From wild hikes to surf spots and roller discos, sporty types will find their piece of the action in and around the USA’s great cities – and when it’s time for R&R, there’s food and culture aplenty
SOMETIMES you don’t want to spend your holiday sitting on the beach. You want to get up, get out and break a sweat.
If that sounds like your kind of trip, the USA has got you covered. Here former Arsenal, New Jersey Wildcats and Lioness legend Rachel Yankey shares her favourite destinations for sport lovers.
Salt Lake City, Utah:
road and trail running
UNITED STATES OF ADVENTURE
SPORT Utah’s capital is full of spacious parks and paths that are perfect for relaxed flat runs.
Notch up longer distances at the Jordan River Parkway, stretching for more than 60 miles with lots of scenic, traffic-free sections.
Looking to crank it up? You don’t need to go far out of the city for incredible trail-running routes.
Millcreek Canyon offers rolling forests, mountain views and thigh-burning hills. Alternatively, get away from it all on Jeremy Ranch Road, a dirt track loop with beautiful surroundings.
To find out more and plan your trip,
go to visittheusa.co.uk
Detroit, Michigan: kayaking
Ocean City, New Jersey: surfing
SPORT
If you’re new to this gnarly sport, beach-blessed Ocean City is the place to learn.
With a population of less than 12,000, Ocean City is a quiet haven and great for families wanting to avoid the hustle and bustle of other beach resorts. There are tons of surf schools and board-hire shops, plus lifeguarded beaches exclusively for surfers.
Admire the ocean views as you try to catch a wave – and if the surfing doesn’t work out, try windsurfing or parasailing.
Orlando, Florida:
cycling and mountain biking
Boston, Massachusetts: hiking
Portland, Oregon: skating
Jog on Get back to nature on a forest trail
No motor required Drift past Belle Isle, in the Detroit River
Catch a break Ocean City is the ideal spot to learn to surf
Easy riders There are bike trails for all abilities
Stretch your legs Fabulous walks are easy to reach from the city
Warm welcome Oregon’s largest city has hipster cred – and great food and coffee
Want more? We’ve picked six cities primed for specific sports. Luckily, they’re also packed with other great stuff to see, do and eat – because even active travellers need to switch it up.
Fancy a paddle? Kayaking on the Detroit River
Ford focus See the cars that made Detroit famous
Life’s a beach Enjoy eight miles of sun and sand
Swaying palms Wander the tree-lined parks
Perfect pitch Fenway Park, home of the Boston Red Sox
Roll with it Zip around the city parks on eight wheels
Flying the flag The State Capitol in Salt Lake City
CITY Laid-back Salt Lake City is proudly outdoorsy. Relive the city’s time as host of the 2002 Winter Olympics at the Utah Olympic Park, where you can watch ski-jumping (during the summer they leap into a pool) and try tubing.
Head to the Great Salt Lake for hiking, kayaking and wildlife-spotting (look out for bison and hundreds of bird species) or just kick back downtown and explore Utah’s artisan chocolate obsession by sampling a bar or three of the good stuff.
Time to unwind? Head to the Salt Lake’s lively 9th and 9th area, which is packed with cool places to eat and boutiques to explore. Or head to one of the city’s many great live music venues – Urban Lounge is a local favourite.
Shore to please Hike beside the Great Salt Lake
CITY There’s plenty to see and do. Walk through recording studios used by legends like Diana Ross and Marvin Gaye at the Motown Museum. Explore Detroit’s Motor City heritage at the Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation. And don’t miss the Charles H Wright Museum of African American History, featuring interactive exhibits.
The city that spawned Motown still offers plenty of live music. Motor City Wine is a one-stop shop for live jazz, global food pop-ups and top-notch wines and beers.
Speaking of food, the historic (and huge!) Eastern Market sells everything from Michigan’s famous apples to next-level doughnuts.
SPORT Few visitors to this historic city realise that canals running through some eastern neighbourhoods are fantastic for kayaking and paddleboarding. It’s why this area is nicknamed Detroit’s “Little Venice”.
