The Swamp Rabbit trail in downtown Greenville, South Carolina

Biking is one of my favorite spring and summer workouts. Taking a bike ride is a great way to enjoy the city sights, all while getting in a great workout and some fresh air. Not to mention, it’s a fabulous way to explore many different sights of interest without dealing with traffic, pollution, and parking! Most cities today offer some type of recreational path. From beautiful Lake Michigan in Chicago, to gorgeous Tampa Bay, there is a bike ride for you no matter where your city adventures might take you.

Take a look at some of my favorite urban bike paths featured below, all offering fantastic views of the cityscape and/or convenient access to city amenities.

The Chicago Lakefront Path

  • Location: Downtown Chicago
  • Distance: 18 miles out-and-back
  • Attractions: The Lincoln Park Zoo, Chicago Museum Campus, Oak Street beach, Navy Pier
Scenic skyline views along the Chicago Lakefront Path

One of the country’s best bike paths is found along Lake Michigan in The Windy City. This picturesque, uninterrupted path follows a beautiful course along the lake. Not only will you take in fabulous views of the lake, but you will also get to take in mesmerizing vistas of Chicago’s impressive skyline for much of the trail. Chicago’s skyline is the best in the country in my opinion. Another advantage of this path is easy access to the city’s top museums and attractions without driving around and hassling with parking.

More pics and info on the Lakefront Path

East Bay Bike Path

  • Location: Providence
  • Distance: 14 miles out-and-back
  • Attractions: India Point Park, Colt State park, Federal Hill Italian restaurants
The beautiful East Bay bike path in Providence, Rhode Island

While most tourists head to Rhode Island’s capital city to check out the historical attractions, there are many natural wonders to explore. The beautiful East Bay Bike Path runs a 14 mile course from Bristol to Providence. With limited road crossings, this is an amazing path for unobstructed cycling. It’s flat (minus one big hill), fast, and also incredibly scenic. As you get in a fabulous workout, you will take in tranquil views of marshes, coves, and state parks. Easy access to 8 different parks along the route, plus great views of the Providence skyline and Pomham lighthouse are highlights along this picturesque course. When I lived in nearby Fall River, I pretty much biked this beautiful trail instead of going to the gym at least once per week.

More pics and info on the East Bay

Bayshore Blvd

  • Location: Tampa
  • Distance: 4.5 miles out-and-back
  • Attractions: Gasparilla pirate ship, Tampa Riverwalk, Florida Aquarium, Curtis Hixon park
Views of the Tampa skyline via Bayshore Blvd.

Tampa’s crown jewel for exercise is beautiful Bayshore Blvd, the country’s longest continuous sidewalk. Along this 4.5 mile course, you will take in scenic vistas of Tampa Bay on one side and lovely historic mansions on the other. Beautiful views of the small, yet attractive skyline adds an urban touch. With palm trees, occasional manatee and dolphin sightings, and fitness stations lining the route, this is fun-in-the-sun at its’ best. The tropical vibe definitely makes this a great activity to incorporate into any Tampa vacation, especially when you tire of the beach scene. Connect this trail to the Tampa Riverwalk, a 2.5 mile path linking the city’s best tourist attractions.

More pics and info on Bayshore Blvd.

Schuylkill River trail

  • Location: Philadelphia Center City
  • Distance: 75+ miles out-and-back
  • Attractions: Philadelphia Museum of Art, Rocky statue, The Rodin Museum
Beautiful views of the Philly skyline from the Schuylkill River Trail

This lengthy trail in Philadelphia is currently 75 miles long and will eventually expand to include 120 miles through Philadelphia’s urban, suburban, and rural neighborhoods. USA Today readers voted this trail the best urban bike trail. My favorite portion of the trial is the 9 mile long Kelly Drive Loop. This scenic course follows the river with many skyline viewpoints. Convenient access to many attractions is a bonus. As joggers, walkers, and bikers all share the path it can get pretty crowded on weekends. As a bonus, from April to October, the 4 mile long Martin Luther King Jr. Drive is closed to vehicles.

A map and more info on the River trail

Three Rivers Heritage Trail

  • Location: Downtown Pittsburgh
  • Distance: 33 miles
  • Attractions: Mr. Roger’s tribute, Acrisure Stadium, PNC Park, Andy Warhol museum
View of the Andy Warhol bridge from the Three Rivers Heritage bike trail in Pittsburgh

The Three Rivers Heritage trail is a 33 mile urban path which runs alongside all three rivers in downtown Pittsburgh. My favorite section, the North Shore, is about 7 miles long which is perfect for a long weekend ride. I love the skyline and river views. This was one of my favorite places to be during the summer season. Lots of great views of the iconic bridges which have led to Pittsburgh’s nickname of “The City of Bridges.” The trail is mostly flat for a smooth easy ride. Attractions along the route include the Carnegie Science Center, the National Aviary, and the Andy Warhol museum, the country’s largest museum dedicated to a single artist.

Map and more info on the Three Rivers trail