Trip Overview

The Best Of The Erie Canal And The Finger Lakes!

The bicycle touring possibilities seem endless when you have more than 9,000 square miles of lakes, scenic landscapes, historic villages and quality vineyards. Born out of a demand for longer bicycle tours, here we present a unique 10 day tour of Classic Central New York State. This ride is a compilation of some of our best NY bike routes, historic inns, and points of interest.

We begin in the canal town of Pittsford, N.Y. on the banks of the Historic Erie Canal. Once an important transportation link between the Great Lakes and the Atlantic Ocean, it is now used primarily for leisure purposes. Even though the glory days of the canal have passed, our itinerary makes it easy to relive its rich history. We make our way to Canandaigua, the gateway to long slender lakes, sparkling waterfalls, breathtaking gorges, and historic lakeside inns.

This tour is designed so with each day you can pedal, relax and indulge in a glass of award winning Finger Lakes wine, or you can immerse yourself in the rich history, with opportunities to visit the Glenn Curtis Museum, William Seward House, Harriet Tubman home, and Willard Chapel. (Designed by L.C. Tiffany.)

The Finger Lakes offer many opportunities for the wine-lover. Today, more than 100 wineries in the region produce in excess of 100 million bottles of wine annually-certainly not a cottage industry! You’ll surely love the awarding-winning sparkling wines, Rieslings, Pinot Noirs, Chardonnays, and Ice Wines. Our tour is highlighted with stops at Dr. Konstantin Frank, Heron Hill, Fox Run, Glenora, Anthony Road, and Treleaven-King Ferry Wineries.

What's Included

• Use of a Classic Adventures bicycle (Trek hybrid or road bike)
• A non-regimented, “cycle at your own pace itinerary” with an average of 35-45 miles per day with the option of additional or fewer miles. (Coast to Coast averages 75 mi. per day)
• Lodging in select country inns & hotels/motels.
• Daily breakfast & most dinners
• Full van support.
• Detailed maps, route descriptions, and cultural information on a daily basis.
• Most commercial transportation within the country of most tours. (See daily itineraries for specific transfer information).
• Friendly and experienced multi-lingual guides.
• Expert bicycle mechanics.
• Guided tours of selected historical destinations visited.
• Pre-departure information packet includes: tour specific info., reading list, packing list, training suggestions, riding tips, etc.
• All bicycles come equipped with trunk bag; rear rack; water bottles; lock; pump; spare tube; odometer/computer.

Daily Itinerary

Classic Central New York State

Day 1. Arrive at the Del Monte Lodge in Pittsford, NY (Rochester airport). Bicycle fitting and a short warm-up ride followed by a wine reception and dinner. (10 miles)

Day 2. Ride to Palmyra, NY, home to the Joseph Smith Farm along canal path and then cycle to the Inn on Canandaigua Lake. (18 or 42 miles, rolling)

Day 3. Depart on a rolling ride through historic Naples and on to Esperanza Mansion, a recently renovated 1800’s inn with breathtaking views of Keuka Lake. (33 or 50 miles)

Day 4. Loop ride to Hammondsport. Be sure to visit the Glenn Curtis Museum. (29 or 45 miles)

Day 5. Pass by well-known wineries, including Fox Run, and end at the acclaimed Glenora Winery, situated on Seneca Lake. (20 or 42 miles)

Day 6. Cycle to Watkins Glen. Enjoy a 2 hr hike along the sculptured rock chasm of the gorge. Afternoon ride to Geneva, NY. Lodging: Belhurst Castle (28 or 55 miles)

Day 7. Leaving Geneva we pedal to historic Seneca Falls, home to the National Women’s Rights Museum. Our destination is the Sherwood Inn, once a historic stagecoach stop, at the head of Skaneateles Lake. (33, 54, or 65 miles)

Day 8. Cycle around Skaneateles Lake, passing by Roosevelt Mansion, New Hope Mills and historic lakeside homes. (21 or 41 miles)

Day 9. Morning visit to Auburn. Cycle through historic Aurora, stop at MacKenzie-Childs Pottery. Enjoy wine tasting at the Treleaven–King Ferry Winery. (32, 42, or 60 miles)

Day 10. Morning shuttle to The Del Monte Lodge or airport. (Rochester, NY)

Dates & Prices 2012

Classic Central New York State

11 days / 10 nights

(includes 8 dinners, all breakfasts, all transfers)

July 8 - 17

$3,189.00

Tour Map

Classic Central New York State