Touring Tuesday - Springfield, Illinois

Darren Alff outside the Lincoln home in Springfield (photo courtesy of Bicycle Touring Pro)

If you want to take a cycling trip mixed in with some American history, consider Springfield Illinois. It's where Abraham Lincoln spent most of his adult life prior to becoming President. Among the sights you can visit are:

• Lincoln Home Historic Site
• Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum
• Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library
• Lincoln-Herndon Law Office
• Lincoln Tomb

While Springfield is the capital of Illinois, it is significantly smaller than Indianapolis, approximately the size of Evansville or Terre Haute. There are four trails available to cyclists:

• Interurban Trail (8.4 miles)
• Sangamon Valley Trail (5.7 miles)
• Lost Bridge Trail (5.6 miles)
• Wabash Trail (2.1 miles)

Here's a map of the trails.