Overview

Welcome to Vermont, the Green Mountain State! Your Trek Travel guides will meet you at Hotel Vermont at 10:30 AM on the first day of the trip. After a brief shuttle, we'll kick off our bike tour with a delicious picnic style lunch at a community farm. Afterwards, your guides will familiarize you with your Trek bicycle and make sure you have a comfortable fit before setting off on your first ride. You'll pedal past Philo Ridge Farm and Market, where you might be tempted to stop in for a mid-ride treat. Continue through the rolling countryside, passing by one of Vermont's many covered bridges along the way before making your way back north to Burlington. You'll stay at the hip, award-winning Hotel Vermont where we will gather for social hour this evening before strolling to dinner at a local farm-to-table restaurant.

Overview

Today's ride starts off on a bike path as we depart Burlington. A few miles in, you are in for a treat as we will pedal on the causeway that connects mainland Vermont with the Champlain Islands. This abandoned rail line makes for a scenic and serene ride across this expansive lake. There is a 200 foot gap in the causeway to allow boats to pass through, a distance we will cover via the local bike ferry. After crossing the lake, we'll continue our cruise on South Hero Island and enjoy a casual lunch at a local winery. Those who want more miles can continue farther north to Grand Isle before making their way to lunch. At our lunch stop, you can learn about Vermont's first commercial grape vineyard and winery at Snow Farm. The winery's unique location enjoys the micro-climate created by the sixth largest lake in the U.S. The winery uses grape varietals not grown in other areas of the northeast. You will have an option to taste some local wines if you choose. Afterwards, we shuttle back to Burlington. Tonight Burlington is yours to explore. Be sure to take a stroll down Church Street, a vibrant pedestrian-only street line with shops and restaurants.

Overview

Today you journey eastward across Vermont. Bike paths will give way to quiet roads and miles of pristine countryside as you ride along the banks of the beautiful Winooski River. For those who want an extra challenge this morning, make the turn on Wes White Hill Road for a short but punchy climb topping out at 15% before returning to the river. We hope you've worked up an appetite because once you reach the quaint town of Waterbury, there are plenty of lunch options to choose from. You may also choose to browse local boutiques and gift shops like Green Mountain Coffee Roasters or the Craft Beer Cellar. From there, it is a short shuttle to Stowe, where you'll get settled at the Green Mountain Inn for the rest of the week.

Overview

Start with a hearty breakfast to prepare you for the day's activities. Your morning ride will take you past the site of the original settlement of Stowe, which dates to the late 1700s. Enjoy a fantastic loop through lush Vermont farmland that passes through the village of Morrisville. Then tackle the beautiful rolling hills on Stagecoach Road before returning to Stowe for a guest choice lunch. Late this afternoon, you'll head to a local sugarhouse for a private tour and maple syrup tasting—you’ll come away with a newfound appreciation for the art and science of “sugaring." Tonight, Stowe is yours to explore for dinner, however your guides will arm you with a list of their favorite local establishments.

Overview

Continue exploring today by heading north on Route 100 for another spectacular ride through the colorful landscape decorated with white church steeples, bright red barns, and fields of lazily grazing cows. Pedal into the town of Johnson, a charming village nestled in the mountains, and take some time to explore its unique shops and boutiques, including the Johnson Woolen Mills factory with its iconic selection of signature woolen goods. After lunch, decide whether you’ll shuttle in the van or hunker down for the climb up the west side of Mount Mansfield to Smugglers' Notch and the rewarding descent back to Stowe. This evening you and your traveling companions will gather for a round of drinks at the Inn before heading out for our final dinner. We'll toast to new friends, great adventures, and your week experiencing quintessential New England culture and the autumnal landscapes.

Overview

This morning’s loop is the perfect final ride and farewell to Vermont's beautiful fall foliage as you cycle the quiet roads surrounding Stowe, past the Gold Brook Bridge—one of the oldest and most storied (and allegedly haunted) covered bridges in Vermont. Soak in the New England countryside one last time and ride up to the Trapp Family Lodge, a reconstructed version of the grand lodge once home to the family whose story inspired "The Sound of Music." If you’d rather skip the ride, you can sleep in, have a leisurely breakfast, and then enjoy a final stroll through the streets of Stowe to savor a few last moments of your week and maybe pick up some souvenirs and gifts. A private Trek Travel shuttle will depart from the Inn at 11:00 AM to take you to Burlington.