Best secret riding spot - Lilydale Road - 2014 Best of MN

This stretch of Lilydale Road and West Water Street along the Mississippi River feels like rural America. There's rough asphalt and no wide shoulder, but a mostly paved bike path runs for intermittent stretches. The air hangs heavy and damp on most summer days, thanks to the river's proximity, and lush foliage reminds us that these are river towns we're living in. Ride it northeast toward St. Paul for a tranquil moment of reflection before the Ohio Street climb. Ride it the other direction and feel the city of St. Paul slip away behind you.