Itinerary

Day 1 of BIKE TOUR Arrive in Middlebury

The tour begins at the award-winning Swift House Inn in Middlebury, Vermont. If you are flying to the tour, VBT will offer a shuttle from the Burlington International Airport departing at 2:00 p.m. Please call Morf Transit, Inc./Benway's Taxi 800-696-7433 to make a reservation, clearly stating you are a VBT guest. Morf Transit, Inc./Benway's Taxi will make one complimentary transfer for VBT guests at 2:00 p.m. If your flight arrives after this time, you will need to arrange your own transportation to the Swift House Inn at your own expense. Please call one of the following taxi companies: Benway's Taxi (telephone 802-862-1010), Jessica's Vital Transit (telephone 802-349-8833), or Middlebury Transit (telephone 888-666-3471). Travel time from the Burlington airport is approximately 60 minutes.

Please contact VBT at least 10 days prior to your tour start during regular business hours (Monday – Friday 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., ET) at 800-245-3868 to inform us if you will be taking the shuttle from Burlington International Airport, or if you will be getting to Middlebury on your own.

Meet your VBT Trip Leaders at 3:30 p.m. in your cycling clothes for a bike fitting and brief cycling-skills clinic. This will be immediately followed by a short warm-up ride. Gather at 6:00 p.m. for an orientation meeting and welcome cocktail. We will enjoy a candlelit dinner at the inn at 7:00 p.m.

Check in time at the Swift House Inn is at 3:00 p.m. If you think you will arrive earlier than this time, please contact the inn to confirm they can accommodate your early arrival.

Day 2 of BIKE TOUR Cycle through Salisbury and along Lake Dunmore

Today's ride takes you past antique stores, weeping willows and stone fences along quiet roads leading to Lake Dunmore and Branbury State Park (named for the towns of Brandon and Salisbury). After a picnic lunch, take a swim in refreshing Lake Dunmore before getting back on your bicycle. Finish the day with a scenic ride back to Middlebury. Explore the college town of Middlebury, with its Main Street of shops, restaurants and galleries. Visit Cannon Park and view a historic marker commemorating John Deere and his invention of the plow that broke the plains. From 1821 to 1825, Deere apprenticed at an area blacksmith shop before moving to Illinois, where he built the world's first steel moldboard plow. Tonight your Trip Leaders can direct you to one of the town's great restaurants, all within walking distance of our inn.

Day 3 of BIKE TOUR Cycle north to Bristol and Basin Harbor Club

Today we cycle along Middlebury's peaceful back roads and beside the Hogback Mountain Ridge, a major foothill of the Green Mountains. Continue north to Bristol village, gateway to the Green Mountains and Worldwide Headquarters of VBT Bicycling and Walking Vacations. The village is amazingly flat; ancient geologic events deposited a level “fan” of gravel at the New Haven River “water gap” through the mountain ridge. Bristol has many interesting shops, including Vermont Honeylights and Art on Main. After lunch on your own in Bristol, cycle to Vergennes, passing Cedar Lake and rolling farm fields. Take in spectacular views of the Champlain Valley, Adirondacks and Otter Creek en route to Basin Harbor. Dinner is served in the Basin Harbor Club's Red Mill Restaurant.

Day 4 of BIKE TOUR West Addison and Chimney Point / Kayaking on Dead Creek

Today we cycle along the gently rolling farm fields of Panton, with panoramic views of the Green Mountains and the Adirondacks. Continue south to visit Chimney Point Historic Site and the Champlain Bridge, half a mile long and one of the few bridges that cross Lake Champlain. Riding in a clockwise loop, follow Lake Street with its apple orchards and Arnold Bay Road northward back to Basin Harbor, enjoying lake and Adirondack vistas along the way. After an included lunch on the terrace at the Basin Harbor Club, head to the shore for your private, guided kayaking excursion through the Dead Creek Wildlife Management Area. Dinner is on your own tonight.

Day 5 of BIKE TOUR Cycle to Kingsland Bay and Ferrisburg / Farewell dinner

Spend some time in Vergennes, the “smallest city” in America, for some shopping and great food (lunch is on your own). Be sure to check out the nooks and crannies, as some of the shops in Vergennes are located below the main level. Our ride today is along the tranquil Otter Creek to Kingsland Bay, one of Vermont's newest state parks. It continues northeasterly to Ferrisburg, then heads west with gorgeous lake scenery and Adirondack views.

You have many options this afternoon—perhaps strolling, swimming and golfing. Enjoy an included visit to the Lake Champlain Maritime Museum. With more than a dozen exhibit buildings, it presents a comprehensive overview of the maritime history and nautical archaeology of the Champlain Valley. Or just relax on the beautiful Basin Harbor grounds. Gather with the group for a farewell dinner celebration in a private room off the club's main dining room tonight.

NOTE: Basin Harbor Club has a dress code for its Main Dining Room dinner guests. In July and August, gentlemen must wear a coat and tie. Otherwise, a collared shirt is acceptable. At no time may gentlemen wear sandals, nor are jeans or jean skirts allowed.

Day 6 of BIKE TOUR Explore Morgan Horse Farm and Middlebury

Leaving Lake Champlain, ride southeast to the quiet town of Weybridge, the town of peace and tranquility, with its Victorian farmhouses and westerly views across the Lemon Fair River. Continue on to the UVM Morgan Horse Farm for an included visit. The farm is dedicated to the preservation and improvement of the Morgan horse through breeding and selection. Designated as a National Historic Site, the farm is also home to significant Morgan history. After your visit, pedal into Middlebury and enjoy lunch on your own. The tour concludes at Vermont Sun Sports and Fitness on Exchange Street, where showers are available from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. VBT has made arrangements for a shuttle from Vermont Sun and Fitness in Middlebury back to the airport at 2 p.m. (travel time approximately 60 minutes). If you need to get back to the airport prior to that time, the transfer back to Burlington will be at your own expense. If you drove to the start of the tour, your car will be parked at Vermont Sun, and you may depart at your leisure.

Classic Vermont 2012

Pre and Post Trip Extensions

There are no extensions available for this tour.

Accommodations

Swift House Inn

Relax in this cozy 1814 inn while you enjoy its lovely gardens, exquisite dining room, fireplaces, sauna and steam room.

Basin Harbor Club

From this peaceful inn’s grounds, gaze across the waters of Lake Champlain.

Rating Level

Easy/Moderate

This tour offers the full range of easy terrain mixed with moderate and is ideal for beginning and experienced cyclists. Our VBT van support shuttle is always available for those who need assistance with the hills.