Overview

Bike amidst the yellow, orange and red hues of autumn. Pedal on traffic-free country roads past immaculate horse and cattle farms. Bike the new Walkway over the Hudson; the longest pedestrian/bike bridge in the world. Visit historic houses along the Hudson including those of Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt, the Vanderbilt family, Olana, the incredible home of Frederick Church. Marvel at the Frank Gehry building at Bard College. Stay in historic country inns and enjoy delicious meals at great local restaurants.

Highlights   Bike on peaceful country roads amidst the spender of magnificent fall foliage See and bike the longest pedestrian bridge in the world Visit magnificent historic houses on the banks of the Hudson  Stop in country towns such as Rhinebeck, Germantown, Copake, Millerton and Kinderhook  Stay in lovely country inns and eat at great local restaurants. Special Features Tour Level: Intermediate and advanced level bikers Terrain: Generally hilly with areas of more gently rolling terrain. Trip has been designed for low or high mileage, to bypass more significant hills and to provide van support to make this trip comfortable to bikers of differing abilities. Average Daily Mileage: 25-45 miles with longer and shorter options available according to individual preferences. Weather: The average high temperature is 62 and the low 40 degrees F. Arrival and Departure: Trip will originate and terminate in Rhinebeck. We will assist with hotel arrangements and local transportation both before and after the trip.

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival: Arrive Rhinebeck, meet in the lobby of the historic Beekman Arms at 4:00 pm, fit the rental bikes, and take a short ride around Rhinebeck. We will then meet in the library of the Inn at 6:30 pm for cocktails and introductions, followed by dinner at the Beekman Arms Inn. Meals: (D)

 
Day 2: Rhinebeck to Hyde Park and Visit Historic Houses: Today we bike to the Walkway/Bikeway over the Hudson in Poughkeepsie; the longest pedestrian bridge in the world. Then we bike to Hyde Park and vist the home of Franklin Roosevelt. Also, you may visit the Vanderbilt and Mills mansions. Those wanting to ride longer can enjoy the scenic trip to Schultzville and Clinton Corners, home of Clinton Winery that provided the wine for Bill Clinton's inaugurations. (B), (D)

Day 3: Rhinebeck to Hudson: We will ride north along River Road through Bard College with optional visits to the Clermont Estate, Montgomery House and the Frank Gehry building at Bard. We will continue on country roads to the old towns of Tivoli, where there is a good bakery, and Germantown, both great lunch spots. We then bike north on quiet roads to Olana, home of the famous Hudson River painter, Frederick Church, and the small city of Hudson. This historic town was once a vibrant center of shipping and whaling and is filled with architectural gems. Now a major antiques center, there are many shops and art galleries lining the main street. We stay at the St. Charles Hotel. (B)

Day 4: Hudson Loop North to Chatham: We leave Hudson, ride through farmland, cornfields, orchards, passing through gracious 18th and 19th century hamlets to arrive in Old Chatham. A wealthy rural area graced with stone walls, wonderful old cemeteries and white churches, it is home to the Shaker Museum, which contains the foremost study collection of Shaker cultural materials, as well as an excellent collection of furniture and household items, After visiting the museum, we check out the Old Chatham Sheepherding Co., the largest sheep dairy farm in the country, which has great cheese for sale, and lots of animals to look at. We follow this with a really great lunch at the charming old General Store in the village. We then ride over to Kinderhook, the home of the former President Martin Van Buren (optional visit to his home and /or the Columbia Co. museum}. Kinderhook is a lovely old town filled with early, elegant houses. Then we pedal along the river and back to Hudson, (B), (D)

 
Day 5: Hudson to Millerton: Today, we bike south past beautifully preserved old barns, tree farms, the long black fences of horse farms and the rolling hills dotted with fall color. We will bike north to Copake Falls, where we can see the Copake Iron Works or hike to a waterfall. You can complete the trip to Millerton along a tree-lined bike path, then either a relatively flat or a more challenging route. We will stay at  Simmons Country Inn. (B), (D)

Day 6: Departure. (B)

Making Reservations