The Bachelor has ended, award season is over, and Wisconsinites are now impeding the inevitable doom that is boredom. I, however, have made it my goal this spring to overcome the post-reality TV depression. Mother Nature has gifted Wisconsin with spring early this year, so it’s time for hikes along Lake Michigan and coffee in the Third Ward.

This winter’s consecutive below zero winds and paralyzing snow storms have left Wisconsin residents cooped up inside for too long. It’s time to get your heart pumping and legs moving, and why not do it with a view? Instead of staring out the window of Elite, you could be staring at open fields, lush forests or even Lake Michigan. The Ozaukee County Interurban Trail, (OIT,) is perfect for a casual walk or strenuous bike ride through all that Ozaukee has to offer.

 According to the OIT website, the 30 miles of paved trail is based off the route of the Interurban Railway developed by The Milwaukee Electric Railway and Light Company, better known as We Energies. The trail was paved in the early 2000s, and in 2009 the bridge crossing highway 43 was completed.

 Today, the south end of the trail begins at Bradley Road in Brown Deer and actually connects to the Oak Leaf Trail, a 108 mile long bike trail through Milwaukee. At the north end, the trail stops at DeMaster Road in the Village of Oostburg. Although, according to site, in the near future the trail might be extended all the way to Sheboygan and beyond via Kohler Andrae State Park.

The OIT is perfect for running, walking, biking and even birdwatching. The trail is relatively flat, so bikers of any skill will survive and runners will get a mild hill workout in. Next to the amazing views of Wisconsin’s wildlife and geography, one of the best parts of the trail is its routes through downtown Thiensville, Cedarburg, Grafton,  Port Washington and Belgium. So instead of driving to Strawberry Fest this summer, why not bike? The trail will take you right to the heart of Cedarburg!

Weather permitting, the OIT is the perfect place to get some fresh air in your lungs and miles on your shoes. So now that the temperatures are warm enough to keep your fingers and toes attached, there is no better time to explore Ozaukee County than now!