A bicycle is the perfect way to explore Cape Cod. You know what it’s like checking out a new locale in a car: you’re either going too fast to really see what you want to see or you’re stuck in traffic – and Cape Cod has its share of that. With a bike, you can stop and explore whenever you want and you can cover more ground than if you’re walking.

The Cape Cod Rail Trail provides an ideal setting for investigating what the Cape has to offer. Cranberry bogs, shady lanes, kettle ponds, and an old-fashioned country store – we saw them all on our 10-mile ride. And the Rail Trail is a delight for us out-of-practice riders: it’s safely removed from traffic, smoothly paved, and mostly level.

The trail lies along the old right of way of a railroad that traversed Cape Cod until the 1960s. In 1978, the first sections were paved for use by cyclists, equestrians, rollerbladers, and walkers. Currently, the trail is about 30 miles long from South Dennis to South Wellfleet.

We started our trip about mid-point in the trail, not far from Nickerson State Park, renting our bikes at one of several bike shops at handy locations right along the trail. We outfitted ourselves with water, map, and sandwiches from Box Lunch and took off on our venture at a leisurely pace.

After a wobbly first hundred feet or so, we were soon in high spirits, captivated by the picturesque surroundings and pleased with our daring-do. Our first stop was at Seymours Pond to enjoy the cool breeze and the antics of the ducks. We later took a break to investigate a cranberry bog then glided serenely through a shady pine forest. At the rotary, we ate our sandwiches and chatted with some local folks out for a walk with their families. We figured we had gone about half as far as we could so we turned back towards our starting point, stopping along the way to examine a wayward tortoise and to take some pictures. At Pleasant Lake General Store we had ice cream and a last breather on their welcoming benches before finishing up the trip, simultaneously exhausted and refreshed.

Not only did we see slices of the real Cape Cod, we found that riding a bicycle along the scenic Rail Trail is the kind of excursion that wakens the senses and livens the spirit.

We rented the bikes from a shop in Eastham for a reasonable price of $17/person for a few hours, helmet included. The Rail Trail was only around the block from the shop - we were on our way. We decided to start out north towards Wellfleet, then make our way back to Nauset Marsh Trail.

As you can imagine a trail being a former railroad line, it's quite straight and flat. For the adventurous, I'd have to say the trail offered little in the way of an adrenaline rush. However, it did have its share of brilliant flowers and peaceful moments.

The Nauset Marsh Trail is a short (2 miles, I think) trail which runs east/west from the ocean. Its a pleasant ride which offers some small hills and turns which made riding slightly more interesting. It can get a little buggy near the water, so keep some bug-off handy.

If you are looking for an active way to spend your morning or afternoon, I'd highly recommend the Rail Trail. It can easily be stretched into a day trip by biking the full length of the trail, but you might want to schedule a ride home!!

In Sagamore, at the end of the Canal Trail, is a fantastic restaurant with great views called Horizons on Sunset Bay. I highly recommend you make this the end of your cycling trip, as you may be tempted to partake in a tempting large meal and and alcoholic beverage. You may not be up to cycling back down the canal afterward. I speak from the voice of experience! We did it--however, we were not HAPPY CYCLERS!

There is a lot of traffic on the cape in the summer months, which makes cycling all the more appealing.

You can really enjoy the cape and stay within a family budget.