Tourism Page 10

The trail's rocky tunnel is located on the northern end of the route | Photo by J. Foster Fanning courtesy Ferry County Rail Trail Partners

Washington's Ferry County Rail Trail

Posted 10/10/16 by Laura Stark in America's Trails, Trail Use | Tagged with Tourism , Trail Destinations, Trail of the Month, Washington

It sounds too good to be true. Northeast Washington’s Ferry County Rail Trail winds through a forested valley carved by the pristine Kettle River, passes through an otherworldly rock tunnel and crosses a 770-foot trestle that skims over a vast lake. Framed by mountains, the 25-mile trail is especially breathtaking this time of year, brightened with the golden hues of aspen, western larch and cottonwood. Every few miles, a quaint town welcomes visitors in a place so remote there’s not even a single stoplight in the whole county.

An equestrian trail parallels the Pine Creek Rail Trail between Ansonia and Tiadaghton | Photo by Linda Stager, author of the Pine Creek Rail Trail Guidebook

Pennsylvania’s Pine Creek Rail Trail

Posted 09/15/16 by Laura Stark in America's Trails, Trail Use | Tagged with Pennsylvania, Tourism , Trail Destinations, Trail of the Month

We’re going to let you in on a little secret: If you’re looking for a trail trip to take this fall, stop your Google searching; northern Pennsylvania’s Pine Creek Rail Trail offers the perfect outdoor destination for autumn (or any season, really). Stretching 62 miles through a pristine valley dubbed the Grand Canyon of Pennsylvania, the variety of trees here—sugar maple, red maple, ash, oak, white pine and hemlock—form an ever-changing kaleidoscope of landscapes. In this lush wilderness, travelers will often cross paths with deer or, much less frequently, black bears.

Grand Teton Multi-use Pathway/Greater Yellowstone Trail, Wyoming | Photo by Camrin Dengel

Five Rail-Trails in America’s National Parks

Posted 08/11/16 by Suzanne Matyas in Trail Use, America's Trails | Tagged with Best Of, Ecology and Environment, Idaho, Kentucky, Montana, Ohio, Tourism , Trail Destinations, Utah, Washington, Wyoming

Rail-trails travel through some of America’s most iconic places—including our national parks, which officially turn 100 years old this year (Aug. 25)! On the eve of the U.S. National Park Service centennial, we thought it was a great time to bring you this list of five national park rail-trails, which dot the country’s landscapes from the Great Lakes to Western Washington. So lace up your shoes—and go explore!

Ke Ala Hele Makalae offers expansive views of the Kauai coast | Photo by Kevin Clark

Hawaii's Ke Ala Hele Makalae

Posted 08/03/16 by Laura Stark in America's Trails, Trail Use | Tagged with Hawaii, Tourism , Trail Destinations, Trail of the Month

Kauai is picture perfect—literally. Hawaii’s “Garden Isle,” blanketed in emerald green rainforests and encircled with soft, sandy beaches has been featured in dozens of movies and TV shows. The dinosaurs of Jurassic Park, the monstrous beast of King Kong and the adventurous Indiana Jones have all roamed its mountainous terrain and mysterious jungles. Hugging the island’s Coconut Coast, the musical sounding Ke Ala Hele Makalae provides an easy way to experience a piece of this paradise in 7.3 miles of paved pathway along the eastern shoreline.

High Trestle Trail | Photo by David V. Johnson

Iowa's High Trestle Trail

Posted 07/14/16 by Laura Stark in America's Trails, Trail Use | Tagged with Iowa, Tourism , Trail Destinations, Trail of the Month

Like the entrance to an alien starship, the fantastical channel of blue lights along the signature bridge of central Iowa’s High Trestle Trail beckons curious travelers to explore. Wrapped in 43 twisting diamond-shaped steel ribs lined with LED lights, the bridge is meant to elicit the sensation of traveling down a mine shaft, a nod to the area’s coalmining history. Towering 130 feet above the Des Moines River, it is just as impressive in daylight, providing an ever-changing picture of the scenic river valley hung with an elaborate frame.

