rowing up on Cape Cod, I'd see throngs of tourists descend on my hometown of Falmouth each summer. Some came for the beaches and cottages, some for ice cream cones and lobsters, and some were just passing through on their way to Martha's Vineyard by way of the Island Queen or Steamship Authority. A few bound for the island were lucky enough to secure scarce vehicle reservations on one of the Steamship Authority ferries. More often, though, those headed over to the Vineyard had to park in a satellite lot somewhere miles from the dock in Woods Hole and ride a shuttle down to meet the boat. This is still the case today. What's different is another, often overlooked, means to get to the ferry—your bike. These days, there are a lot of ways to get to Martha's Vineyard, but only one will make you sweat.

In 1975 as a bicentennial project, the Town of Falmouth opened the Shining Sea Bikeway. Leading through the woods, past a pond or three, and along a serene stretch of Vineyard Sound, the path takes its name from a line in the song "America the Beautiful," written by Falmouth native Katharine Lee Bates. For 34 years the bikeway has played host to runners, walkers, rollerbladers, and skateboarders as a route between Falmouth and Woods Hole, and as a destination of its own. Last summer, the town completed a long-awaited project that saw the path more than triple in length to a span of 10.7 miles. Beginning (or ending, depending how you look at it) in North Falmouth, and meandering through West Falmouth, past Falmouth Center and finally down to Woods Hole, the path gives locals and visitors alike more quintessential Cape scenery to soak up on their way to catch a ride to the Vineyard than they could ever get from a car or shuttle bus. It's a pretty good workout, too.

On its own, the bike path is beloved and quite beautiful, but as a means to beat summer traffic, it's even better. While there are traffic laws to obey and right-of-way courtesies to pay on the bike path, the aggravation you'll avoid and the sun and salt air you'll enjoy on your commute will be worth it.

You can ride a straight shot down the path from end to end, or cut into town or over to a beach from one of the many main or side roads you'll intersect. The intersections are also easy ways to keep track of your progress, or set pacing goals for a run or ride. The bikeway follows the route of an old railroad line that used to connect Woods Hole to Boston and New York. Perhaps because I grew up riding and running it all the time, my favorite part is still the pre-extension, original 3.3-mile strip, but the newest stretch adds marshes and cranberry bogs to the list of beautiful things you'll breeze past.

Also not to be missed when you're headed to the Cape: We launch MySecretCapeCod.com on Monday (May 31). Check it out to discover other things you didn't know about everyone's favorite summer destination.

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