Nova Scotia's South Shore: Not in a hurry to get anywhere? Peddling the peninsulas and coasting along placid inlets is a great tonic for a weary soul. You'll pass through graceful villages such as Shelburne, Lunenburg, and Chester and rediscover a quiet way of life.
Prince Edward Island: This island province sometimes seems like it was created specifically for bike touring. The villages are reasonably spaced, the hills are virtually nonexistent, the coastal roads are picturesque in the extreme, and a new island-wide bike path offers detours through marshes and quiet woodlands.
Old Port Route (Montréal): The city has 239km (148 miles) of biking paths, and the Métro permits bicycles in the last car of its trains. One popular route is from the Old Port west along the side of the Lachine Canal. A little under 11km (7 miles) one-way, it's tranquil, vehicle-free, and mostly flat. You can rent bikes at the Old Port.
Ile d'Orléans (Québec): You can enjoy a day or two of biking around this bucolic island 15 minutes downriver from Québec City. A main road runs around the island, never far from the water's edge. You can stop at a pick-your-own orchard or strawberry field or in a tiny village with 18th- and 19th-century houses and churches. Two roads cut across the island at the southern end, and a third does the same a little beyond midpoint. You can rent bikes on the island.
Niagara Region (Ontario): The flatlands here make for terrific biking terrain. A bike path runs along the Niagara Parkway, which follows the Niagara River. You'll bike past fruit farms, vineyards, and gardens with picnicking spots.
Highways 1 and 93 Through Banff and Jasper National Parks (Alberta): Also called the Icefields Parkway, this well-maintained wide highway winds through some of the world's most dramatic mountain scenery. Take the Bow Valley Parkway, between Banff and Lake Louise, and Parkway 93A between Athabasca Falls and Jasper for slightly quieter peddling. Best of all, there are seven hostels (either rustic or fancy) at some of the most beautiful sights along the route, so you don't have to weigh yourself down with camping gear.
Stanley Park Seawall (Vancouver, British Columbia): Vancouver's Seawall surrounds the Stanley Park shoreline on the Burrard Inlet and English Bay. Built just above the high-tide mark, it offers nonstop breathtaking views, no hills, and no cars.
