The Mountain Park Environmental Center Restores the Spirit of the WPA

Built by the WPA in 1939, the Horseshoe Lodge has been renovated as an earth-friendly eco-lodge. Book one of the nature-themed rooms, then go out and explore the 17,000 acres of San Isabel National Forest or the Pueblo Mountain Park.

What better cure for the wintertime blues than a place that calls itself the Sunshine State? Try cycling the Pinellas Trail: 47 miles of car-free, paved bikeway connecting northern and southern Florida. Start out in Tarpon Springs, and at your own pace head south to inviting destinations like “Honeymoon Island” and “Clearwater.” Conclude your trip in downtown St. Petersburg, a fresh and festive city overlooking Tampa Bay.

For a weekend trip, plan your halfway point in Downtown Clearwater and lodge at the Residence Inn or Gangelhoff’s Summerside Inn. Dining options from sushi (Chiang Mai Thai and Sushi Bar) to Mexican (Los Mayas Mexican Restaurant) are available around every corner.

 

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Start along the shore in Santa Barbara and take the coast bike route through Montecito (stop in at the Four Seasons Biltmore for tea and jaw dropping views). This route meanders along Channel Road next to Butterfly Beach. Keep pedaling or walking to Summerland (about eight miles) spend the night at the Inn on Summer Hill, and come back the next day.

We Need Your Help

As part of our effort to reclaim the historic routes for human paced travelers we need someone to adopt this stretch of the erie canal and fill it in for inn to inn travlers.  Maybe it's you?

View inn to inn on the erie Canal: Palmyra to Fairport in a larger map

If you have suggestions for places along this stretch leave them below.