BUFFALO, N.Y. — May is a month dedicated to biking. So why not take a trip along the Empire State Trail? You could do all 750 miles — or just parts of it. It opened in December 2020. The project took three years to complete. A Western New York couple has written a book that makes that trek seem manageable!

The story of the husband and wife biking duo, Jennifer Hillman and Bill McKeever, starts at the marker at Buffalo’s Outer Harbor. This is also where the Empire State Trail begins.

Their book is called Biking the Empire State Trail: A Guided Tour from Buffalo to Albany. They biked that 360-mile section of the trail over a two-year period doing day and weekend trips. They say took it bite-sized, so they could savor it. Note, they say having a support person is key for this. 

Over 350 miles of the trail are along the iconic Erie Canal, a storied piece of the state’s history and geography. And remember, this year is the bicentennial! The couple says there is a lot to learn by simply stopping and getting ice cream! That’s another biking trip tip.

"Just experience the towns and the cities that grew up along the Erie Canal and see what they are today," Hillman said.

"The old locks, the current locks, it was really kind of awesome," McKeever said. "And a lot of spots when we were at the different locks, to see them in action."

The couple says it was a lot to absorb, so taking two wheels was certainly helpful in keeping them at a slower pace. In their book, they offer where to go and fun facts. Did you know Thomas Edison founded what would become General Electric and George Westinghouse invented the rotary engine and airbrakes in Schenectady?

Upstate is also beloved for its wineries and breweries. There are hundreds of facilities within 10 miles of the Empire State Trail route. NYS Brewers Association has an App for IOS mobile devices that identifies all craft breweries near the Empire State Trail.