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Bike Tours with Exploration Days

Bike Tours with Exploration Days

Posted at 11:06h in Wilderness Voyageurs by
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For many, the biking may be the main attraction of fully supported cycling vacations but our trips go beyond the saddle. Many of the towns, cities, and parks we ride through are just too interesting to not experience more. That’s why we have made sure to have many options of bike tours with exploration days, or days dedicated to taking time out of the saddle to dive deeper into a destination. Some are even entirely based in one location.

Hub & Spoke

Picture a bike wheel: a central hub with spokes going out in all directions. Our Hub & Spoke tours are just that. Each trip stays at the same hotel each night, and daily rides branch out in all directions. This allows guests to stay unpacked for the entirety of the trip and get an intimate experience with a great cycling destination.

 

Santa Fe, New Mexico

A city of distinct style and culture, Santa Fe embodies a rich history melding Hispanic, Anglo, and Native American culture. Our Santa Fe Hub & Spoke bike tour has daily rides starting from the lovely Inn of the Governors.

With rides ranging from 15-22 miles each day, you’ll have plenty of time to get to know the City Different over the span of 4-days. Enjoy walking tours, visiting museums, and free afternoons to shop and sightsee. There is a reason why they call New Mexico the Land of Enchantment.

Additionally, our 6-day New Mexico bike tour spends two nights in Santa Fe at the Inn of the Governors, while also visiting Taos and other areas of the region.

 

Chattanooga, Tennessee

Chattanooga is quickly becoming one of the country’s fastest growing cycling destinations. Set in one of the most geologically diverse regions in North America, the Scenic City has plenty to see and experience. A thriving downtown area showcases fantastic urban riding, but the surrounding countryside offers a huge network of bike trails through public parks.

Our Chattanooga bike tour centers around the city’s unique identity and history as well as the local state parks. All three nights are spent at The Dwell Hotel in the heart of downtown, so you’ll be able to venture around town after the daily rides. Shops, world class eateries, galleries, and museums pack the streets of Chattanooga.

 

Seneca Lake, New York

With our Seneca Lake gravel bike tour you’ll experience the best of the Finger Lakes region. Ride along quiet back roads, farms, vineyards and the largest Finger Lakes. Then, cap off each day with a fantastic craft brew from Grist Iron Brewing Co., before heading to bed at the brewery’s lodge.

If you aren’t a gravel rider, don’t fret. You’ll get a perfectly portioned taste of gravel riding without committing to just gravel. The routes branching out around Seneca Lake are a mix of paved back roads, gravel roads and rail trails. Staying at one lodge throughout the trip allows for more relaxation and rest after a great day of riding.

 

 

Davis, West Virginia

Head deep into the Appalachian Mountains for our Wild & Wonderful West Virginia gravel tour. The trip is centered in Davis, the highest town in the state. This eccentric town is the hub for world-class outdoor recreation opportunities, with outstanding access to pristine and wild public lands. Additionally, Davis has a distinct local culture with thriving small business, artisans, eateries, and breweries. Each night is spent at the Bright Morning Inn, a historic inn originally built as a boarding house for lumberjacks.

This gravel tour features punchy climbs with exhilarating descents in the Mountain State’s lush wilderness. Ride off Spruce Knob, the highest ridge of the Allegheny Mountains. Pedal through the rocky plateau of the Dolly Sods Wilderness with sweeping vistas on all sides. Climb fire towers with 360-views of the forests below. All-in-all, this tour is for the outdoor-loving adventurer!

 

 

Days of Exploration

If you are the type that wants to pack in as many destinations and location variety as possible, our more traditional bike tours might be a better choice. Although many of our tours move to new towns day-by-day, we still have several that spend multiple days in one place to give a little more time to explore. Highlighted are a few bike tours with exploration days.

 

Empire State Trail: Hudson, New York

Our Empire State Trail bike tour features some of the most diverse riding of all our trips. Starting with a ferry ride into Manhattan, you start thetrip pedaling the fantastic urban bike infrastructure that NYC is known for. Yet, by the end of the sixth day, you will have biked through parks, forests, and rural communities as well.

