On the River Trail...
I had been living in Center City Philadelphia for too long before discovering that, just blocks away, there was a trail for bicycling, running, walking, boating and so forth along the eastern bank of the Schuylkill River.
My first time on the trail, I was amazed at its intersection of so many of my loves; the water, wide paths for bike or foot, broad swathes of railroad tracks and interesting bridges. But, most importantly, it was a place within my immediate urban environs where I could take respite from the din of traffic and the horrific squeal of SEPTA bus brakes.
Though the River Trail extends approximately one hundred miles north from Locust Street in Center City, Philadelphia, to Pottsville, Pennsylvania, my travels have mostly concentrated along the Philadelphia Trail stretch. A map of this 10.5 mile section can be found on the Schuylkill River Trail National and State Heritage Area site. The Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia has also posted a detailed map on their blog, the Philadelphia Bicycle News.
Happy riding!