Grab the kids and head to Hot Springs, NC

The family headed out to Hot Springs the other day with our 8-year old daughter and our 13-year old nephew. We were in search of family friendly trails, and we wanted to share with you what treasures we found.

First of all, I just love the town of Hot Springs; quaint, friendly & a river runs through it. Very nice indeed, and the perfect place to grab a bite either before or after your ride. The trails that we found were on the southern end of town, making them an easy, honest 40-minute drive from Asheville.

Laurel River Trail: (3.6 miles one-way, about 5-miles from Hot Springs) Begins near the junction of NC 208 and 25/70 on a dirt road that turns into the trail. Single track on an old railroad grade to the Ghost Town of Runion where the Laurel empties into the French Broad River.

This trail is a beauty. You may feel like you are on the wrong trail as you pass by a few homes, but the trail runs right through their yards, just keep going. This is a great place to take your children that have already built up some skill on the smooth trail. It is a rocky bit of Earth, perfect for introducing the kids to some truly technical riding. The trail runs along the river, so it is also generally very flat. Check out the Ghost Lumber Town of Runion. In our young group, no one got frustrated because they were tired, even as we got all the way to the mighty French Broad River. The trail ends at the French Broad River, if you have never seen the river in Hot Springs, it is worth the scramble up over the railroad tracks to take a peek, it is a sight to see. Everyone had the energy to try out their skills and have a good time. We will be back time and time again. With a total of 7-miles, and some swimming under our belts, we decided we had enough energy and time to check out another trail.

Mill Ridge Bike Trail: (4 mile loop, about 3.5 miles from Hot Springs) This is a moderate loop on old forest roads with a short section of single track to connect the loop. The fields and wildlife openings of Mill Ridge provide huge mountain vistas.

This was the perfect trail to follow up what we had just accomplished. The ride starts out on a gravel road, downhill. The kids were having an effortless blast, which was a good thing because we wanted them to enjoy their experience. Two miles later, the terrain changed and the trail heads uphill on singletrack. Probably the steepest climb either of the kids had ever done. They were hot and tired, but they also were relieved to finish and proud that they had done so. There were lots of berries and open meadow and we saw a big bear footprint.

Our one-day in Hot Springs was filled with fun on one trail that was technical and flat and another trail that taught endurance and effort, all within reach of our two young riders.

We highly recommend both Hot Springs trails to folks looking to teach their kids mountain biking. Check out the pictures linked from this thumbnail. If anyone gets to tired, you can always just take a dip in the river!

Cape Cod takes Bike transportation very seriously.

If you are looking for an excellent beach vacation, and want to give your car a rest, we recommend Cape Cod to anybody.  After the long drive the Cape, we were very pleased to find that we could leave our car behind for our entire stay. Mass. has invested heavily in their bike lanes. Underpasses, well-marked crosswalks & frequent “share the road” signs make cyclists welcome on Cape Cod. (If only all states valued bicycles as much.)

Over the 7 day trip, our bikes were used to take us to numerous beaches, hikes & excursions.  We saw seals, whales, ton’s of birds, and learned a lot about American history. There are plenty of places to spend the money saved from beach entries. Provincetown is just about insane. We really loved the beachcomber on Cahoon Beach.

As the Cape has no bedrock foundation, you should probably visit before it is reclaimed by the sea.

Click on this photo to view a slide show.    

A Beach Ride with the Family in Florida’s Forgotten Coast

hummed to the tune of “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds”- (1967, Lennon/McCartney)

Picture yourself on a bike with your loved ones,
tagging along is your sea-loving child.
drifting along as you sail past the breakers,
the low tide enabling your ride to the wilds.

gelatonous jellies of purple and green
scatterred all over the sand
then the thought strikes you, your mind opens quickly
beach cruisers and 3rd wheel are grand

family pedalling the beach of seashells
family pedalling the beach of seashells
family pedalling the beach of seashells, ahh…

7 miles later, you the envision the panthers
gazing hungrily at your family with fixated eyes
try not to worry, despite all the footprints
as your beach-cruising family flies by

thousands of mollusks appear on the shore,
speckled to the horizon line
a dolphin leaps loudly just off the shore
then she’s gone…

family pedalling the beach of seashells
family pedalling the beach of seashells
family pedalling the beach of seashells, ahh…

Picture yourself on a bike with your loved ones,
tagging along is your sea-loving child.
drifting along as you sail past the breakers,
the low tide enabling your ride to the wilds.

Check out these great pics.