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6-Day / 5-Night Bike Tours Lake Champlain/Grand Isle |
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Every day on this spectacular new tour includes leisurely lakeside cycling and awe-inspiring views of Lake Champlain, the sixth largest (and surely one of the loveliest) lakes in the U.S. We begin by enjoying peaceful landscapes as we ride to Charlotte, then cross by ferry to ride through the nationally recognized historic village of Essex, New York. Tuesday we enjoy stunning views of the Green and Adirondack Mountains as we bike along the renowned Burlington Bike path to our "bike ferry" that takes us across to the Champlain islands. This 27 mile long chain of islands is linked to the mainland by a series of causeways and includes a labyrinth of quiet lakeshore roads that wander along the water's edge, passing through rural farmland and peaceful villages. Our easy cycling includes a visit to Vermont's oldest settlement at Fort Saint Anne (and the Saint Anne Shrine), to the oldest log cabin in the nation, and to the quarry at Chazy reef where the oldest fossils in the world are located. We enjoy a wine tasting at Snow Farm Vineyard, and include the ever-popular option of riding north into Canada (bring your passport!). We also include an afternoon of professionally guided kayaking along the quiet shores of the lake.
The inns on this tour are as wonderful as the biking. We spend two nights at the Lang House, a beautiful Victorian inn and one of the premier B & Bs in Vermont, and our last three nights at the historic North Hero House. This lakeside inn was once the county court house and town hall, and is now a locally favorite inn that provides comfortable rooms and excellent 3 Diamond dining.
SUNDAY: This is arrival day. Many plan to arrive early so as to relax and perhaps visit the fascinating Shelburne Museum that is just a short drive from the inn. The museum contains a world class collection of art and Americana. Thirty-five buildings have been moved here including the Colchester Reef Lighthouse, a covered bridge, one room schoolhouse, general store, stagecoach inn the Shelburne Depot from the old Rutland Railroad, a steam engine and private car are displayed a round barn. Probably the most outstanding of all the many exhibits in the museum is the old 220 foot long side-wheeler Ticonderoga which came to the museum in 1950.
Dinner is a 7 pm and is followed by an introductory meeting with your leaders.
SUNDAY NIGHT: LANG HOUSE
MONDAY’S RIDE:
Monday’s ride takes us south past Mt. Philo State Park and along quiet roads that treat us with great views of Lake Champlain and the Adirondack mountains. Arriving in the Village of Charlotte, we often stop at the 160 year old “Old Brick Store" where we can buy snacks and a vast array of Vermont products, gift items, (and great penny candy). From here we cycle down to the Charlotte-Essex Ferry where we take a 20 minute spectacular ferry ride across Lake Champlain to Essex New York. This is your first close glimpse of this fabulous lake that will be your companion for the next several days. Discovered on July 4, 1609 by the French explorer Samuel de Champlain, the lake measures 108 miles long and is the sixth largest in the U.S. The southern end is near Whitehall, NY and it flows northward to the Richelieu River in Canada and then to the St. Lawrence River and the Atlantic Ocean.
Lake Champlain seems rather peaceful and quiet today but in earlier times it witnessed a great deal of history. Long before roads and railroads, Lake Champlain was a great water highway. Algonquin Indians and their enemies, the Iroquois, lived in the area and it was the site of many a skirmish during the French and Indian Wars. In 1775, Ethan Allen and the Green Mountain Boys fought with Benedict Arnold to capture Fort Ticonderoga (just a bit south of where we cross) from the British. And the British also had a large fleet here during the war of 1812…they were soundly defeated by American forces in the battle of Plattsburgh…again just a few miles north of here, in 1814.
After your 20 minute ferry ride you arrive In Essex New York. This entire village is on the National Registry of Historical Places and the buildings on the main street comprise one of the most intact collections of pre-Civil War architecture in America. There is an antique store, a potter, an ice cream store etc. You also have the option here of taking a beautiful six mile loop that gives you stunning views back over the inlets of Lake Champlain and the Green Mountains of Vermont beyond. We often have lunch at either the Old Dock Restaurant or picnic in a small park that abuts the lake.
On our return to Vermont, you enjoy more miles of quiet roads, cross a one-way covered bridge, and take in more great views of the lake. Often you will want to take an optional short side trip to the Shelburne Vineyard where you can take a tour and savor their excellent organic wines.
