I don’t always complete all of my summer goals but made sure that “Biking the Beltline” was a goal that my family completed before school started back! Finding time for the four of us to do this together turned out to be impossible so I settled for just me and my boys.
Ordinarily I would have been very nervous about keeping up with my two very healthy and athletic teenagers. However, since beginning my fitness journey in January, I’m feeling healthier, more active and bolder about trying new activities! And, as it turns out, “Biking the Beltline” was a BREEZE!
Before leaving Dunwoody I researched, the Atlanta Beltline website. I wanted to bike through Piedmont Park so chose the “Eastside Trail” for our destination. I didn’t want to bother with loading up bikes and hauling them downtown in my car or on MARTA, nor did I want to ride all the way there on my bike. I’m not a “real” bike rider and have no interest in riding in a bike lane on a busy street. Instead, the boys and I each rented bikes from Atlanta Beltline Bicycle which is conveniently located at the end of the Eastside trail. You can rent bikes, locks and helmets for a very affordable fee.
The three of us hopped on our rented bikes and headed to Piedmont Park on the Beltline! Believe it or not I had no trouble keeping up, my teenagers thoroughly enjoyed themselves, and my youngest was having so much fun that he didn’t even remember to look for Pokemon in Piedmont Park!
The ride to the park was a very gradual down hill slope with lots to see, do, and eat along the way. The ride back to the bike shop was alternately a gradual uphill slope but a very easy ride, even for a novice. It was just so nice to ride bikes together, look at the sites, stop and have a KING OF POPS popscicle, and browse by all the shops. The people watching was spectacular! Please note that we went on a weekday around lunchtime and the crowds were very light. I’ve heard that the Beltline can be like “interstate 285 for bikes” on busier weekends and holidays.
We were done with our down and back slow paced sightseeing ride in less than 90 minutes. We hopped back in our car for the very short drive (we could have walked) to Krog Street Market for a yummy lunch followed by Jeni’s icecream. Our entire excursion was a complete success! Check out my photo gallery!
