Itinerary

Day 1: Vero Beach and the Treasure Coast

Today we shuttle two hours to Vero Beach (pop. 16,919), nicknamed Hibiscus City; Atlantic-facing beach community set on a barrier island. The first ride of our tour sweeps north, between the coast and I-95. On that note: It’s said that Florida is the only state in the US where the further north you go, the further south you get. All subtext aside, that direction delivers rich visual history, optimum cycling routes and abundant wildlife. Leaving Vero Beach, our route hugs the Atlantic, and more figuratively, what’s called the Treasure Coast. (An entire Spanish fleet was lost here in 1715, swept to the bottom by a hurricane. Estimates place two trillion dollars’ worth of booty and sunken riches within 60- miles of Florida’s coast.) Our routing resolves into a warm, tropical embrace, and a trifecta of wilderness: the St. Sebastian River State Park; the adjacent 21,000-acre Fort Drum Marsh and 6,500-acre Blue Cypress conservation areas. The route wends us past 30-46 ft. tall Cypress trees, most 6-9 ft. at their base, though some reach in excess of 36-ft in diameter. On this stage, we’ll also gain an up-close sense of the region’s unique geology. As Lake Okeechobee retreated, it left great spans of fossilized mollusk that clung to limestone. These ancient clamshells bore and nurtured gems (called Calcites). With a triumphal surge across a handsome cyclist- pedestrian dedicated bridge, we drop into Captain Hiram’s Sebastian Inn, our stay for the night. Named for an American GI who perished at Normandy, Captain Hiram’s is nothing less than Jimmy Buffett’s vision of paradise, or island escapism: an inviting resort of old Florida charm, albeit with a subtle Bahamian vibe. Set alongside Sebastian Inlet, which opens onto the Intracoastal Waterway, the gentle waters here are frequented by manatees, Bottlenose dolphins and pelicans if not all manner of colorful waterfowl.
Total Easy Mileage | 35 Miles Feet Gain | 301
Total Moderate Mileage | 41 Miles | Feet Gain | 398
Casual Inn | Captain Hiram’s Resort

Day 2: Lake Okeechobee

We hail today’s loop as the Lake Okeechobee out ‘n back. Known as Florida’s inland sea, Okeechobee answers to Florida’s largest freshwater lake, as well as America’s ninth largest. Hugging the 730-sq mile lake’s northern tier, our tour sweeps south, via Taylor Creek. Our enjoyably up-tempo circumnavigation lends great optics onto this tremendous natural resource, divided amongst no less than five Florida counties. Holding one trillion gallons of water—despite being only 9-ft deep—Okeechobee forms the headwaters of the Everglades. At the southern end we cycle past three different islands. Originally settled by pioneer stock, the trio of islands was abandoned in the 1960s. Closing out a brisk ride, we shuttle to Clewston. Tonight’s layover unfolds at the historic Clewston Inn.
Total Easy Mileage | 23 Miles | Feet Gain | 180
Total Moderate Mileage | 45 Miles | Feet Gain | 360
Total Challenging Mileage | 72 Miles | Feet Gain | 585
Casual Inn | Clewiston Inn

Day 3: Ormond Loop

We follow the Ormond Loop, seguing into the 3230-acre Bulow State Park. A northerly neighbor of Daytona Beach, the Ormond area is decidedly more tranquil—think bowling, pickleball and pools—if not nature and cyclist friendly than Daytona. Pointing our front wheels onto a network of scenic state and county back roads, this stage merges onto vestiges of the Old Dixie Highway. Our routing transits Pine forests, lakes turned red by tannic acids and swamplands patrolled by alligators. Constructed in 1915, then expanded in 1925, the Old Dixie passes over moveable bridges—to accommodate boat traffic—not to mention before more deeply rooted mainstays. Namely, the largest stand of iconic Southern live oak trees. One such beauty, known as the Fairchild oak, is four centuries old, and the largest of its kind. Today’s ride also visits the ruins of an ante-bellum plantation remarkable as much for its remoteness as its building materials. Constructed of coquina, great horizontal slags of sediments embedded with trilobites, mollusk and other invertebrates, the plantation and its adjacent sugar mill offer a fascinating glimpse onto what was the region’s first enterprise/economic lynchpin. Overhead we’ll likely glimpse Bald eagle and Swallow-tailed kites, a small black and white raptor. Our ride closes out at the Minneola Inn, alongside Ormond Lake. A turn-of-the-century property, the Inn gracefully projects old Florida aesthetics, but nuanced with a decidedly Key West vibe. More so, there might not be a better spot to view the sunset, or decompress post-ride than at the Inn’s waterfront Tiki Bar.
Total Miles 23 | Feet gain 266 | Casual Inn: Lake Minneola Inn

Day 4: Alps of Florida

The day’s ride loops over what’s known as the Alps of Florida. (Don’t snicker, Westerners.) Climbing a total of 1445-ft, our route peaks out at 309-ft ASL. Sweeping through farmlands, vineyards and orchards from Clermont, west of Lake Apopka, today’s ride is punctuated by the Sunshine’s State’s steepest rollers, terrain completely atypical of the Florida peninsula. At Clermont (pop. 30,200), about 22-miles west of Orlando, we gain unprecedented view finding via the Florida Citrus Tower. Built in 1956, the 226-ft tower lends a 360-degree view of the surrounding orange groves. Our ride closes out at the Mt. Dora Inn, yet another signature lodge.
Total moderate miles 33 | Feet gain 1445 | Casual Inn: Mount Dora Historic Inn

