Happy trails
Biking together can keep kids fit and bring you closer as a family
Cara Nissman
South Florida Parenting
If you're tired of nagging your kids to switch off the TV and video games and to play outside and get some exercise, one way to get them on the right track, enjoy the sunshine -- and spend some quality time together -- is to embark on a family bike ride.
You can't beat the physical and spiritual benefits of a long ride on a beautiful day. Problem is, with urban sprawl and endless construction, where can you go that's safe and scenic?
"I grew up in Lake Worth and used to ride my bike everywhere," says Raphael Clemente, West Palm Beach's director of transportation planning and community services and former bicycle coordinator for Palm Beach County. "It's just not safe to do that anymore. The amount of traffic, the size of roads and the attitude that you have to have a car to get around in this society has changed that."
If you can't ride around your neighborhood, the next best thing is a bike path at a park or nature preserve. Before you go, make sure that each rider has a water bottle and sunblock. Review rules about not riding too far ahead and keeping to the correct side of a path. Sharpen kids' observation skills by challenging them to look out for certain objects, such as butterflies, birds and squirrels, and report their favorite parts of the trail.
Biking in Broward County
For an easy, pleasant ride, C.B. Smith Park offers dozens of paths -- as well as other activities for families who want to do more than ride. The 320-acre park at welcomes fishing, canoeing and paddling in the lake and features two mini-golf courses, waterslides, tennis, basketball and volleyball courts and playgrounds. "It's good for parents with younger kids, too, because they won't be riding near any traffic," says Mark Horowitz, bicycle coordinator for Broward County.
Markham Park in Sunrise can give families a more challenging ride with rocky trails suitable for mountain bikes that take cyclists past pine and eucalyptus trees. The 666-acre park also welcomes boating and camping.
And from the Markham Park entrance, you can now access a trail that takes you to the Everglades Conservation Levee, on which you can ride along the rocky top and spy Florida wildlife.
"That forms a 27-mile loop around the levee and you really get to see what the Everglades look like," says Horowitz. "You'll see birds and turtles -- it's a really interesting ride."
For beginners, Horowitz recommends Davie's trail system. "Starting at Robbins Lodge, you can follow a path and go almost the entire way without being near traffic," he says. "I biked with my [5-year-old] son on a trailer once and had a fun ride."
On the move in Miami-Dade County
The best place in this county for families to tool around together is on Key Biscayne, with bike paths that take you from Crandon Park all the way to the tip of the key and the Cape Florida Lighthouse in Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park.
Once in Bill Baggs State Park, says Joe Wascura, vice president of the Everglades Bicycle Club based in Miami, you'll find shaded trails and beach trails with little or no automobile traffic.
"If you have a kid under 14, you have to do different things with them or they'll get bored. They won't want to take a three-hour bike ride," he says. "This one is beautiful because the bike path meanders among the mangroves and it places you right along the water. You can pack a picnic lunch or do a barbecue. You can ride for a while and then go for a swim. You can visit the lighthouse, too."
Oleta River State Park in North Miami also offers a breath-taking connection to nature with miles of mountain-biking trails in this 1,043-acre park. Pedaling by the mangrove forests, you might spy some hawks, osprey or foxes.
Pedaling through Palm Beach County
This county has made progress recently in becoming more bicycle-friendly.
Cyclists can now enjoy nature's beauty while riding along the Lake Okeechobee Scenic Trail, which winds around the lake on top of the levee. West Palm Beach's Clemente recommends starting at the South Bay trailhead off U.S. 27 on the south side of the lake and going north.
"You have some awesome views of the lake and surrounding wetlands," he says. "Last time I was out there I saw egrets and herons, but you can see gators and all kinds of other goodies."
On the northeastern end of the county, Jupiter has done wonders for the biking community with paths along A1A, Central Boulevard and other streets. Traffic is light enough in most spots that Clemente says savvy young riders can handle being on the road.
In West Palm Beach, families can ride along Flagler Drive car-free from Curry Park to Southern Boulevard, or go along the pathway under the Okeechobee bridge without automobiles to Palm Beach island and continue a scenic ride along the Palm Beach Lake Trail, which features views of the Intracoastal Waterway. You can loop back around and end up back at Curry Park in West Palm Beach.
"There are picnic benches and you never have to cross the street," says Clemente. "It's only about five miles round-trip."
You can spot gators, ducks and other critters as you ride around Okeeheelee Park in West Palm Beach or John Prince Park in Lake Worth.
Safe paths along A1A also abound in Boca Raton, which has been recognized for its efforts as a bicycle-friendly community by the League of American Bicyclists. El Rio Trail is a newer, paved path that runs from Glades Road to Spanish River Boulevard along the El Rio Canal.
Wherever they decide to ride, Clemente hopes parents take the opportunity to instill in their children an appreciation for nature and open spaces, as well as a passion for outdoor activities, which can stave off obesity and diabetes. There may be limits to where you can ride, but that shouldn't limit your time outside together.
Cara Nissman is a freelance writer based in West Palm Beach. She likes riding to Dreher Park to visit the zoo and science museum.
