Things to do / Travel Guide
As one of the United States' most popular tourist destinations, the region of Coastal Massachusetts and Rhode Island has plenty to see. A great way to see the region is by bicycle, given the relatively flat terrain and short distances between points of interest. The area has great coastal pike paths, and inland forest paths as well, for a multi-environmental tour.
Biking around Boston, Massachusetts
A small city in area, Boston is a great place to bike because you can beat the heavy traffic. Biking enthusiasts who love nature can cycle through the six-mile “Emerald Necklace,” nine parks that are together considered some of the best urban parks in the nation. The route, which includes both paved and dirt lanes, links together these parks, and stretches from the Esplanade and the Back Bay Fens to the Arnold Arboretum. The best sections for biking are in the Fenway Park, Jamaica Park, and Franklin Park areas.
Another cycling treat is the Freedom Trail. Finally, hard-core urbanites can head for the 17-mile Charles River Esplanade, a cardio-intensive route that features views of the Boston skyline.
Urban AdvenTours, something of a novelty, is located near the Fenway T-stop of the Green Line on Boston's subway system. It's a good place in Boston to rent a bike, and you can rent one by the hour, the day, or the month. It costs approximately $30 for a whole day of riding.
Biking in Cape Cod, Massachusetts
On Cape Cod, the Cape Cod Rail Trail features 27 miles of flat and easy cycling. The seven-mile Shining Sea Bike Path on the Cape's southern shore, offers great views of Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket as you pedal from Falmouth to Wood's Hole. There are bike rental shops in most towns. If you happen to be somewhere where there isn't one, shops in the larger towns will usually deliver to most places on the Cape and to the two islands.
Biking in Rhode Island
The Newport Ramble is a figure-eight loop around Newport and Middletown, located on the island of Aquidneck in Narragansett Bay. Since the entire route is 26 miles, you might choose to do just the first half of the route, which follows the path of Newport's Ocean Drive. Ocean Drive has a magnificent shoreline. On the other hand, once you're outside of Newport and headed toward the countryside, the feeling is much more serene. The route features flat coastal roads with a few gentle rises; it's heavily trafficked in the summer, so the spring and fall might be better times to try it. Also, the return route has a 2.5 mile stretch alongside a busy four-lane road, so riders who prefer a quieter ride may choose to retrace their route instead.
Another good route in Rhode Island is the East Bay Bike Path, a flat and scenic 14-mile route that stretches from Providence to Bristol. There are several bike rental shops in Newport.
Biking Routes in Boston, Cape Cod, Newport, Connecticut, Coastal Massachusetts and Rhode Island
Biking
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