Petr Novotný

My path into outdoor recreation wasn't planned. I was volunteering with the Czech Ornithological Society while still at Charles University, leading weekend birdwatching walks through the Šumava forests. That's where I first noticed something interesting — the people who were most engaged, most present, were often the older adults. They came with patience, genuine curiosity, and they actually wanted to learn about the place rather than just check it off their list.

After completing my Environmental Studies degree in Prague, I spent twelve years with the Šumava National Park Administration. Most of that time I worked on trail accessibility and recreational planning. I wasn't just marking routes — I was thinking about who actually walks them. What does a person in their sixties need that a 25-year-old doesn't? Where do people want to stop and sit? Which paths feel safe and peaceful rather than exhausting?

The real turning point came around 2018. I noticed a growing gap between what senior travelers actually wanted and what was being offered. Everyone was chasing adventure tourism — extreme hikes, remote locations, adrenaline experiences. But there was this entire population looking for something different. They wanted restoration. Quiet. Places where you could actually hear yourself think. Routes that didn't punish your knees. Rest areas with proper benches, not just rough stone. I realized that wasn't a niche — it was an underserved audience with real needs.

In 2019, I made the shift to digital content. I wanted to create something more useful than traditional travel guides — practical, detailed information grounded in real field research. I still personally explore every location I write about. I sit on the benches. I time the walks. I check what the light is like at different hours. That hands-on approach, combined with what I'd learned from over a decade in the national park, became the foundation for my work at variwellness