It’s right up there with flying a kite or spreading out a picnic lunch at a shady spot. A relaxed, scenic bike ride is a quintessential summer pleasure.

There’s great news for Southern New England folks and visitors: Lovely, well-maintained and safe bike paths are plentiful. From hugging the shore to winding into nearby woods, there are enough great bike paths to keep you busy all summer.

Consider these — and activities around them — for some classic fun this season.

East Bay Bike Path

Rhode Island’s first multi-town bike path was completed back in 1992 and remains a popular place to pedal a day away. The path travels 14.5 miles from India Point Park in Providence to Independence Park in Bristol which means you can pick your start and finish on either end.

The path is relatively flat (with one totally doable hill), and winds along the coast, through the three state parks: Squantum Woods Park, Haines State Park and Colt State Park.

You’ll take in views of the Providence skyline, the Pomham Rocks Lighthouse, and the Squantum Association Mansion, as well as vistas of marshes and coves.

There are plenty of spots to stop for a bite all the way along the route.

Should you hit it on a weekday, you’ll notice plenty of Providence workers commuting that way.

The Cape Cod Rail Trail

In the late 19th century, this was the train route

to get you to the southern beaches and towns of Massachusetts. But since the late 1970’s, the paved route has served as one of the state — and perhaps the nation’s — most beloved and used bike trails.

The Rail Trail proper takes you just over 25 miles from Yarmouth to Wellfleet, past ponds, bogs, ocean views and through classic Cape towns.

You can turn off and head to Chatham and back — about six miles each way.

Turning around is easy, so you can choose your distance any day. Visitors to the Cape who want to ride the trail can choose from a host of hotels within walking distance, like Ocean Edge Resort in Brewster. Bike rentals are available at many spots as well.

Plan a picnic lunch at shady Nickerson State Park along the way or stop at the Hot Chocolate Sparrow in Orleans for ice cream, baked goods or a great meal.

There’s free parking along the route as well. You can map out your route using https://www.mass.gov/locations/cape-cod-rail-trail.

Cape Cod Canal Bikeway

At just over seven miles each way, the Canal bike (and walking) path may seem a bit short, but trust us: it rides big. With two-way paths on each side of the Canal, you can choose your start and finish and take in all kinds of exciting scenes as you ride.

Fishermen line the rocky shoreline most days and are often hauling in stripers. The railroad bridge at the Buzzards Bay end goes up and down multiple times each day (always a thrill to see). Just past that bridge you can spot the Patriot State when it’s docked at the Massachusetts Maritime Academy (the ship is one of our nation’s newest and most advanced training vessels). The eastern side brings you to the mouth of the canal, and often, tall ships, giant yachts and other interesting boats are sailing by.

You can picnic along the way or bike just off the path to one of the many seafood shacks and restaurants that dot the area. Or grab a healthy and refreshing boost at Vela Juice Bar (https://www.velajuicebar.com/) at the Buzzards Bay end for fuel.

Check the wind direction before you arrive and park so you pedal into the wind first. The Canal is breezy and it’s super fun to work hard a few miles, turn and then pretty much get pushed back to your start.