Compare Vermont Lakeside Escape Weekend by Sojourn Bicycling & Active Vacations vs Sunsets & Southern Charms by Tours of Distinction

Day 1: Arrival and Bike Fitting

Accommodation: The Basin Harbor Club Vergennes

After checking in at the Basin Harbor Club, meet your tour leaders for a bike fitting. This afternoon will provide you with the opportunity for your tour leaders to adjust the fit of your bike to your specification and for you to get comfortable on your bike. Explore the grounds or relax in one of the resort’s Adirondack chairs as you take in the views over Lake Champlain before joining your fellow travelers for a welcome reception. Your first dinner at Basin Harbor Club overlooks Lake Champlain and the Adirondack Mountains of New York as you ease into your weekend adventure.

Day 2: Kingsland Bay and Vergennes

Today’s rides follow Vermont’s longest river through open farmland that surrounds the small bays and estuaries of the Lake Champlain Valley. The area’s agricultural heritage is noticeable as you ride past dairy farms, produce stands, and centuries-old barns. Extend your cycling on a loop through picturesque rolling farmland near the foothills of the Green Mountains. As you descend through hollows and climb ridgelines, this extended option may test your legs and lungs but offers dramatic views of the Lake Champlain Valley and Adirondack Mountains beyond. Grab a bite for lunch in Vergennes, a tiny city that also bills itself as America’s smallest and one that serves as cycling central for the region. Vergennes is situated on the banks of the Otter Creek above the dramatic waterfall which spills into a basin below the falls before flowing into Lake Champlain. This basin served as an important ship building site during the War of 1812 when gunboats constructed here helped defeat the British in a series of battles on Lake Champlain. This afternoon, take advantage of the resort’s diverse amenities including a heated swimming pool, tennis courts, spa services, non-motorized watercraft, and the resort’s own acclaimed 18-hole golf course. We highly recommend a visit to the Lake Champlain Maritime Museum which is adjacent to the Basin Harbor Club. This evening enjoy dinner at the Red Mill, the Club’s casual pub-style restaurant.

Cycling Options: 27 or 47 miles

Day 3: Cruise Across Lake Champlain & Visit Historic Essex

Accommodation: The Basin Harbor Club Vergennes

Begin the day with a private cruise from the Basin Harbor Club across Lake Champlain to New York. Lightly traveled routes lead through rural sections of New York’s Adirondack Park including what was formerly an active forge and mill center. Pedal rolling country roads past scenic farmland to a spectacular viewpoint affording gorgeous views of Lake Champlain and the peaks of the Green Mountains across the lake to the east in Vermont. Descend to the shore and wind your way into the charming town of Essex. The entire town is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is one of the most intact ensembles of pre-Civil War architecture in the country. Stroll along the town’s quiet lanes while your leaders prepare a delicious picnic lunch at a lakeside park. Following lunch, a scenic ferry trip back across Lake Champlain offers spectacular views of the Adirondack Mountains to the west. Return to the Basin Harbor Club or extend your ride through gently rolling farmland. Dinner this evening will be an exclusive wine-paired dinner at Basin Harbor Club.

Cycling Options: 25 or 45 miles

Day 4: The Lake Champlain Basin

Ride south from Basin Harbor along lightly traveled roads winding through farms, apple orchards and open fields. Views extend east to the Green Mountains and west across Lake Champlain to the Adirondacks. The terrain is gently rolling and several route options provide opportunity to tailor your day to your own interests. Climb the bridge at Crown Point and ride over the lake to visit the remains of Fort St. Francis which sits at a strategic point along the narrows. Return to Basin Harbor in time to visit the Maritime Museum prior to your departure. The Museum provides an in-depth look at the history of Lake Champlain and why it is considered the most important body of water in our nation’s history. It also features numerous watercraft and lake ecology exhibits. The largest body of fresh water in North America after the Great Lakes, Lake Champlain is over 120 miles long and 12 miles wide, and reaches depths of 400 feet. It played host to important naval battles during the French and Indian Wars, the American Revolution, and the War of 1812. Showers will be available at the Basin Harbor Club before your departure.

Cycling Options: 33 or 46 miles