Bicycle Riding Is A Great Way To Stay Fit: Enjoy Bike Paths In America

Got a little pudge around the middle that you just can’t seem to get rid of no matter how much you diet? Or, maybe you just want to stay fit so you’re around to see your children and hold their children in your arms. Whatever your reason to get into shape and stay fit, bicycling is a wonderful way to accomplish this goal.

While bicycling does require having access to a bicycle and a helmet along with a place to ride. If you have small children, it will also require a bike trailer or carrier or child’s bikes complete with training wheels & helmets for each rider. Once, you’ve got your gear, you’re ready to take to the path.

In most cases, you can ride easily on a daily basis around your neighborhood. In an hour of bike riding, you can burn between 380-1,000 calories depending on how fast you are riding and other factors. If you’re pulling a toddler in a bike trailer, you’re probably burning more. While the daily ride around the neighborhood is good exercise, there are so many wonderful bike paths across our beautiful nation.

One of our favorite bike paths is in Door County, Wisconsin. Wisconsin, in fact, has some fantastic bike trails. When you look at Wisconsin on a map, it looks sort of like a mitten. If you’re not familiar with Door County, it is located near the tip of the “thumb” of Wisconsin. There is a bike path inside Peninsula State Park that is a good workout. It takes you through the scenic park with fun stops along the way. Our favorite stop is at Nicolette Bay where you can swim, sit on the beach or get a snack at the snack shop. They also have public restrooms which usually becomes necessary at some point on a day-long bike ride. There is a small cost to park in side the state park when you arrive. Another wonderful Wisconsin bike path is near the Wisconsin Dells. It is an old railroad track that has been paved complete with a mile-long tunnel at one point. It is really peaceful to ride alongside dairy farms and streams.

There are also some great bike paths in Missouri. The K-T Trail runs across the state. This is an old railroad trail that has been turned into a bike trail using crushed limestone. Our favorite section is near Columbia, Missouri in a town called Rocheport. There is a small tunnel to ride through & a place to refresh with snacks. It is most beautifully scenic in the fall months as it runs alongside the bluffs of the Missouri River with lots of colorful trees.

Another exciting path to ride is in Washington D.C. I remember renting a bike and riding across the bridge to Arlington National Cemetery. We then rode around the Viet Nam Memorial Wall, and parked our bikes to walk up the steps to the Lincoln Memorial. It was a bike trip I’m glad I had the experience to enjoy.

I know there are many more bike paths to enjoy across this beautiful country. The wonder of it is that while you’re having fun riding your bike and looking at exciting scenery, you are burning calories and staying fit.