Upstate New York Bicycle Tour

Meet the group just outside Ithaca on the relaxing campus of La Tourelle Hotel and Spa.  Following bike fittings, lunch and orientation, we will take our first ride in the Finger Lakes.  Expect some hills, but also a few stretches of relatively flat riding along valley roads through quaint country crossroads.  We'll end up back at La Tourelle for a dinner together onsite.

Our second day of bicycling will take us through downtown Ithaca and around the southern tip of Cayuga Lake.  We'll climb away from the lake briefly on rolling farmland toward the highest waterfall in the Finger Lakes region.  We will follow country roads that lead us to the shore of Seneca Lake where we'll pass through Watkins Glen.  Time permitting, hike a spectacular gorge with numerous waterfalls and cliffs.  It's a short distance from Watkins Glen to the Inn at Glenora Winery, our lodging for one night.  Relax at sunset in the Adirondack chairs gracing your private balcony overlooking the vineyard and Seneca Lake.  Take the opportunity to tour and taste at the award winning winery.  We will dine this evening as a group on the wonderful cuisine at the vineyard restaurant.

Rise early for a big day on the bike and some of the best lake views of the tour!  Start with a big climb away from Seneca Lake, or leap frog ahead in the van to start your ride at a high spot.   We'll make our way over to charming Hammondsport on the southern tip of Keuka Lake.  Pause in the quaint town square for a little ice cream.  Continue north along a road that tightly hugs the shore of Keuka Lake with numerous opportunities to soak up the sparkling water views.  Lunch will be a picnic at a waterfront park on the north end.  Our destination at the end of the day is Geneva On The Lake, an elegant, old world resort on the north shore of Seneca Lake.  You may want to venture into the charming downtown of Geneva or opt to take advantage of the many wonderful amenities of this special inn:  a 70 foot swimming pool, formal gardens, a 10 acre estate overlooking Seneca Lake and, in late afternoon, a ride on the inn's 24 foot pontoon boat.  We will dine as a group tonight on the moon-lit patio of the inn, weather permitting. 

We bike today from Geneva to Skaneateles, our home for the next two nights.  The terrain will be flatter now that we are at the northern end of the Finger Lakes.  We leave Seneca Lake behind today, pedaling on to the charming riverfront town of Seneca Falls, whose Main Street claims to be the inspiration for the town of Bedford Falls in the movie, "It's A Wonderful Life."  Take a few minutes to explore the Women's Rights National Historic Park, where the first Women's Rights Convention was held in 1848.  After lunch, opt to continue biking to Skaneateles, a beautiful small town on the northern shore of Skaneateles Lake.  Stroll the lakefront park, or the many shops and boutiques dotting the downtown area, before dining as a group this evening at a local gourmet favorite.

Our "Layover Day" in Skaneateles affords you the option not to bike today, or to bike a distance of your choosing.  We will support a loop ride around Skaneateles Lake of up to 62 miles, with options to cut this distance in half.  You will enjoy walking the sidewalks of this quaint town with plenty of shops and restaurants.  Rent a kayak or sailboat and explore Skaneateles Lake, said to be New York's clearest.  Or, opt to visit one of the wineries on the outskirts of town for additional samples of Finger Lakes wine!  As a special treat, we have chartered a private boat cruise this afternoon prior to dinner.  Dinner this evening is on your own with numerous wonderful options within walking distance of our inn.

We say goodbye to Skaneateles this morning as we make our way west to the shore of Cayuga Lake.  Our final day of the tour offers a beautiful rural ride south to Ithaca.  The ride will start with flat terrain, then get hillier as we approach the southern end of the lake.  We'll return to our Ithaca hotel in time for a final catered lunch and pre-arranged showers.