Bicycling and hiking are two of my three favorite sports activities. (The third is Nordic skiing.) These are two destinations that I adore:
When hiking the Dolomites, you almost feel like you can touch the clouds.
The Lofoten Islands in Norway are ideal for cycling. Here, the mountains meet the sea.
Bicycling around Prince Edward Island is an idyllic experience, full of picturesque views and great seafood. (I fell in love with the abundance of boldly-hued lupines lining the roads.)
Along the north shore, I discovered scenic North Lake, known as the World’s Tuna Capital, with its pristine oceanfront beaches and some blustery headwinds.
Biking on Fyn (Funen) Island in Denmark couldn’t be more idyllic.
No matter the island where I bicycled, I found that Denmark is one of the most bike-centric countries in the world.
When biking and island hopping, I never tired of the dramatic interplay of sky, clouds and the water-based landscape at dusk.
On Aero Island in Denmark, these charming cottages, including one with a thatch roof, line a stretch of sand in Marstal at Erik Hale Beach.
One thing that made my travels on Aero Island especially lovely was staying at the Aero Guesthouse and Cafe where breakfast is a warm, welcoming and sunny affair. This is one of the two rooms — along with the plant-filled outdoor terrace — with contemporary art where you can enjoy a wonderful cappuccino or a filling and tasty vegetarian breakfast.
On the island of Aero in Denmark, every summer, established artists and art students put on an exhibition around the scenic Soby Harbor. This delightful seahorse was created by Christian Aagaard Ovesen.
As an artist who’s in love with nature, I was delighted to explore Tickon - Tranekaer International Center for Art and Nature on Langeland, Denmark. Trails weave through the 200-acre forested grounds of the Tranekaer Castle. Like all the naturalist installations here, this one - by artist Alfio Bonanno - was created from materials found in the park itself.
Biking around Denmark’s scenic Fyn (Funen) Island, I made many art discoveries, including in the town of Faaborg. This creative mural by Els Cools references the city’s bell tower. (In the foreground are mini bell tower sculptures in flowerpots, an art installation by Bruno MacDonald.)
As I bicycled along serene country roads on Tasinge Island in Denmark, I found a delightful abundance of nature around each and every turn. (This is the estate of the 17th century Valdemar’s Castle.)
Wilmington, Delaware may not be on everyone’s must-see list but, especially if you’re a nature lover, it should be. Though most noted for its stellar gardens, such as Winterthur, the Mount Cuba Center, the Nemours Estate and Longwood Gardens, there are numerous other venues to explore on foot or by bicycle that get much less tourist traffic. This is my article on a nature-based journey to Wilmington beyond the obvious sights that I wrote for ForbesLife.
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