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You're on vacation, where the most strenuous thing you want to do is choose a restaurant for dinner. But that doesn't mean you can't go for a bike ride and take in some of the local scenery.
You'll find paved pathways all over the state where you can pedal at your leisure with nary a grimace. Even the little ones can navigate these smooth tracks.
Located in Greenville, the 13.5-mile Prisma Health Swamp Rabbit Trail runs along an old railway line through the city's trendy downtown and over the Reedy River to two of its signature green spaces: Falls Park and Cleveland Park. At the other end of the asphalt pathway is downtown Travelers Rest, where you'll find an array of fun resturants, breweries and shops.
Located in Spartanburg, the Mary Black Foundation Rail Trail was once part of the old Norfolk Southern railroad. The 1.9-mile urban multiuse rail trail passes restaurants, shops and recreational facilities on its way to the city's historic downtown.
The Riverwalk Trail in Rock Hill is a 2.25-mile asphalt path that meanders through the woods, offering scenic views of the Catawba River. While most of the trail is flat, there are a few sections traversing hills.
The North Augusta Greeneway is a mostly flat rails-to-trail. It runs 7-plus miles through tunnels and over bridges, under the shaded canopy of wooded alcoves, past Brick Pond and Riverview parks. A spur trail takes you out to the Savannah River and Boeckh Park.
Located in Columbia, the Three Rivers Greenway is almost 10 miles long and growing. This series of riverfront pathways, where the Broad, Saluda and Congaree rivers meet, offers outstanding views of the downtown skyline.
Seven miles long and flat as a pancake, the Sawmill Branch Walk/Bike Trail runs alongside the old Sawmill Branch Canal, connecting a number of neighborhoods to Summerville's historic downtown.
The Waccamaw Neck Bikeway runs 16 miles through the historic Waccamaw Neck, a long, narrow peninsula tucked between the Atlantic Ocean and the Waccamaw River, linking Pawleys Island to Murrells Inlet.
Built along the old Magnolia railroad line, the Spanish Moss Trail offers spectacular river and marsh views as it winds 10 miles past historic points of interests from Beaufort to Port Royal. When completed, the 12-foot wide paved pathway will run 16 miles.
With more than 60 miles of public trails crisscrossing 12-mile-long Hilton Head Island, you can get virtually anywhere on your bike on the Island Pathways. No wonder the League of American Bicyclists awarded it silver status as a "Bicycle Friendly Community."
Charleston's Ravenel Bridge is no ride in the park. You'll burn some calories traversing the 2.7-mile bridge, the longest cable-stayed span in North America, but you'll be rewarded with fantastic views of Charleston Harbor and a fun ride on the way down.
