Three Amazing Biking Adventures in Detroit, Ohio and Minnesota
Metro Parent | Kristen Gough, May 30, 2019
The Ohio & Erie Towpath Trail slices into Cleveland and then down into Akron, Ohio and through the Cuyahoga Valley National Park, following an old canal boat path built between 1825 and 1832.
At the time the most effective way to transport goods (at the speedy pace of 4 miles an hour!), the towpath trail follows alongside a man-made waterway where mules or horses attached by rope once helped pull the boats.
These well-worn paths now make up the towpath. And for families, that means these historic paths are perfect for biking – since they’re flat and smooth.
There are plenty of places along the path to stop for a picnic, but the feature your kids will probably be most excited about is the Bike Aboard! program, where you ride the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad one direction and then bike back.
“You don’t need to reserve your seat on the train ahead of time,” says Pamela Barnes, community engagement supervisor for CNVP. “Just check the train schedule.”
As far as places to stop, Barnes advises spending time at the Boston Store Visitor Center or the Canal Exploration Center. “At the exploration center there are two floors of interactive exhibits.”
Learn more about the Ohio & Erie Towpath Trail at ohioanderiecanalway.com or nps.gov/cuva.
Read the full article at metroparent.com