One of these towns is Hudson, and we fell so in love with the place we built in a rest day to immerse our guests in the local flare. Staying two nights at a candle factory-turned-hotel, The Wick, you’ll have plenty of time to explore Hudson.

On the fifth day of this 6-day tour, start the day with a tour of the Olana State Historic Site with sweeping views of the Hudson Valley. Then, enjoy lunch at one of Hudson’s many restaurants before an optional spin on the bike. If you want more time out of the saddle, the afternoon is yours to check out the town’s thriving community.

 

Washington State: Two tours, days of exploration

Both our Olympic Peninsula bike tour and San Juan Islands bike tour have more than one day each built in to experience specific locations.

On the Olympic Peninsula, the first two nights are spent in Port Townsend at the Bishop Hotel. After a short ride on day 1, we’ll have lunch together and have the afternoon to wander the historic downtown. Or, perhaps visit Fort Worden, one of 3 forts built to protect the town. On day 2, the tour ferries across the Puget Sound to bike and hike Whidbey Island. You’ll finish the day with another evening to enjoy Port Townsend on your own. The next couple of days are spent within the Olympic National Forest staying each night at Lake Crescent Lodge. On day 4, the whole day is yours to hike and do some outdoor exploration on Hurricane Ridge.

Similarly, on the San Juan Islands, the first two nights are spent at the Earthbox Inn on San Juan Island, while the last two nights are spent 0n Orcas Island at the Outlook Inn. While on San Juan Islands, you’ll have the opportunity to explore Lime Kiln State Park on your own. Make sure to keep a look out for orca or minke whale! Over on Ocras Island, you’ll have a whole day to experience the green paradise with a hike or ride up Mount Constitution.

 

 

Michigan Islands, Trails & Dunes: Mackinac Island

From the Pacific coast islands, to the islands of the great lakes. Our Michigan bike tour has a full day dedicated to Mackinac Island. With an absence of vehicles, residents and visitors may only travel the island by horse, bicycle, or foot. The day is spend discovering all of the pristine biking routes and visiting the island’s tranquil beaches. The evening is yours to really experience the island for yourself, before retiring to The Mission Point Hotel for a second night in a row.

As a bonus, later on in the trip we spend two nights at Sylvan Inn, one of our guide’s favorite bike tour lodging. While in Glen Arbor, pedals right out of the inn toward Sleeping Bear Dunes to spend the day riding around the national lakeshore.

 

The Sunshine State: Relaxation is Key

What’s the point of being oceanside if you don’t have a day dedicated to beach bummin’? Highlighting Florida’s opposite coasts, our suncoast bike tour and historic coast bike tour both have days for some exploration.

On the Florida’s Gulf Coast during our Suncoast bike tour, nights three and four are spent in St. Petersburg. Between the two days, you’ll have time to become familiar with St. Pete’s art and history. Explore the pier, discovery center, and make sure not to miss the Dali Museum!

We jump over to the Atlantic coast for our St. Augustine bike tour to spend some time in America’s oldest city. The third day is all about exploring St. Augustine with low miles in the saddle to rest. After a walking tour with local expert and lunch, we will visit Castillo De San Marcos. Built by the Spanish to defend Florida and the Atlantic trade route, this monument preserves the oldest masonry fortification in the continental United States. You’ll have some time to explore downtown St. Augustine on your own.

 

Great Allegheny Passage: Our Home in Ohiopyle

We would be remiss not to mention our Great Allegheny Passage bike tour that spends an active rest day right in our backyard, literally. Our 5-day option on the GAP includes a day spent in Ohiopyle.

After breakfast, we visit Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater. Inspired by the home’s natural landscape in the Laurel Highlands, the renowned American architect exemplifies his philosophy of organic architecture.

Following the house tour, you’ll return to our Ohiopyle headquarters for a scenic picnic lunch. The afternoon is up to you: go whitewater rafting with us, or explore Ohiopyle State Park on foot.

 

Even More Options

With numerous options of trips featuring days dedicated to specific destinations, it’s hard to highlight them all. Here is the complete list of bike tours with exploration days.

 

Wilderness Voyageurs operates fully supported, inn-to-inn bicycle tours across the United States, offering more rail-trail tours and biking destinations than any other U.S. based bike tour company.