Biking Adventures

Paved trail riding is the most underrated family outing in this list. It is free, it is close to home, you can turn around at any point, and the distance a family can cover means a child sees far more than they would on foot. Everything in this section is a paved or hard-packed path separated from traffic, which is the only kind of route worth considering with kids.

How far can a kid actually ride

Further than you think, and much further than they can walk. As a rough guide, a confident six-year-old on their own bike manages 3 to 5 miles, a ten-year-old 10 miles, and a twelve-year-old more or less whatever an adult can do. The limiting factors are almost never fitness - they are saddle comfort, boredom and hills.

Plan out-and-back rather than a loop. An out-and-back can be abandoned at any point; a loop commits you to finishing it.

What makes a good family trail

No road crossings, or very few. This is the whole reason to seek out a dedicated trail. Trinity Trails in Fort Worth and Brushy Creek in Cedar Park run for miles with almost none.

Flat, or flat enough. Rail trails are flat by construction - the Lake Mineral Wells State Trailway is a converted railroad grade and never exceeds a gentle gradient.

A destination in the middle. A playground, a lake overlook, an ice cream stop. Kids ride to somewhere far more happily than they ride for exercise.

Shade and water. In Texas this is a safety issue rather than a comfort one from June onwards.

The standout for scenery is Ke Ala Hele Makalae on Kauai, which runs along the coast with the ocean beside you the entire way.

Practical notes

• Helmets, non-negotiable, fitted properly - two fingers above the eyebrows, straps forming a V under the ear.
• Check saddle height before you go. The most common reason a child says they are tired is a saddle two inches too low.
• Pack more water than you think and a basic repair kit. A puncture three miles out with two children is a long walk.
• Ride single file and put an adult at the back. The adult behind sees everything; the adult in front sees nothing.
• Bike rentals exist at several of these trailheads, which is worth checking before loading four bikes into a car.

Best time

Early morning or evening in Texas from May to September - midday on an unshaded paved trail is genuinely unpleasant and hot. Spring and fall are ideal. Hawaii rides year-round, with mornings less windy.