Ohio and Erie Canalway Towpath Trail (under Hope Memorial Bridge) along Cleveland's Cuyahoga River | Photo courtesy Behnke Landscape Architecture

Seven Wonders of the Ohio to Erie Trail

Posted 07/14/16 by Laura Stark in Building Trails, America's Trails | Tagged with Best Of, Biking, IHTC, Ohio, Tourism , Trail Communities, Trail Destinations

One state, 202 miles, four days, two wheels—it all adds up to an awesome biking adventure on the Ohio to Erie Trail, which crosses the Buckeye State at a diagonal like a prized sash. Here are seven amazing highlights of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Statue of Neptune along the Virginia Beach Boardwalk | Photo by Scott Stark

Destination: Virginia Beach

Posted 07/11/16 by Scott Stark in America's Trails, Trail Use | Tagged with Biking, Featured Magazine Articles, Tourism , Trail Communities, Trail Destinations, Virginia

Experience the diverse sights and wonders of four trails around Virginia Beach—one of the state’s most popular destinations. Working together to help create a complete cultural experience, the Cape Henry Trail, Elizabeth River Trail, Norfolk Avenue Trail and Virginia Beach Boardwalk are also part of the proposed Beaches to Bluegrass Trail System, which could one day span all of southern Virginia.

Trail's End Monument in Sedalia, 35 miles east of the Katy Trail's western end in Clinton, celebrating Sedalia's history as the first "cow town" | Photo by Danielle Taylor

Destination Missouri: Katy Trail State Park

Posted 07/11/16 by Danielle Phillippi in America's Trails, Trail Use | Tagged with Biking, Featured Magazine Articles, Missouri, Tourism , Trail Businesses, Trail Communities, Trail Destinations

Missouri’s Katy Trail State Park is the nation’s second-longest rail-trail (at nearly 238 miles) and arguably one of its most celebrated.The route bisects Missouri at its waistline, allowing trail users to glimpse a 100-foot-wide slice of the state and revealing some of the geographic variety, cultural diversity, historical significance and exceptional people therein.

Otago Central Rail Trail in New Zealand | Photo courtesy OCRT Charitable Trust

Kiwi Connections: A Snapshot of New Zealand’s Bike/Ped Policy Scene

Posted 06/30/16 by Andrew Dupuy in Policy | Tagged with Tourism and Economic Development, Trails of the World, Walkability and Bikeability

Earlier this month, RTC Policy staff had the opportunity to sit down with an elected official at the forefront of active-transportation policy and funding: New Zealand Member of Parliament (MP) Julie Anne Genter! Genter stopped by RTC’s Washington office for a casual conversation about the successes and challenges faced by biking and walking advocates in both countries.

Martin Olav Sabo Bridge over Hiawatha Avenue along the Midtown Greenway in Minnesota | Photo courtesy Tony Webster | CC by 2.0

10 More Game-Changing Rail-Trails

Posted 06/10/16 by Amy Kapp in America's Trails, Success Stories | Tagged with Best Of, Celebrating 30 Years, Connected Systems, Heritage and Restoration, Tourism and Economic Development, Transportation and Health

Earlier in 2016, we posted "Ten Trails That Helped Build the Movement" in honor of RTC’s 30th anniversary in 2016. But of course, with almost 2,000 completed rail-trails across the country, we just scratched the surface. In 1986, there were only 250 miles of rail-trails. Three decades later—thanks to a lot of passionate people—rail-trails have transformed America. Here are 10 more game-changing rail-trails (in no particular order) that have had an impact, as destinations, recreation magnets, economic drivers or transportation connectors, in the U.S.

Ohio & Erie Canalway Towpath Trail in downtown Akron | Photo by Bruce Ford, courtesy Summit Metro Parks

Ohio's Ohio & Erie Canalway Towpath Trail

Posted 06/09/16 by Laura Stark in America's Trails | Tagged with IHTC, Ohio, Tourism , Trail Destinations, Trail of the Month

Like a virtual rolling history book, remnants of an early-19th century canal unfold along the Ohio & Erie Canalway Towpath Trail as it journeys 85 miles through an eclectic panoply of landscapes in northeastern Ohio. Down the pathway, adventurers will discover a series of canal locks, restored historical buildings, interpretive signage and, of course, the canal itself—a magnificent structure of well-worn sandstone filled in some areas with water, but for the most part dry with the haunting beauty of an ancient ruin.