|
5-night tour |
Difficulty |
Mileage |
| Spring |
$1195 |
Moderate to Difficult |
50-75 Average |
| Summer: |
$1275 |
| Fall: |
$1335 |
Bed & Breakfasts:
North Hero House
Jay Village Inn
Highland Lodge
October Country Inn
Featherbed Inn
Tour Description:
Our Cycle Vermont Tour is the result of more than 13 years of POMG bicycle touring every nook and cranny of the Green Mountain State. This tour is designed for those who want to experience a big piece of small Vermont, riding the most scenic and diverse routes. Cycle Vermont has it all. We'll enjoy Burlington, one of the most active and livable small cities in the country, then pedal north through the Lake Champlain Islands on our way to the Northeast Kingdom, tackle an optional century ride as well as a couple of mountain gap rides. Of course food and accommodations are central to your comfort and we’ll be staying at five inns which will not disappoint.
Our tour begins Sunday morning with an immediate indication of what's to come: spectacular views of Lake Champlain, the Green Mountains to the east and New York's Adirondack Mountains to the west. We'll pedal into and out of Burlington on a world class lakeside bike path. Burlington (pop. 40,000) is Vermont's largest city, cultural center and home to the University of Vermont. Here you will find white steeple churches, not high rise buildings, dominating the skyline. We continue north on the bike path, on our way to the mostly flat Champlain Islands and our home for the night, The North Hero House. The Champlain Islands stretch south from the Canadian border for 30 miles, splitting the northern third of Lake Champlain in two. These narrow islands, four in all, are a cyclist’s dream. There are quiet roads, mountain and lake views, small family-run shops in tiny villages surrounded by apple orchards and hay fields. The North Hero House (built in 1891), on the shore of Lake Champlain will be our home Sunday night where we will relax, refueling on gourmet cuisine for the journey to come.
Monday we continue north on the islands with Canada a stones throw away. We'll also pass the summer home of the Royal Lippizan Stallions of Austria. We'll shuttle back to the mainland, turning east and cycle towards the Northeast Kingdom, a cyclist’s paradise. We pass by lush dairy farms on our way to Montgomery Center where we'll ride through a covered bridge and visit an old fashion soda fountain shop. The day finishes with an exhilarating climb over the Jay Pass and on to The Jay Village Inn for our night in the shadow of Jay Peak Ski Resort.
Tuesday, more quiet roads await as we pedal through farmland and the sleepy village of Irasburg. We’ll then climb to the village of Craftsbury where we’ll enjoy stunning views of the valley below and mountains beyond. We then leave our bikes for a stroll on the common, a perfect spot for a mid-day break. We’ll leave our perch for an exhilarating downhill followed by more peaceful riding to Greensboro. Located on the shores of spring-fed Caspian Lake, this sleepy village and cottage-lined lake has been attracting summer visitors for a century. We’ll be the guests of David and Wilhelmina Smith at the Highland Lodge. The lodge has a comfortable home-like feel, a cozy library and it’s own private sandy beach and boathouse. Bikers can relax on a front porch rocking chair looking out on Caspian Lake.
We depart Greensboro on Wednesday, century day. Our optional 100 mile journey will be one to remember as we ride south through Hardwick on our way to Barre, home to the Rock of Ages Granite Quarry. Our first rest stop will come at the Bragg Farm Sugarhouse for some pure Vermont Maple Syrup or a Maple Cremee to fuel your next stretch. Scenic beauty and quiet riding is abundant today, as we stay on Route 110 through rural Orange County. We’ll lunch in Chelsea and pass the grounds of the Tunbridge World’s Fair (135 years and counting!). River valleys surrounded by hills, flanked by dairy farms will melt the miles away. Finally we pedal through Bethel and Barnard (swim in Silver Lake if you’d like) on our way to the special care of Chuck and Edie Janisse at their October Country Inn. Home baked breads, homegrown vegetables and eclectic meals have made the October Country Inn a cyclist’s favorite for years.
Thursday is a gentle and peaceful ride through two different river valleys (the White and the Mad) and through the Granville Gulf Natural Area. You will appreciate this gentler ride after century day. A stop at the Warren Store for fresh-baked goodies or one of their famous sandwiches, enjoyed on the deck, overlooking the river, is just the ticket. Our day winds down in the care of Tom and Linda Gardner at the cozy Featherbed Inn. Each room is decorated with antiques and includes a fluffy featherbed mattress to assure a comfortable sleep. Divine.
Our tour winds down on Friday, with our return to the Champlain Valley. But first, we ascend the Green Mountains, passing through a low point known as the Appalachian Gap. We top out at 2356' and gaze west to the Champlain Valley and New York's Adirondack Mountains. It’s a fast descent into Bristol, a classic old New England village famous for it’s outhouse parade on the 4th of July. Finally, we visit Vergennes, the smallest city in the United States and home to an impressive restored opera house as well as one of our favorite French eateries, "Eat Good Food!" where we will do just that. The home stretch finds us on the shores of Lake Champlain where we began six days ago.
Level of Difficulty:
Moderate to Difficult options.
Meals Included:
5 Dinners
5 Breakfasts
Snacks on the route
Mileage:
Day 1: 34*, 51 & 62 mile options
Day 2: 43* & 72 mile options
Day 3: 45 & 63 mile options
Day 4: 60* & 100 mile options
Day 5: 35* & 50 mile options
Day 6: 30* & 55 mile options
*Special mileage note: requires a short van shuttle. Mileage listed is not exact.
Tour Dates
Spring $1195
June 8-13
Summer $1275
July 13-18, August 3-8
Fall $1335
September 14-19, September 21- 26
Rental bike: $110