Day 5: The Withlacachoolee

The day’s ride follows a rails-to-trails course, the Withlacoochee: a linear state park shaped around a dedicated bike path, the state’s longest paved trail spanning 46-miles altogether. Smartly built atop the erstwhile Atlantic Coast Line Railroad, this ride sweeps between a pair of chained lakes. Then over former railway trestles, by virtue of small bridges engineered for cyclists and pedestrians. All throughout, the framing along the Withlacoochee Trail is quietly stunning if not gleefully rich in feathers and fur. To either side of trail roam Wild turkey, White-tailed deer and wild hogs; these five to six foot long interlopers reach 150-lbs and up. Speaking of up, overhead we’ll very likely encounter herons, Sandhill cranes, wood storks, limpkins (a long legged shorebird) as well as a great many songbirds. Transiting successive state forests, we enter Richloam: a 58,000-acre preserve of pine savannah mixed with forested wetlands. Rolling in and out of piney forest, we stop to savor small, rural Florida townships. They include the stately and picturesque Floral City (pop. 5216), named for its abundant wildflowers. Should the impulse set in, those gardeners amongst us are free to yell “floribunga”! here. The ride partly follows the 70-mile Crooked River, sweeping through the Citrus Wildlife Management area, the Flying Eagle and Jumper Creek preserves, respectively, before our peloton curls off for Inverness, where we overnight.
Total Easy Mileage | 23 Miles | Feet Gain | 420
Total Moderate Mileage | 30 Miles | Feet Gain | 547
Total Challenging Mileage | 62 Miles | Feet Gain | 1767
Casual Inn | Holiday Inn Express

Day 6: Fleet Trail

Our wrap-up day ride follows the Fleet Trail. From quirky Mascotte (pop. 5538), named for a small tobacco hauler that sailed between here and Cuba during the Spanish-American War, we sweep across the east edge of the aforementioned Richloam Wildlife preserve; then merge into the adjacent 110,000-acre Green Swamp preserve. Paralleling I-75, west of Orlando, we reach the headwaters of no less than four rivers: the Peace, Withlacachoolee, Ocklawaha, and Hillsborough. Ultimately, our route bisects a 560,000-acre plateau of wetlands, lowlands and sandy ridges; a critical habitat and drinking water source. Closing out here we shuttle back to Orlando.
Total Easy Mileage | 19.5 Miles | Feet Gain | 378

* This is a general itinerary. Tour itineraries are subject to change based on the group, available accommodations and other unforeseen circumstances such as the weather, local conditions, government intervention, that may affect the quality of the trip and/or safety of the participants. Please view this itinerary as an outline as to what to expect on this tour.

Lodging

Included:

• 5 nights in casual Inns
• Guides
• All meals starting with lunch on the first day through lunch on the last day, Snacks.
• Support Vehicle
• First Aid
• Bike Maintenance
• Park fees

Not included:

• Airfare to and from our departure point
• Lodging before or after the tour.
• rental bikes
• Gratuities guides

Pricing / Tour dates

Tour prices 2024: $ 3842.00 pp. Ask for single fee
Rental road bike $ 422.17
Rental hybrid bike $ 324.75
Rental hybrid E-bike $ 324.75
Rental road E-bike $ 454.65
Tour dates 2024:
03 Nov – 08 Nov
10 Nov – 15 Nov
17 Nov – 22 Nov
24 Nov – 29 Nov
01 Dec – 06 Dec

Conditions

Deposit $500.- pp
The deposit payment for a tour must be paid within two weeks after the booking is confirmed.
The remaining payment is due 90 days before the start of the tour.
For tours that are booked within 90 days before the start of the tour you will pay 100% of the tour price

Information

Gateway city: Orlando
Orlando, a city in central Florida, is home to more than a dozen theme parks. Chief among its claims to fame is Walt Disney World, comprised of parks like the Magic Kingdom and Epcot, as well as water parks. Another major destination, Universal Orlando, offers Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure, with the Wizarding World of Harry Potter straddling both.

ORLANDO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
1 Jeff Fuqua Blvd, Orlando, FL 32827
(407) 825-2001
www.airport-orlando.com

Meeting location:
HOMEWOOD SUITES BY HILTON
5425 Gateway Village Circle, Orlando, FL 32812
(407) 857-5791
https://www.hilton.com/en/homewood/

DEPARTURE TIME
7:30 AM on the first day of the tour.

RETURN TIME
By 5:00 PM on the last day of the tour.

Weather:
Weather predictions are often unreliable, so it is best to be prepared for inclement weather. Please use the following locations when checking the weather online: Orlando, FL

Our food isn’t just good, it’s good for you.
Food is a big part of the experience. Many of our guests are vegans or vegetarians, whom we are more than happy to accommodate. On inns tours our Trip Leaders prepare all of your picnic style lunches and breakfasts and dinners are served in the best local restaurants If you have special diet requirements or limitations, just let us know when you sign-up and we’ll work with you to meet your needs.