the scenery.
Well-maintained cemeteries can be truly beautiful, with velvet green lawns, grave markers that rival sculptures, pristine landscaping, and, of course, lots of exceptional flowers. The roads and paths that wind their way through the grounds to provide access for those who come to memorialize their loved ones also provide superior walking routes. It's often a good idea to stick to the paths as opposed to walking on the grass or gravesites (see "Manners," below).
Older cemeteries have a charm of their own. Sometimes overgrown and in disrepair, they can be places of quiet beauty as well as a testament to an area's history. These cemeteries tend to be better suited for walking among the gravesites, and reading the inscriptions on the older markers can be fascinating. I've found myself pulling weeds that block an old headstone, or tilting up a fallen marker in places like this -- not the best prescription for an aerobic experience, but it's good for the soul.
Mind Your Manners But let's not forget: a cemetery is a cemetery. It's primarily a place for memorializing the dead, and certain courtesies apply. The following etiquette guidelines were adapted from several western U.S. cemeteries' websites:
* Respect the privacy of those visiting gravesites.
* Respect those attending funerals/memorial services by avoiding that area.
* Do not interfere with interment/maintenance/memorial staff activities.
* Take care when walking across interment sections (gravesites); some cemeteries prefer you walk on established paths or roads exclusively.
* Exercise care around markers, vases, sprinklers, and other fixtures.
* Picnicking may be prohibited (and is a little tacky anyway).
* Lying down on benches, lawns or graves may be prohibited (and is extremely tacky).
* Many cemeteries prohibit pets anywhere on the grounds.
* Feeding birds and other wildlife is discouraged.
* Children should be accompanied by an adult.
* Do not pick flowers, or disturb landscaping or flowers at memorial sites.
* Smoking is discouraged and may be prohibited.
It's all pretty much common sense stuff. Remember that cemeteries are places of the spirit and should be treated with respect.
I suppose there are some who might feel that my taking recreational walks in a cemetery is somehow inappropriate or even disrespectful regardless of the courtesy I exercise when I'm there. But I hope, when I die, if my remains end up in a cemetery, people will feel free to wander around and enjoy the beauty of my little piece of earth.
Sally O'Neal Coates is a travel writer and inveterate hiker who believes in taking advantage of scenic walks wherever you find them. She writes weekly for Sportsmansguide.com.