You are on your own for dinner this evening and can select from several local options in Burlington within walking distance of the inn.
MONDAY NIGHT: LANG HOUSE
TUESDAY’S RIDE:
Today we start our cycling on the beautiful Burlington Waterfront Bike Path. The Bike Path follows along the Lake Champlain shoreline, offering wonderful views of the lake and the Adirondack Mountains to the west and the City of Burlington to the right. The bike path links six major waterfront parks, crosses the Winooski River on a pedestrian/bike bridge and ends on a causeway that juts out into the lake. From here we are transported, by our specially chartered bike ferry onto Grand Isle and the Champlain Islands.
From the ferry dock in South Hero we have easy cycling to Snow Farm Vineyard where we can enjoy a tour and some of their award-winning wines. Then we wind our way along the western shore, crossing a drawbridge into North Hero …where we are welcomed at the North Hero House. Before settling in we might want to take the opportunity to explore the aisles of Hero’s Welcome General Store which is just a few yards away. This quintessential general store is located in a century-old building on the shore of the lake and you will enjoy walking through its many aisles and outbuildings, including a bakery, cafe, as well as the general store itself.
TUESDAY NIGHT: NORTH HERO HOUSE
WEDNESDAY’S RIDE:
Today we explore historic Isle la Motte. Heading north we soon come to a point in the road where Lake Champlain is very close on both sides. This is known as “The Carrying Place” a narrow isthmus that was used by Native Americans to traverse canoes between sections of Lake Champlain as well as by rum-running smugglers trying to avoid Jefferson's 1808 embargo on trade with Canada. Crossing the bridge over Alburg Passage we then ride the narrow neck and bridge leading onto Isla La Motte. Here we visit the site of Fort Ste. Anne and St. Anne’s Shrine. The shrine includes a chapel, scenic walkways, historic site markers and snack bar. Fort St. Anne was built by the French in 1666 as protection against Mohawk Indian raids, and was the first white settlement in Vermont. In addition, General Montgomery had his headquarters here before the 1775 expedition into Canada, Benedict Arnold anchored his fleet near here before the Battle of Valcour Island (1776), and the British fleet stopped here before their defeat at the Battle of Plattsburgh (1814).
Leaving St. Anne we continue to hug the island shore with great views west into the Adirondacks. At the Fiske Farm and Quarry Preserve we go down to the old quarries and view exposed outcroppings of the Chazy Reef formation. This is the world’s oldest coral reef (450,000,000 years old and nearly a mile long). Scientists discovered this while examining the distinctive black color limestone that was being quarried here for use in the building of such landmarks as the National Gallery of Art and Radio City Music Hall.
We often stop to get a sandwich in the little village of Isle la Motte and then, after completing our loop around the island, we visit Alburg Dunes State Park. This 625-acre property is named for the sand dunes located along the long south-facing natural sand beach. We leave this area via the "beach road" (closed to motor vehicles) that takes us back to our route through Alburg and North Hero.
WEDNESDAY NIGHT: NORTH HERO HOUSE
THURSDAY’S RIDE:
Today we enjoy a pleasant ride north to Alburg with options for going into Canada. We cycle over to Western Shore Road and then down along the edge of the lake, often with a stop at Lakes End Dairy a small, family owned farm that makes their own locally renowned goat cheese (they have sixteen goats) and their own “Shoreline Chocolates.”
After completing our ride we return to the North Hero House to enjoy an included professionally instructed and guided afternoon of kayaking on the beautiful eastern bays of Lake Champlain, often including a stop on Butler Island so we can hike the beautiful pathways and stretch our legs.
Also, for those who opt not to kayak this day includes the option of extending the morning bike route with a pretty ride into Canada.
THURSDAY NIGHT: NORTH HERO HOUSE
FRIDAY’S RIDE’S RIDE:
Today’s shorter ride takes us along the eastern shore of South Hero and then along the beautiful causeway that connects these islands to mainland Vermont. A short side trip takes us to the historic Hyde Log Cabin. Built in 1783 by a veteran of the Battle of Bunker Hill, this small cabin is considered to be the oldest in America. Our ride ends at the Snow Farm Winery and we transport you from there back to Burlington (we will take you to Burlington International Airport if you prefer).