Kayaks and paddleboards can be rented independently but a guided tour will be more rewarding – Detroit River Sports is the popular choice.
CITY Even if you’re not getting wet, Ocean City’s eight miles of beachfront are where it all happens, from relaxation on the pristine sands to restaurants open round the clock.
The three-mile-long boardwalk is a must-see attraction that caters for all. Want thrills? There are go-karts, water parks, movie theatres, arcades, theme park rides and more. Music? Every Tuesday and Thursday from 7pm-9pm, Philadelphia Mummers bands strut the boardwalk from 6th to 14th Street.
Children will love it here – and it’s also heaven for shopaholics.
SPORT
Discovering Orlando on two wheels is a whole lot of fun.
Zip over to the urban Lake Druid Park to tackle easygoing mountain bike tracks (with separate ones for kids) or make a short journey out of the city for wilder off-road trails in Little Big Econ State Forest and Markham Woods.
For something more easygoing, hire a bike to explore the city – made easier by the 265-plus miles of cycle lanes.
CITY Yes, you’re in the theme park capital of the world, but there are so many more reasons to see Orlando.
Don’t miss out on the city’s exciting restaurant scene – formerly a well-kept secret, now a big selling point – or the 50 colourful acres of Harry P Leu Gardens, the various farmers’ markets in around the city selling everything from fancy bread to fresh flowers, and the thrill of watching the Orlando Magic basketball team on home turf.
Away from the buzz of the theme parks, the vibe in Orlando is surprisingly relaxed thanks to its pretty tree-lined neighbourhoods and laid-back pace.
SPORT
Don’t forget to pack those hiking boots when travelling to Massachusetts’ capital, as Boston boasts wonderful walks that are easily reachable from the city.
Power your way up the peaks of the Skyline Loop in Blue Hills Reservation state park to gawp at panoramic views or take your pick from Middlesex Fells Reservation’s 100 miles of trails.
Boston is big in beauty but relatively small in size, so it’s built for exploring on foot. Spend a few hours wandering the flora-filled grounds of Harvard University’s Arnold Arboretum. And be sure to add Boston Common to your must-visit list – the 50-acre green space, right in the centre of town, is the oldest city park in the country.
CITY Wherever your hiking leads, you won’t have to look far to reward yourself afterwards, since Boston is choc-a-bloc with craft beer breweries and (classy) Irish pubs.
Since you’re in one of the USA’s oldest cities (founded in 1630, if you’re wondering), give yourself a history lesson by tracing the two-and-a-half-mile Freedom Trail. Arguably the city’s most popular walk, it passes 16 locations significant to the history of the United States.
Then rest your feet by sitting down to enjoy a baseball game at Fenway Park, a Boston institution (even if you don’t understand the rules).
CITY Portland’s hipster credentials are well known but this just means great coffee and art galleries are never far away.
Once you’ve had your fill of both (prioritise the huge and historic Portland Art Museum), schedule a weekend visit to the truly enormous Portland Saturday Market to browse and buy everything from abstract art to local whiskey.
Don’t leave town without queueing for a magnificently OTT creation from colourful, kooky Portland institution Voodoo Doughnut, before hiking off the carb coma at Forest Park, a green oasis stretching over 5,000 acres that’s typically only 15 minutes from downtown by car.
SPORT
Get your skates on, quite literally, for a trip to Oregon’s largest city, loved by those in the northwest who live life on eight wheels, whether rollerskating or inline skating.
If you’re a newbie, Oaks Park – home to the oldest roller rink in the USA – is a good place to start and features public sessions for all abilities.
Take your skills outside by zipping round open spaces like Tom McCall Waterfront Park and the city’s skate parks, or go full-on fun at the not-at-all-secret (but very welcoming) Secret Roller Disco parties every Thursday.
The hole story Choose your favourite at Voodoo Doughnut
Ocean City, New Jersey: surfing