2010 Finger Lakes Bicycle Tour
A bicycling vacation tour of charming villages and rolling countryside of New York's beautiful Finger Lakes region

The highest waterfalls east of the Rockies, cascades, glens, colleges, hamlets, valley farms, quaint towns and steep hillsides dotted with vineyards.  All of this, in addition to the sparkling waters of long blue lakes, make the NY Finger Lakes a special bicycling destination not to be missed.  Created by glaciers during the last ice age, the Finger Lakes stretch form south to north in what look like claw marks on the land.  Between and along the lakeshores lies a network of lightly traveled state and country roads through rolling pastoral Mennonite farmland.  Feel the temperature drop as you approach the lake by bike on a summer day.  Marvel at the acres of golden sunflowers.  Hike to hidden waterfalls, explore vibrant small towns, taste the famous Finger Lake wines and relax at sunset along the lakeshore at the end of your bike ride each day.  And, of course, enjoy the gourmet cuisine that is a trademark of Carolina Tailwinds tours.

DAY 1:  Meet in Ithaca, NY ready to ride!  After a brief orientation meeting, we will start rolling.  Our first day of bicycling will take us through downtown Ithaca and around the southern tip of Cayuga Lake.  We'll climb away from the lake briefly on rolling farmland toward the highest waterfall in the Finger Lakes region.  We will follow country roads that lead us to the shore of Seneca Lake where we'll find Watkins Glen, our home for the first night.  In the afternoon, we will hike a nearby spectacular gorge with numerous waterfalls and cliffs.  Relax at sunset in the Adirondack chairs dotting the lakeshore on the patio of our inn.  Dinner is together as a group tonight.

Bicycling Distance: 35 - 45 miles, with options to extend. 
Terrain: Rolling hills, with a few steep climbs.

DAY 2:  Rise early for a big day on the bike and some of the best lake views of the tour!  Start with a big climb away from Seneca Lake, or leap frog ahead in the van to start your ride at a high spot.  We'll make our way over to charming Hammondsport on the southern tip of Keuka Lake for lunch and an optional visit to the Glen Curtis Museum.  This early pioneer of aviation got his start as a bicycle mechanic in this area, and tested and manufactured airplanes for many years in Hammondsport.  After lunch, we continue biking the shores of Keuka Lake with numerous opportunities to soak up the sparkling water views.  We make our way this afternoon to the Inn at Glenora Wine Cellars overlooking Seneca Lake.  Relax on your private balcony overlooking the vineyard, or opt to tour and taste at the award winning winery.  We will dine this evening as a group on the wonderful cuisine at the vineyard restaurant.

Bicycling Distance: Up to 61 or 74 miles, with options to shorten your distance should you choose.
Terrain: Rolling hills, with a few steep climbs.

DAY 3:  Today's itinerary provides numerous opportunities to sample some of the award winning NY Finger Lakes wines on your route from Glenora to Geneva.  Take a direct route if you wish to relax today, or opt for additional miles on the bike.  Our destination at the end of the day is Geneva On The Lake, an elegant, old world resort on the north shore of Seneca Lake.  You may want to venture into the charming downtown of Geneva or opt to take advantage of the many wonderful amenities of this special inn:  a 70 foot swimming pool, formal gardens, a 10 acre estate overlooking Seneca Lake and, in late afternoon, a ride on the inn's 24 foot pontoon boat.  We will dine as a group tonight on the moon-lit patio of the inn, weather permitting.

Bicycling Distance: 20 - 60 miles, depending on the options selected. 
Terrain: Rolling terrain, with a few steep climbs, trending toward slightly flatter terrain toward the end of the day.

DAY 4:  We bike today from Geneva to Skaneateles, our home for the next two nights.  The terrain will be flatter now that we are at the northern end of the Finger Lakes.  We leave Seneca Lake behind today, pedaling on to the charming riverfront town of Seneca Falls, whose Main Street claims to be the inspiration for the town of Bedford Falls in the movie, "It's A Wonderful Life."  Take a few minutes to explore the Women's Rights National Historic Park, where the first Women's Rights Convention was held in 1848.  After lunch, opt to continue biking to Skaneateles, a beautiful small town on the northern shore of Skaneateles Lake.  Stroll the lakefront park, or the many shops and boutiques dotting the downtown area, before dining as a group this evening at a local gourmet favorite.

