Best Of Page 5

RTC Invites America to Choose 2016 Hall of Fame Rail-Trail

Posted 01/19/16 by Laura Stark in Trail Use, America's Trails | Tagged with Best Of, Celebrating 30 Years, Hall of Fame, Trail Destinations, Trail of the Month

Rio Grande Trail | Photo courtesy RFTA

In recognition of the 30th anniversary of Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (RTC), we’ll be conducting a public vote for the 30th entry into the prestigious Rail-Trail Hall of Fame. Here's a quick look at our five candidates, which will be highlighted in our Trail of the Month TrailBlog feature stories between January and May. Take a look!

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Stand by Me (1986) | Copyright by Columbia Pictures and other respective production studios and distributors. Intended for editorial use only.

10 Movies with Great Walking Moments

Posted 11/24/15 by Amy Kapp in Trail Use | Tagged with Best Of

With Thanksgiving upon us (a great movie watching holiday) and with the U.S. Surgeon General’s recent Call to Action on Walking, we figured it was the perfect time to post: 10 Movies with Great Walking Moments. What better activity brings us all together as families—and as communities—in the great sagas and adventures that make up our lives?

Oslo, Norway | Photo by Moyan Brenn | CC by 2.0

7 Cities Worldwide That Are Starting to Go Car Free

Posted 11/19/15 by Momentum Mag in Health and Wellness, Policy | Tagged with Best Of, Walkability and Bikeability

Inspired by Bogotá’s Ciclovia, an extremely popular weekly car-free event, a growing number of cities and towns around the world have been implementing their own car-free events. Some are even taking it step further, and moving toward a near future when private automobile traffic is significantly reduced in a permanent way. Here are seven cities around the world making great strides to reduce the number of cars on their roads.

Photo courtesy The Greenway Guy

Minnesota’s Midtown Greenway

Posted 10/16/15 by Laura Stark in America's Trails, Success Stories | Tagged with Best Of, Hall of Fame, Minnesota, Rail-with-Trail, Trail Destinations, Trail of the Month

Nestled 20 feet below street level in an early 20th-century railroad cut, Minnesota’s Midtown Greenway bypasses the street traffic crossing overhead on more than two dozen historical bridges. Combined with a smart design, which incorporates westbound and eastbound biking lanes, as well as a separate walking path, and you have a commuter’s paradise of both beauty and speed.

Five of America’s Best Pedestrian Bridges (and Why They Matter)

Posted 10/11/15 by Katie Harris in America's Trails, Success Stories | Tagged with Best Of, Urban Pathways, Walkability and Bikeability, Why Use Trails?

Spanning waterways, railroad tracks, highways, canals and more, bridges allow us to make the necessary connections that we often take for granted. Walking infrastructure is not high on the priority list for some communities, but these spectacular bridges in the United States defy that standard, close gaps and allow access for all.

Fall vista from the Bizz Johnson National Recreation Trail in California| Photo by Stan Bales, courtesy Bureau of Land Management

The Alternative List: 10 Great Trails for Fall (Under the Radar)

Posted 10/08/15 by Jake Lynch in America's Trails | Tagged with Best Of, Trail Destinations, Wild and Wonderful

Fall is a great time for trail adventures. Cooler weather, that crisp, fresh air, and the bright colors of the season inspire outdoor enthusiasts everywhere. Dominating the season's lists of best trails for fall are always the long, rural pathways of New England, famous for their colorful foliage where leaf-peepers flock each October. But for those of you looking for a fall adventure that might not be on everyone's bucket list, we've uncovered some less-heralded rail-trail gems.

Chessie Nature Trail | Photo by Frank N. Carlson

10 Great Hiking and Walking Trails

Posted 09/30/15 by Amy Kapp, Laura Stark in America's Trails, Health and Wellness | Tagged with Best Of, Trail Destinations, Walkability and Bikeability

The U.S. Surgeon General recently called on all Americans to make walking a regular part of daily life—and to create more safe, walkable communities—to improve our nation’s health. RTC and the Every Body Walk! Collaborative have designated October as Trails, Parks and Outdoor Spots month to promote great walkable places and get people involved. In honor of the month, here's a list of 10 great walking and hiking trails across America.

Heritage Rail Trail County Park | Photo by John Gensor, courtesy Steam Into History

Pennsylvania’s Heritage Rail Trail County Park and Maryland’s Torrey C. Brown Rail Trail

Posted 09/18/15 by Laura Stark in America's Trails | Tagged with Best Of, Hall of Fame, Heritage and Restoration, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Trail Destinations, Trail of the Month

The visionary Grand History Trail began rather humbly. Nearly a decade ago, Don Gogniat was sitting at a meeting of the York County Rail Trail Authority, and as he listened to those around him talking about the region’s trails, he began quietly sketching them out on a napkin. As he added the trails line by line, he saw something exciting begin to take shape: a map of a potential 250-mile Grand History Trail connecting dozens of historical sites and historically significant cities, including the nation’s capital, Annapolis, Baltimore, York, Hanover and Gettysburg.

The 606 in Chicago, Illinois| Photo courtesy life is good (pete) | CC by 2.0

Five New American Rail-Trails

Posted 08/04/15 by Amy Kapp in America's Trails, Building Trails | Tagged with Best Of, Trail Destinations

As the rail-trail movement thrives, new pathways are popping up in urban, suburban and rural communities—increasing human mobility, protecting natural resources and wildlife, improving public health and sparking outdoor tourism and stewardship. Here is a quick look at five new rail-trails across the country.