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Traverse City is a great suggestion, thank you. I have been there and that Northwest Michigan area is gorgeous. I've heard that they have made progress on the lake shore bike trail there also. If money were no object, I would own a summer cabin on the shores of beautiful Lake Charlevoix (Not a lot of protected bike paths along the shores of Charlevoix, that I am aware of, however.).
Meanwhile, back in the real world - Is the Traverse City area humid in the summers? Are there a lot of bugs?
I might suggest one of the less trendy corners of NY's Finger Lakes region (such as Geneva or Auburn), but those communities are relatively bike trail deficient. However, they have plenty of wide shouldered low traffic rural roads with low hills.
Montour Falls NY, a small village yet to be completely "discovered," could be a possibility. It is a raw end of the NYS Barge Canal system and on one of the few developed rail trails in the Finger Lakes region. I'm not sure how much of a bug producer the adjacent Queen Catharine marsh (still officially "Bad Indian Swamp" in the USGS GNIS) is.
ki0eh,
Your suggestions of Geneva, Auburn and Montour Falls NY, are great, thank you for those. I am not experienced with this region but I am particularly intrigued by any "undiscovered gems" as there must be some of those out there! Our flexible lifestyle will allow us the freedom to spend time in areas that don't have features such as a job base, urban transit, etc.
Suggestions like those you provided which direct us to specific town names are particularly helpful.
In our older ages we are conservative in our riding and try to remain on dedicated bike paths in our riding. We have a tremendous system in Tucson. Every year it seems there are tragic cycling deaths on the road here (and everywhere) with vehicles.
Thanks again.
It will be our well-kept secret then, pinky-swear! Great suggestions. I have very little personal experience with Wisconsin (Drank a lot of beer at UW Madison back in the day though.) I have never heard of the "Driftless Wisconsin" region that you reference. I will check out the link you provided.
That's something that I enjoy about this sight - so many folks with experience and knowledge that I do not have, willing to help and offer information like this, with no profit motives too boot!
Do you have any experience with the mosquito level of discomfort and the humidity levels in the summer in this area? Living in the desert, we are spoiled on those counts (We do have mild humidity and bugs during the summer monsoon season.)
Thanks for keeping it a secret. The humidity can get to a uncomfortable area at times but not a constant thing like in Houston or Arkansas, Florida, which is all I have to compare it to personally. Mosquitoes in most of Minnesota can be bad but that particular region is know for being relatively mosquito free because of the geology. But not totally.
As a side note. I've camped in Wyoming, Jackson Hole, Grand Teton area many years ago and I always enjoyed the lack of humidity when camping. Never woke up with that damp feeling in the morning as opposed to it in Minnesota. I don't know about biking or paddle boarding. Don't remember any mosquitoes though. I don't think much standing water, but mostly cold streams and rivers.
Thanks for keeping it a secret. The humidity can get to a uncomfortable area at times but not a constant thing like in Houston or Arkansas, Florida, which is all I have to compare it to personally. Mosquitoes in most of Minnesota can be bad but that particular region is know for being relatively mosquito free because of the geology. But not totally.
As a side note. I've camped in Wyoming, Jackson Hole, Grand Teton area many years ago and I always enjoyed the lack of humidity when camping. Never woke up with that damp feeling in the morning as opposed to it in Minnesota. I don't know about biking or paddle boarding. Don't remember any mosquitoes though. I don't think much standing water, but mostly cold streams and rivers.
Izzie1213,
I have also camped in the Summer in the Grand Tetons and recall waking up to dry ground and not with the wet dew associated with my summer camping in the Midwest. I enjoyed that very much.
We may have to eliminate the water criteria from our search "wish list" and instead focus on areas with good bike paths or trails and the other items on our list.
Thanks for your feedback.
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