Bicycling Distance: 55 - 60 miles, inn-to-inn, with options to extend your miles or to "leap frog" ahead.
Terrain: Mostly flat, with a few rolling hills.

DAY 5:  Our "Layover Day" in Skaneateles affords you the option not to bike today, or to bike a distance of your choosing.  We will support a loop ride around Skaneateles Lake of up to 62 miles, with options to cut this distance in half.  You will enjoy walking the sidewalks of this quaint town with plenty of shops and restaurants.  Rent a kayak or sailboat and explore Skaneateles Lake, said to be New York's clearest.  Or, opt to visit one of the wineries on the outskirts of town for additional samples of Finger Lakes wine!  Dinner this evening is on your own with numerous wonderful options within walking distance of our inn.

Bicycling Distance: Up to 62 miles, with options to extend, rolling terrain, with a few steep climbs.
Terrain: Rolling hills, with a few steep climbs.

Day 6:  We say goodbye to Skaneateles this morning as we make our way west to the shore of Cayuga Lake.  Our final day of the tour offers a beautiful rural ride south to Ithaca.  The ride will start with flat terrain, then get hillier as we approach the southern end of the lake.  We'll return to our airport hotel in time for a final catered lunch and pre-arranged showers.

Bicycling Distance: Up to 45 miles, with options to shorten, rolling terrain, with a few steep climbs.
Terrain: Rolling hills, with a few steep climbs.

Lodging:  Optional Nights before or after tour:   Courtyard by Marriott Ithaca.  Located near Tompkins Airport and offering airport shuttle service from 6:30 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.
Night 1:  Watkins Glen Harbor Hotel   Overlooking the southern tip of Seneca Lake in downtown Watkins Glen, NY.  Full of amenities including pool, fitness center, the Coldwater Bar, BluePointe Grill, turn down service and more.
Night 2:  Inn at Glenora   5435 Route 14, Dundee, New York 14837.  Don't just tour a winery, spend the night there!  Rooms are beautifully appointed with Stickley furniture and brand new pillow top mattresses and box springs.  Every room features a private balcony or patio with a view of the vineyard, Seneca Lake and the opposing hillside.
Night 3:  Geneva On The Lake,  1001 Lochland Rd., Route 14, Geneva, New York 14456.  Located on 10 beautiful acres, the inn has received the coveted AAA Four-Diamond Award for 24 years and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.  The terrace, formal gardens, classical sculptures, 70 foot pool and boathouse enhance the old-world charm that awaits you.
Nights 4 & 5:  Packwood House / Sherwood Inn, 14 West Genesee Street Skaneateles, NY 13152  315.217.8100 Select Registry inn overlooking the lake and walking distance to numerous shops in this friendly town.  The Sherwood Inn has been welcoming travelers since 1807.

Cycling:
Bike from inn to inn everyday if you choose without ever getting in the support van.  Or, take advantage of the support van to "leap frog" ahead on the route.

Meals:
All meals are included, with the exception of one "on-your-own" dinner in Skaneateles.  This includes breakfasts, picnic lunches, gourmet dinners and abundant snacks and beverages.

Extend your stay in the area:
Consider a visit to Corning, NY.  The Corning Museum of Glass is fascinating and takes several hours to tour.  
Ithaca, NY is a bustling college town (Cornell and Ithaca College).  Set on a steep hillside leading to Cayuga Lake, it has a vibrant downtown.

Note:
Carolina Tailwinds reserves the right to make alterations to the itinerary as needed.  Any changes made will maintain or enhance the quality of the tour.

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Carolina Tailwinds   P.O. Box 24716   Winston-Salem, NC 27114-4716   888.251.3206 or 336.794.1054
email: info@CarolinaTailwinds.com