Spring is in the air, and you’re busy planning all of your getaways this summer. While you may have international travel on your list and some Caribbean destinations, you’re going to get in some domestic travel this season. Studies have shown that people who take vacations regularly see a boost in their mental health and have markedly decreased chances of developing cardiovascular disease or strokes. If you’re narrowing down your list of U.S. cities to visit and are looking for a small-town feel with the perks of a big city, consider adding Charlottesville, Virginia, to your list of potential destinations. Let’s look at some of the great reasons to visit the town, which is consistently voted one of the happiest cities in the states. Continue Reading
It is becoming more and more popular for people on vacation to look for places that they can stay where they can ride a bicycle to get places part of the time. Here are some of the best experiences possible for those that would like to get a work-out the next time that they travel:
The Big Bay Loop in San Diego:
A lot of people consider San Diego to be one of the premier ‘outdoor’ living cities in the United States. What they don’t always realize when they visit is that the city has set aside enough public roadway so that there is a very large loop ride around San Diego Bay open to bicyclists year-round. Starting South from the downtown area along Harbor Drive, visitors can tour the industrial National City and see the largest Navy base on the West Coast. Continuing on, there are plenty of natural wetlands to explore as you cycle towards the beaches and the Peninsula known as Coronado Island. Coronado is famous for the movie ‘Some Like it Hot’ and is one of the only places in Southern California to host an outdoor ice skating rink during the Christmas season. The loop length is over 20 miles and can take a few hours to complete.
Portland Downtown: For some people, the idea of riding a bicycle in a crowded downtown area seems to be an unnerving experience. In a city like Portland, with its wide open spaces and bike culture, it can be a pretty good experience. The city has a bike-sharing program that actually makes it easy to find a bicycle to ride around. Getting downtown to pick your starting place is also convenient because there is a light-rail line in almost every part of the city that will take you there. Even if you are flying in, the airport has a direct light-rail link to the downtown area, making it unnecessary to use a car at all. Once you are downtown and on a bicycle, you can choose to follow a travel guide but it makes a lot more sense for you to just explore and enjoy seeing what you want to see. The only thing that you need to remember is that the numbered streets get smaller as you approach the Willamette river.
Central Park, NYC: New York City rolled out the red carpet to tourists over a decade ago and hasn’t really looked back. The city’s pride in itself and its landmarks has allowed visitors to continue to enjoy one of the world’s largest urban areas on bicycle. Central Park is one of the most talked about parts of New York City and shouldn’t be missed. Central Park bike rental NYC is available and can help make your Central Park visit memorable. Unlike Portland or San Diego, it is a good idea to plan where you want to visit within the park before you leave so that you can maximize the amount of time that you have to spend at each attraction. Bikerentalcentralpark.com is one place that you can visit that can provide both bicycles and popular routes within the park.