Nova Scotia’s South Shore is a secret gem for cycling enthusiasts, offering a compelling landscape of coastal beauty, charming towns (including one that’s a UNESCO site), with a side of nature. Not only will you be wowed by the seashore, but also warmly welcomed by friendly Nova Scotians. With my one-week Nova Scotia cycling itinerary in hand, you’ll enjoy an unforgettable experience, both on and off the bike. Explore the South Shore of Nova Scotia via scenic rail trails and quiet backroads near Mahone Bay, Lunenburg, and Bridgewater. In this guide, discover an unforgettable Nova Scotia cyclin ..read more

Cottage Grove in Lane County, Oregon is a historic former gold mining hub that is now home to some 10,000 residents and a whole lot of covered bridges. In fact, Lane County is home to more covered bridges than any other county west of the Mississippi River. It’s a great destination if you’re into cycling because of the Covered Bridges Scenic Bikeway – a route that follows the well-signed Cottage Grove Bridges Tour. All it takes is half a day to bike the 38-mile loop – or less if you’re speedy. There are also options to do and out and back if you prefer to avoid the roads. The biking is mostly ..read more

Victoria and the Gulf Islands are known for their mild temperatures, sunny days, and low rainfall, especially in the summer. Cycling the Gulf Islands in British Columbia on dedicated bike paths on Vancouver Island and generally quiet side roads in the Gulf Islands provide visitors with a fun way of actively enjoying the pastoral countryside. Frequent ocean views and the drama of the mainland mountains can be appreciated by all. Off the bike there are plenty of diversions including visiting artist’s studios, wine tasting, farmers markets, and spas, dining and enjoying picnics on one of the smal ..read more

This guest post from Nicola Ross, author of the Loops and Lattes hiking series in southern Ontario, takes you on a week-long cycling trip from Quebec City to Montreal via e-bike. In a province known for its superior cuisine, an aluminum pie plate of French Fries drenched in brown gravy and covered in cheese curds – the more the better – seems like an odd favourite food. But there’s no doubt that poutine is as much a part of La Belle Province as is Pepsi. So, as I drove toward Quebec City to start a week-long cycling trip from the provincial capital to Montreal via Sherbrooke, I planned to sear ..read more

SilverStar Mountain Resort, home to a charming, colourful European style, pedestrian friendly village, is best known as a long-time skiing destination. But Silver Star in summer is making its mark and is now a mecca for mountain bikers, hikers, wildflower lovers, and for anyone who is interested in some down time, especially with comfortable summer temperatures that are up to 10ºC cooler than the hot Okanagan Valley.  In the village at Silver Star, everything you need is within the length of two city blocks. What that means to you is a hassle free, stress-free vacation. What a treat it is ..read more

The Markin-MacPhail Westside Legacy Trail is a 25-kilometre-long multi-use, non-motorized, paved recreational trail on the west side of Windermere Lake. The trail connects Invermere to Fairmont Hot Springs, providing yet another reason to visit the Columbia Valley in British Columbia. If you drive to one of the three parking lots along the trail you can enjoy a car-free experience. Otherwise, count on four to five kilometres of road biking at either end to reach the Westside Legacy Trail.  Before I cycled the Westside Legacy Trail, I knew nothing other than it linked the two communities ..read more

The 184.5-mile-long C&O Canal Bike Trail (C&O is short for Chesapeake & Ohio) runs from Washington, DC to Cumberland, Maryland. This recreational trail makes for a great multi-day biking or hiking adventure  It combines well with the Great Allegheny Passage (GAP) so you can seamlessly bike from Pittsburgh to Washington, DC over about seven to eight days. Unlike the Great Allegheny Passage, there are fewer hotels and B&B’s, so you need to carefully plan your route. It is well suited for people willing to camp as you’ll find numerous campsites along its full length. There ar ..read more

The 150-mile long Great Allegheny Passage also called the GAP follows a non-motorized crushed limestone trail from Cumberland, Maryland to downtown Pittsburgh. It can be explored on both bike and on foot but I think a Great Allegheny Passage bike trip is the way to go over a 3 – 4 day ride. It combines well with the C&O Canal Towpath that runs between Cumberland, Maryland and Washington, DC. If you’ve got a week, you can cycle between Pittsburgh and Washington, DC, either guided, or self-supported. There are B&B’s, hotels and other accommodation options along the route and lots of plac ..read more

Biking 290 km from Banff to Jasper is one of the most impressive mountain bike rides in the world. The ride runs parallel to the Continental Divide, and can start in either Banff or Jasper, both of which are exceptionally scenic towns. Only 55 km from Banff is Lake Louise, considered to be the hiking capital of Canada. If time isn’t of the essence, then stay longer and explore. In particular, Lake Agnes Tea House hike and the Plain of Six Glaciers hike aren’t far from Lake Louise and offer not only stunning views, but mountain teahouses for refueling. There are many other worthwhile hikes in t ..read more

Rossland, British Columbia is a fantastic mountain town located in the south-central part of the province. It’s a year-round outdoor lover’s paradise. In winter, Rossland is well known for world-class skiing and snowboarding at RED Mountain Resort. Come summer and fall, it shines with the hiking and mountain biking crowd.  The former gold-mining town is growing in the wake of COVID, with people moving here to enjoy easy access to nature, a laidback lifestyle in a spectacular setting, along with many of the amenities they find in a city including locally owned coffee shops, restaurants, a ..read more