7. San Francisco

Hills notwithstanding, 40,000 residents bike to work daily in San Francisco. The City's small geographical area also makes bike tourism ideal, especially now that new maps identify routes with less than Lombard Street inclines. For the hardcore, these same hills also provide tremendous recreational cycling circuits. Plus, touring across Golden Gate Bridge is arguably the most scenic bike path in America, if not the world. Every serious bike tourist should attend one SF Critical Mass, a combination of cycling empowerment and good old San Francisco activism. If the hills do prove too steep, just hop on the BART, which now accommodates bikes.

For more information: San Francisco Bike