Best bike trail

You know what it's like trying to navigate a bicycle through the busy streets of Boston: steering clear of aggressive drivers who just don't want to respect your right of way, and hawkishly watching parked cars for swiftly opening doors that could leave you a mangled mess. The Minuteman Bikeway in Arlington is a welcome respite from all that citified aggravation. As you make your way out past Spy Pond Reservoir and into Lexington and Bedford, you can ride alone or in pairs, casually or more vigorously. You don't need to worry about the kinds of obstacles that tend to slow you down when your "natural" surroundings consist of skyscrapers and taxicabs. The trail was designed specifically to accommodate bikers (and we don't mean Harley-Davidson enthusiasts), but don't be surprised if you encounter joggers and rollerbladers in your preparations for the Tour de France.

Phoenix readers agree that the best place to ride a bike south of the Charles is at the Blue Hills Reservation in Milton, especially if you're a mountain biker. This option is not for the faint of heart: most of the trails are moderate or difficult, so it helps if you have some experience riding off-road and handling steep climbs. It's a fun ride for nature lovers and workout nuts who want to plunge through meadows and woods, bogs and streams -- but who won't mind going home sporting a mullet of moss, and maybe a skinned knee. Stop at the Blue Hills headquarters on Hillside Street, off I-93/128, exit 3 (Houghton's Pond), to pick up a brochure detailing the reservation's policies and marking appropriate trails.