Itinerary

Day 1 of BIKE TOUR Arrive Easton/Warm-up ride/Welcome reception

Make your own arrangements for travel to the Tidewater Inn. If you're flying to Baltimore, VBT will offer a shuttle from the Baltimore-Washington International Airport (BWI). The shuttle works on a “show and go” basis and will make its only departure from the airport to the inn at 1:00 p.m. Shuttle reservations are not required or available. The shuttle will depart from the lower level, the baggage claim level, at Door 10 on the inner roadway. Your shuttle bus will carry “Go The Airport Shuttle” titles, and the driver will be holding a VBT sign.

If you are scheduled to arrive at the airport after 1:00 p.m. or are delayed, you must take a taxi or bus at your own expense. If you are driving to the tour, we recommend that you leave your vehicle in Easton while on tour. You can park at the Tidewater Inn while on tour (Sunday to Thursday nights inclusive). You may return to this location at the end of the tour by way of the VBT van.

If you are delayed or your travel plans change, please contact the first inn; they will pass your message to your VBT Trip Leaders.

Our group meets at the Tidewater Inn. After settling in, explore the village from the hotel's central location. At 3:00 p.m., join your VBT Trip Leaders for a safety and bike-fitting session, followed by a short warm-up ride. At 5:00 p.m., meet up with the group for an orientation and welcome reception before a 7:00 p.m. dinner at the inn.

Day 2 of BIKE TOUR Ride the Oxford & St. Michaels Trail / Lunch in St Michaels / Guided visit to the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum

Today you are in for a treat. The Oxford/St. Michaels loop is considered one of the premiere biking routes on the east coast. We ride a clockwise route from our inn to Oxford. Worth a stop, this 17th-century town has a long tradition of boat building. And it's never too early in the morning for homemade ice cream! The Scottish Highland Creamery is the place for it.

We board the modest Oxford-Bellevue ferry with our bikes. This is the oldest privately owned ferry still in operation in America. Once in Bellevue, we ride towards St. Michaels, a small bayside town on a long, narrow neck of land. En route, we pass though Royal Oak en route.

We have lunch in St. Michaels. After lunch our group will have a guided tour of the impressive Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum. The museum is made up of more than ten exhibit buildings, the 1879 Hooper Strait Lighthouse, a working boatyard, and the world's largest collection of Bay boats. Plus, St Michaels offers wonderful shopping, snacking and just plain old people watching.

We ride back to the inn and Easton.

Easton has been featured on “best small towns in America” lists. The village is small in scale, but packed with great dining, antiques, galleries, and shopping. Our inn has played a central role in the village since 1712. Recently renovated, it features great eating and drinking at Hunters' Tavern, and comfortable rooms, all in unbeatable locations throughout the inn.

For dinner, choose from one of the fine restaurants in town.

Day 3 of BIKE TOUR Ride to Pickering Creek Audubon Center / Unionville / Wine tasting

Spend the morning riding from our inn to Longwoods and the Little Red Schoolhouse, now a well-known landmark. We are on the “rail/trail” project for a portion of the ride. We stop at Little Ashbey Vineyards for a glimpse (and taste!) of the local wine scene. The vineyard's location couldn't be more scenic -- at the end of a quiet road overlooking the Miles River.

Our ride continues to the Pickering Creek Audubon Center. If you wish, you may spend some time here browsing its exhibits about local wildlife. We continue cycling towards Tunis Mills and Unionville before heading back to Easton.

Tonight's dinner is at one of Easton's popular restaurants.

Day 4 of BIKE TOUR Sail from St. Michaels to Rock Hall

Today, take a short cycle to St. Michaels, where we board the HM Krentz for a half-day sail north through the Kent Narrows to Rock Hall. Our skipper, Captain Ed, has spent almost 35 years dredging oysters and sailing skipjacks for his livelihood. The HM Krentz is a broad-beamed former working skipjack. Her stable decks are perfect for catching sea air and enjoying a picnic lunch prepared by our Trip Leaders.

On arrival in Rock Hall, we have a short ride to our inn for the next two nights. Our hosts Jim and Joanne welcome us and show us to our rooms. A swim in the pool and a cool drink on their dock may be in order!

Dinner is on your own tonight in one of Rock Hall's restaurants. Waterman's Crab House is perhaps the best known eatery for the kind of crab cakes and oysters that have made Maryland famous.

Day 5 of BIKE TOUR Ride to Chestertown / Optional kayak trip

We ride north today to Chestertown, an historic colonial town located on the Chester River. Chestertown was founded in 1705, and became one of Maryland's six Royal Ports of Entry, and in the mid-eighteenth century was the second leading port in Maryland. With this designation and the resulting shipping business, the town became quite wealthy, as heralded by the brick mansions and townhouses along the waterfront. Your leaders will offer you a self-guided cycling tour of the historic section of Chestertown.

Continue exploring along the town's brick sidewalks, visiting shops and galleries along the way. While you're in Chestertown, take the time to enjoy lunch on your own at a local café, the bakery or one of the town's numerous restaurants. Your leaders will provide you with some great recommendations.

If you prefer a non-riding option today, you may take a kayaking trip directly from the inn, or spend time browsing the charming shops and relaxing in the cafes in Rock Hall.

Tonight we celebrate with a festive farewell dinner at the inn.

Day 6 of BIKE TOUR Eastern Neck Island National Wildlife Refuge / Depart Rock Hall

You might get an early start on the day with an elective morning ride to the Eastern Neck Island National Wildlife Refuge, a haven for more than 240 bird species. If time permits, you might want to take a walk along the Tubby Cove Boardwalk. This wooden boardwalk extends over the marsh to a wooded island. Once on the island, the boardwalk continues to two viewing platforms, and a rough walking trail off of the main path ends at an elevated viewing platform providing views of the Chesapeake Bay and into Tubby Cove and Calfpasture Cove.

Our tour concludes after breakfast at our inn. Our included shuttle is available to take you back to the Baltimore-Washington International Airport (BWI), arriving around 12:00 p.m. We suggest a flight out of BWI no earlier than 2:00 p.m. Alternatively, we will shuttle guests who have cars parked at the Tidewater Inn, arriving at the inn at around 12:00 p.m.

Maryland: Cycling the Chesapeake Bay 2012

Pre and Post Trip Extensions

There are no extensions available for this tour.

Accommodations

Tidewater Inn

Accommodations at the Tidewater Inn offer the best of both worlds: the tranquility and charm of a historic Colonial inn along with the modern luxuries today’s traveler has come to expect. Traditional decor and furnishings offer the perfect reflection of our historic downtown Easton setting, while resort-style amenities make for an indulgent stay. Relax in plush bedding featuring pillow-top mattresses under a cascade of fine European linens. Wrap yourself in a downy Egyptian cotton robe. Enjoy tech-savvy touches like flat-screen televisions and high-speed Internet access.

Inn at Huntingfield Creek

The Inn at Huntingfield Creek is a 70-acre refuge in the finest Chesapeake tradition. Hosts Jim and Joanne Rich each bring business and life experiences together to create wonderful memories at this quiet, country retreat. Our group will have exclusive use of the inn during our stays. Enjoy the swimming pool, the piano in the living room, and the sunset views from the dock over the tidal waterfront. This is the perfect setting from which to venture out on our planned activities.

Rating Level

Easy

This tour offers options for easy rides throughout the trip. The terrain includes very few gradual hills. It’s possible to ride this entire week without the need for van shuttles. However, our VBT van support shuttle is always available in cases of inclement weather or for those who wish to shorten their rides.