BTW, giorgios, Chicago certainly does have a lovely path along the lake. I was there last July and rode all of it. I particularly liked the easy access to beaches. The southernmost section seemed a little sun-scorched; the trees are younger there. Hopefully that area will be lush, too, in a few years.
Come up to NYC sometime and check out our paths along our shorelines. Not bad. Not so many beaches, but lots of parkland, restaurants, and bars.