Vermont Biking (Middlebury) 7 Days

Burlington, Lake Champlain & Middlebury

This itinerary is similar to our 6 day itinerary but starts in Burlington and finishes in Middlebury. This region of Vermont includes bucolic roads, organic farms, pristine lakes and historic towns. Stay overnight in Burlington at the award winning hotel Vermont and historic Inns in Basin Harbor and Middlebury. As in all of our trips, we provide options each day for you to choose between and provide historical notes, restaurant recommendations and more, so that you can experience this region as a local would. Vermont boasts gorgeous landscapes, a relaxed pace, interesting shops and a sense of community that you will be welcomed into. Whether in the vibrant spring or into the fall with the colors of autumn, anytime is a great time to experience this region.

We offer two other itineraries in Vermont:

Middlebury & Lake Champlain (6 days)
Stowe to Woodstock (7 days)

Location

Burlington

Burlington, VT, USA

Day 1+2

Lake Champlain

Basin Harbor, Basin Harbor Road, Vergennes, VT, USA

Day 3+4

Middlebury

Middlebury, VT, USA

Day 5+6+7

What’s Included in the Cost of Your Trip?

INCLUDED IN REGULAR TRIP

6 nights lodging
All breakfasts and 1 dinner
Luggage transfers
Detailed GPS instructions & maps
Personal meet & greet with our local Area Manager
Area Manager available throughout the tour

Specifics

TRIP DATES

You can start any date between May and October.
In the fall, when the mountains turn red and gold – the views are spectacular.

TOTAL DAYS

7 days / 6 nights

ARRIVE / DEPART

Burlington / Middlebury

ACTIVITY LEVEL

Moderate

TERRAIN

Moderate

COST

US $2,450 pp
Single supplement: US $625

Bike Rentals

Hybrid or Racing Bikes: US$280

E-Bikes: US$480

E-bikes are generally available but are on an ‘on request basis ‘ and will be confirmed on receipt of your booking registration. E-bikes provided are the best rentals available in the region. Our regular fleet of hybrid and race bikes are fun to ride and light and fast, but if having an e-bike will make your trip, we’ll do our best to provide. E-bike rentals are non-refundable.

Please note: Final itinerary is subject to revision; any changes made are done so in an attempt to provide the best possible trip given route conditions and available services. Due to the nature of our business and exchange rates, prices are subject to change. All prices quoted are U.S. dollars but we gladly accept payment in Canadian dollars also. If you have any questions before making your reservation, please contact us.

Day 1

Burlington

Arrive to Burlington, the thriving, cosmopolitan cultural capital of Vermont that has long embodied the earthy free-thinking and independence that define the state’s spirit. Stay at Hotel Vermont where its interior and guest rooms combine clean Scandinavian lines with a hip decor. Take a warm-up ride on the Burlington Bikeway north of town and then wander over to the Church Street Marketplace or one of the many craft breweries that has recently opened. Dine at renowned Hen of the Wood, arguably the jewel in Burlington’s foodie crown.

Day 2

Burlington

Today ride south out of Burlington along bike paths that have made this a cyclist’s city. Stop in at Shelburne Farms, a National Historic Landmark encompassing 1,400 verdant, rolling acres along Lake Champlain. At Charlotte Beach, enjoy the waterfront park and then admire the Holmes covered bridge circa 1870, where the Holmes family once operated the largest apple orchard in New England. Stop for lunch at an historic general store that has been a community hub since the 1850’s. Continue to Vergennes, Vermont’s smallest city, which dates back to post-Revolutionary War era and also has lunch options including Vergennes Laundry for farm-to-table dining. Visit the Opera House, Stevens House (which dates to 1793) and peak into the Bixby library, which boasts a spectacular stained glass dome in its lobby before continuing to Basin Harbor.

Ride Distance: 35mi; 1350’ (60km; 465m).

Day 3

West Addison

There are several rides to choose between on this day on gently rolling terrain. Visit West Addison or on a longer option, Chimney Point Historic Site, which explores the history of the area’s three earliest cultures—the Native American, French Colonial, and early American by showcasing the artifacts each left behind. The tavern was built in 1785 and has welcomed visitors ever since. From Lake Champlain bridge, you can see His Majesty’s Fort at Crown Point in NY State.

Ride Distance: 18mi; 675’ (30km; 225m) or 25mi; 800’ (40km; 265m) or 34mi; 1,050’ (54km; 350m).

Day 4

Lake Champlain

Should you wish to relax at the Basin Harbor Club and take a day off the bikes, this is an option; there is swimming, tennis, golf and a wellness center here. Or go kayaking onto Lake Champlain. Ride options include a loop along Otter Creek and north to Kingsland State Park, where you can rent a canoe or kayak for a paddle around protected Kingsland Bay. The park is 264 acres with hiking trails also. We recommend lunch back in Vergennes, after which you might want to visit the Maritime Museum, whose mission is to preserve and share the history and archaeology of Lake Champlain. Or pop into Northern Daughters, a gallery that merges the aesthetic of blue chip galleries with the familiarity and authenticity of a Vermont general store.

Day 5

Middlebury

Choose from several scenic routes as you ride south through rural Vermont. Stop in the historic village of Bristol for lunch. Arrive to Middlebury, chartered in 1761 and on the National Register of Historic Places. The city is everything you’d expect in a quaint Vermont town – a white-steepled church, a Main Street lined with unique shops and a pretty town green. Otter Creek tumbles over a twenty-foot waterfall in the center of town. There are casual and fine dining options to choose from and several tasting rooms where you can sample many of the fine beers, spirits and ciders that are locally produced.

Ride Distance: 21mi; 1000’ (34km; 345m) or 30mi; 1335’ (47km; 445m).

Day 6

Salisbury

Today, ride south to the village of Salisbury, Lake Dunmore and Branbury State Park. Historically, the 69-acre park operated as a farm at the turn of the century, then as a guest house, summer camp and then in 1945, it became Branbury (Brandon-Salisbury) State Park. The 1,000 foot natural sandy beach, clean, clear Lake Dunmore, and the large open grassy areas make the area very popular for swimming and picnicking. If you prefer a restaurant meal, we can recommend just the place. Back in Middlebury, enjoy an afternoon coffee at Monarch Café in the Stone Mill Public Market. Visit Sheldon Museum or stroll Main Street shops and galleries before dinner in one of the many excellent restaurants a stroll from your hotel.

Ride Distance: 25mi; 1200’ (40km; 400m) or 31mi; 1500’ (50km; 520m).

Day 7

Departure day

Depart at your leisure.

Classic

Hotel Vermont, Burlington

This stylish hotel in the center of Burlington has hip common areas and comfortable lounges & guest rooms that boast lake views, a cocktail bar serving food, plus casual and fine-dining restaurants. There is a spa and yoga classes are offered. Just trendy enough, with contemporary décor, friendly staff and plenty of amenities.

Basin Harbor Club, Lake Champlain

This peaceful lakeside inn has been welcoming guests for more than a century. Guestrooms are in the lodge and in cottages around the property. This 700-acre resort includes a heated swimming pool, golf course, tennis courts, beautiful gardens and more. Fourth-generation innkeepers offer a warm welcome.

Swift House Inn, Middlebury

This historic property, built in 1814 by Samuel Swift (a writer, historian, judge and newspaper man!) includes 20 ‘unique, neat and tidy’ guest rooms in three buildings, a cozy bar and delightful gardens. Their in-house restaurant, Jessica’s, offers great breakfasts and dining options.