Down By The River

This picture was taken about a half an hour ago.  It's a pretty typical scene for us in the evening.  While the Dayton House  can't boast actual river frontage, it is two blocks away.

There are a number of great spots on the river and we use them all.  The picture above is a five  minute car ride from the house.  It's Aqua Lane.  It's one of the spots we like to take the dog for open field running.  Walking distance from the house, a good open spot for frolic is either Tow Path Park, which is three long blocks away heading North on the bike path, or Squaw Island which is accessible by the International Railroad Bridge that is two blocks from the house.

If running is your thing, the bike path is a great route.  From the house to the pedestrian bridge (which is just about at the city line) and back is just about 3.5 miles -- great training for a 5K.  Running to the River Grill and back is just over four miles.  If it's a hot day, you can run a little further up to Aqua Lane and grab a drink in the restroom up there.  That will put you just a little under 5.  The Grand Island bridge is a 4 mile run.  Having someone drop you off at the bridge and then running home is a very pleasant route.  Another good one-way route if you have a ride home is up to the gazebo in Isleview Park.  In the summer, that's where you'll hit a water fountain and a big sprayer too.  There is a water fountain at the water treatment plant on River Rd. which helps if you are doing the bridge or Isleview run.

If biking is your thing, it is ten miles up to the North end of the trail.   It is also a very nice ride to take the path south down to the inner harbor.  That route takes you over squaw Island and you can take any number of routes once you get back to the city proper.

There is also now a bike path that hooks the riverwalk to the path over to Delaware Park.

There are many great biking and running routes that mean you don't have to worry about city traffic.  That's just a nice perk to being down by the river!