New York Velo Opera Bike Tour

Visit New York’s leatherstocking region, immortalized by James Fenimore Cooper with his “Leatherstocking Tales” including Last Of The Mohicans and The Deerslayer. We’ll visit museums, historic villages, farmsteads, folk art treasures, music festivals, and geological wonders that draw thousands of visitors each year.

Cycle to Cooperstown, the “Village of Museums” and the home of the National Baseball Hall of Fame, as well as charming boutiques and restaurants. Explore New York’s natural wonders — cycle along historic Erie Canal, past clear lakes and rolling hills, and go underground to see majestic caverns. Visit the historic and quirky spa village of Sharon Springs, home of ” the Fabulous Beekman Boys” and their lifestyle brand, Beekman 1802. The trip’s highlight is a visit to the Glimmerglass Festival, a one-of-a-kind summer destination that blends world-class opera and musical theater with the relaxed, casual atmosphere of central New York.

P.S. Your guides for this special tour will be native New Yorkers and Glimmerglass fanatics, Paul Kingsbury and Lori Liskovec!

*This unique tour is a one-time offering, allowing you to combine some of the best cycling in upstate New York with one of the most interesting cultural events in the state. Make sure you book this tour early, because this romantic weekend will fill up quick! 

Day 1: Schenectady to Cobleskill

Day 2: Cooperstown

Riding from Howe Caverns this morning, we’ll meander westward towards Cooperstown on scenic rural, winding roads. Our 34-mile ride will wrap up with lunch at the Inn at Cooperstown, complete with its own bike shop, the Big Ring Bicycle Clubhouse. The innkeepers, who are also cyclists, have renovated an old cobbler shop, turning it into a space where guests can work on their bikes, watch cycling movies, or just kick back with a beer and talk about favorite rides. Afterwards, you might choose to take a boat ride on beautiful Otsego Lake, visit the Fenimore Art Museum or the Farmer’s Museum, then take your time strolling around bustling, historic Cooperstown – sports fans will love the National Baseball Hall of Fame! Dinner will be on your own tonight, and there are lots of options near the hotel.

Day 3: Glimmerglass Festival

After a leisurely breakfast this morning, you can head out for an optional 8-mile loop around Cooperstown. (If you’re tired, feel free to take it easy and relax until the riders return!) Then we’ll depart for the main event of the tour — the Glimmerglass Festival! We’ll enjoy a fun picnic lunch on the festival grounds, enhanced with some special touches from our tour guides. Then after an informative Opera Talk we’ll experience some of the best summertime opera in the country. After the show, we’ll return to the Inn at Cooperstown, and enjoy one last dinner together.

Day 4: Sharon Springs to Amsterdam

Today, after exploring Sharon Springs, we’ll ride nine miles of downhill to Canajoharie, then stretch out our legs on the historic Erie Canal Trail ! Take some time to appreciate the historic bridges and locks as we pedal along the Mohawk River, then finish your tour with lunch together at the end of the ride. We’ll end up back in Schenectady where we began.