By WALTER NICKLIN | Special to The Washington Post | Published: January 7, 2021 The very first dog that I could properly call “my own” (when I was a preteen), I named “Scout.” His name says it all, encapsulating the impulse that led me to a lifetime of travel, both in the United States and around the world. This ever-curious beagle and I would explore the planet together, with his inquisitive nose always leading the way. But first, Scout and I would have to make short exploratory expeditions in and around our neighborhood. Wherever Scout pointed the way, I followed. He always lived up to his name, as we discovered places even my parents didn’t know existed. There were, for example, groundhog holes hidden in the tall grass of our next-door neighbor’s yard. Also, I remember an underground stream uncovered only because Scout’s floppy, fine-textured ears picked up the soft sound of moving water.
The Baltimore Greenways Trail Network is a relatively new idea. Other projects working their way through Maryland’s transportation pipeline, including the Purple Line, the cancelled Baltimore Red Line, the Corridor Cities Transitway, and the Southern Maryland Rapid Transit Project, each date back decades. But the Baltimore Greenway, a proposed 35-mile network of urban trails ringing almost the entirety of Baltimore City, only dates back four or five years Rails-to-Trails Conservancy’s earliest planning meetings for the project launched toward the end of 2015. But despite its newness, the trail network, spearheaded by a coalition with more than 40 stakeholder members, has a key advantage: it’s already almost done.
Top 10 Trails in Florida
Florida s Legacy Trail | Photo by Brian Gerhardstein
This blog has been updated from its original 2014 version. Special acknowledgment: Ken Bryan, RTC s Florida State Director and Senior Strategist for External Relations
NOTE: Rails-to-Trails Conservancy urges all individuals seeking trail experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic to practice social distancing at all times and follow the guidelines by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and state and local governments. For more information and resources on how to #RecreateResponsibly outside, go to railstotrails.org/COVID-19.
Florida. The very name conjures up lush natural areas rich in wildlife, sandy beaches and seashells, and vibrant cities bursting with attractions. The Sunshine State’s plethora of pathways including nearly 60 rail-trails connect travelers to this diverse array of beautiful landscapes and unique communities. Even better, with some of the flattest geography in the United
Looking Back, With Gratitude, on a Year of Challenges and Triumphs for Trails
Photo by India Kea
As 2020 draws to a close a year of extreme changes and challenges it is with incredible appreciation that we reflect on the collective impact of our movement across the country.
While the COVID-19 pandemic has altered our lives dramatically, it has also made clear just how vital trails are to people and places serving as important space for health and wellness and providing safe outdoor access for millions of people.
This remarkable impact would not have been possible without the time, dedication and ingenuity of America’s trail builders and advocates, whose efforts brought so much impact to so many people.
Traveling through the pandemic in the company of dogs
Walter Nicklin, The Washington Post
Dec. 18, 2020
FacebookTwitterEmail
The author s beagle mix, Angel, leads the way during a cross-country skiing expedition.Photo by Walter Nicklin for The Washington Post.
The very first dog that I could properly call my own (when I was a preteen), I named Scout. His name says it all, encapsulating the impulse that led me to a lifetime of travel, both in the United States and around the world. This ever-curious beagle and I would explore the planet together, with his inquisitive nose always leading the way.
But first Scout and I would have to make short exploratory expeditions in and around our neighborhood. Wherever Scout pointed the way, I followed. He always lived up to his name, as we discovered places even my parents didn t know existed. There were, for example, groundhog holes hidden in the tall grass of our next-door neighbor s yard. Also I remember an underground stream uncover