Email a friend about VBT Bicycling Vacations. VBT   614 Monkton Road, Bristol, Vermont 05443-0711 1-800-245-3868 Mon-Fri 8:30 am to 5:30 pm EST Visit our Web site at www.vbt.com.

Vermont: Champlain Valley and Islands 2008 - Detailed Itinerary

tba

Day 1 of BIKE TOUR Start from Bristol, Vermont OR Fly into Burlington/Transfer to North Hero

The tour begins and ends at VBT Headquarters in Bristol, Vermont. From Bristol, we will shuttle to our first inn, North Hero House. Please plan to arrive between 11:45 a.m. and 12:15 p.m. on the first day of the tour, and eat lunch prior to departing from VBT. The shuttle to North Hero leaves promptly at 12:30 p.m. (travel time approximately 1¼ hours). If you are unable to arrive in Bristol before the shuttle departs at 12:30 p.m., or if your arrival for the start of the tour is delayed, please call VBT in Vermont at 1-800-245-3868 during regular business hours (Monday – Friday 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., ET) to inform us of your arrival time, or contact the inn on the day the tour begins to let the leaders and/or innkeepers know when you will arrive. After hours, weekends and holidays, and in case of an emergency, please call 1-617-346-6090. If you are flying to the tour, VBT recommends you take a taxi from the Burlington airport directly to North Hero House. Benway's Taxi (telephone 800-696-7433) costs approximately $100 for a taxi (maximum of four people) or $150 for a van for more than four passengers and/or if you are traveling with your own bicycle. Other taxi options include Jessica's Vital Transit (telephone 802-349-8833), which costs approximately $80, and Middlebury Transit (telephone 800-388-1002), which costs approximately $25-$80 per person depending on group size. Travel time from the Burlington airport is approximately 60 minutes. Please contact VBT during regular business hours (Monday – Friday 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., ET) at 800-245-3868 to inform us of your plans. Morf Transportation will stop at the Burlington International Airport between 1:00 pm and 1:15 pm on the day the tour starts. If your flight arrives prior to this time, we will be happy to provide the transfer from the airport to North Hero House. If your flight arrives after this time, please call one of the taxis mentioned above. At the North Hero House, settle in and relax until 3:30 p.m., when your VBT Trip Leaders fit you to your bike and offer a brief cycling skills clinic, followed by a short warm-up ride. Enjoy dinner at the inn at 7:00 p.m.

Meals: D  Hotel: North Hero House

Day 2 of BIKE TOUR Cycle Isle La Motte and North Hero Island

This morning, cycle northward along the lake, crossing over a bridge causeway to Isle La Motte, Champlain Islands. Ride quiet back roads on Isle La Motte, stopping to visit the historic St. Anne's Shrine and Fisk Quarry. The Shrine has lovely views of Lake Champlain, information on local history, short walking trails and inherent serenity. Spend some time taking in the natural and historical sights, some of which date to Samuel de Champlain's 1666 discovery of the area. After a picnic lunch, you may choose to continue cycling south along the beautiful shoreline or relax before dinner at the inn.

Meals: B, L, D  Hotel: North Hero House

Day 3 of BIKE TOUR Bike Path / Burlington

After cycling along the Grand Isle shore, you reach South Hero, the largest of the Champlain Islands. Lake views with gentle terrain and some unpaved roads here make for pleasant cycling. We will board a bicycle ferry operated by Local Motion and cross “the cut” to the Burlington Bike Path. After lunch on your own in Burlington, continue cycling to Shelburne and settle in at the historic Heart of the Village Inn. After settling in at Heart of the Village Inn, stop in at Shelburne Vineyard for a tasting before dinner on your own.

Meals: B  Hotel: Heart of the Village Inn Alternate Hotel: Lang House .   Relax in this beautifully restored 1881 Victorian style mansion, complete with period furnishings, dramatic woodwork and impressive 19th century architectural detail.

Day 4 of BIKE TOUR Explore Shelburne/Cycle along Lake Champlain/Shuttle to East Middlebury

After breakfast, enjoy a ride along the shores of Lake Champlain. Scan the waves and try to catch a glimpse of “Champ,” the legendary lake creature that some say is related to the Loch Ness Monster! At the conclusion of your ride, continue on to either Shelburne Farms or Shelburne Museum for an included visit. Shelburne Museum has a fine collection of more than 150,000 works in a remarkable setting of 39 exhibition buildings. Shelburne Farms has beautiful grounds and interesting architecture. Meet back at the Shelburne Museum parking lot at 4:00 p.m. for the shuttle (approximately 45 minutes) to East Middlebury. Relax or take a stroll before dinner at the Waybury Inn.

Meals: B, D  Hotel: Waybury Inn

Day 5 of BIKE TOUR Explore Middlebury

During your ride this morning, stop to see the magnificent animals at the famous UVM Morgan Horse Farm, dedicated to the preservation of a breed with a long Vermont heritage. Then, ride into Middlebury, a charming college town that borders the Green Mountain National Forest. Settled around the time of the Revolutionary War, Middlebury is the home of prestigious Middlebury College … and the quintessential picture of a charming old New England town, with its white steeples, beautiful natural surroundings, and vibrant downtown area. It was here that John Deere, inventor of the world's first steel moldboard plow, served as an apprentice in a blacksmith's shop from 1821 to 1825. Enjoy the rest of the day at leisure. Visit Danforth Pewter, a workshop and store owned and operated by a fifth generation pewtersmith; view the exhibits at the Middlebury College Art Museum, where you can discover thousands of objects ranging from antiquities to contemporary art; browse the many quaint shops downtown; or find your own adventure. Finish the day with a scenic ride back to East Middlebury to dine at the Inn's fine restaurant. For those looking for more riding, take a late-afternoon ride from the Inn to Lake Dunmore and Branbury State Park for a refreshing swim.

Meals: B, D  Hotel: Waybury Inn

Day 6 of BIKE TOUR Cycle north to Lincoln and Bristol/Depart for home

This morning, relax while you eat breakfast at the Inn. Your last day of cycling takes you through some classic farmland. Ride peacefully on back roads along the Hogback Ridge, a major foothill of the Green Mountains, north to Bristol. Visit the quaint shops in Bristol and Lincoln, and stop to swim along the New Haven River. Arrive at VBT Headquarters for a picnic, and a chance for a final gathering. After lunch, depart for home or arrange a taxi from VBT to the airport. Benway's Taxi (telephone 800-696-7433) from Bristol to the Burlington airport is $75 for a taxi (maximum four passengers) or $125 for a van for more than four passengers and/or if traveling with your own bicycle. Other taxi options include Jessica's Vital Transit (telephone 802-349-8833) for $75, or Middlebury Transit (800-388-1002) for $35-$75 per passenger, depending on group size. Travel time to Burlington is approximately 45 minutes. Shower facilities at Bristol Fitness are available to you from 1 p.m.-3 p.m.

Meals: B, L