Trip Summary6 Days / 5 Nights |
We’re thinking about a scenic trip through the Finger Lakes in New York State. The Finger Lakes region is known for its quiet country roads, abundant vineyards and farmland, rolling hills (some more than just rolling!) and blue lakes.
Our tour begins and ends in the town of Penn Yan, just north of Keuka Lake. We will ride to the artsy town of Canandaigua, circumnavigate Keuka Lake, head east to historic Seneca Falls, then south to Watkins Glen, before heading back to Penn Yan. Highlights of the trip include wineries (of course!), riding around the lakes and exploring quaint towns along the way. Note that this is not a flat tour. There are hills. An average day might be 30 to 40 miles of riding with 1500 to 2000 feet of elevation change.
We start our tour in the lovely town of Penn Yan. Meet us on Sunday, when you will have the opportunity to ride west to the town of Canandaigua on the north end of Canandaigua Lake. You can ride along the lake, visit the town, admire the Victorian architecture of many of the town homes, and tour Sonnenberg Gardens, a 50 acre State Park and botanical garden, set alongside an 1887 Queen Anne style mansion. Our tour includes a group dinner in Penn Yan.
We spend two nights in Penn Yan. On Monday we cycle around Keuka Lake. You can circumnavigate the lake in 49 miles (or 62 miles if you also ride the inner loop of the Y-shaped lake). Or you can ride less by doing an out and back for as many miles as you want. You will ride by vineyards and have the opportunity to stop at wineries along the Keuka Lake Wine Trail. We also recommend that you stop at the Glenn H. Curtiss Aviation Museum in Hammondsport. Learn about Glenn Curtiss, the fastest man alive! In addition to vintage aircraft, there are old cars, bicycles, motorcycles and boats. You can also view their current restoration projects.
On Tuesday, we leave Penn Yan, riding east through farms and quiet roads, to the town of Geneva and finishing in historic Seneca Falls. Seneca Falls is the home of the first Women’s Rights Convention held in 1848. Set along the Seneca River, the town is beautiful. Spend time at the Women’s Rights National Historical Park and admire the sculptures in the Ludovico Sculpture Garden. Seneca Falls is thought to be Frank Capra’s inspiration for the town of Bedford Falls in his classic film “It’s a Wonderful Life”. Visit the iconic bridge that looks a lot like the bridge in the film. Ride lengths in the 30 to 50 mile range.
On Wednesday, we leave Seneca Falls, en route to Watkins Glen on the south end of Seneca Lake. There are several wineries to visit along the way. The route is 45 miles.
We stay in Watkins Glen for two nights. Visit the “gorge-ous” Watkins Glen State Park, a short ride or walk from town, where you can experience 19 waterfalls over a two mile hike through gorges that were formed in the Ice Age. This is truly one of the most beautiful places to hike! Take a dinner cruise on Seneca Lake. We will enjoy a group dinner on Thursday, our final night together. Ride choices are 45 to 60 miles.
On Friday, we ride from Watkins Glen back to our starting point in Penn Yan – about 25 miles where we will say our goodbyes. We hope that you have time to spend a few more days in the area.
What is Included?
- 5 nights lodging with 6 days of riding
- 5 breakfasts, and 2 dinners
- Routes both in GPS and cue sheet formats
- Luggage transport
- SAG support
- Tandem bike case storage, if needed
- Parking, if needed
Note that we do not provide any bicycles. We expect that you have a tandem that is in good working order and that you are able to assemble your bike. If you do not have your own tandem, you can rent a coupled tandem from Mel at Tandems East. If you have a tandem that is not coupled, we recommend that you ship your tandem to Penn Yan before the tour. BikeFlights is an option.
What is not included?
- Airfare
- Meals, other than those mentioned above
- Alcoholic beverages
- Admission to points of interest
What is the average mileage per day?
Average mileage is in the 30-50 mile range each day. The longest day is the ride from Seneca Falls to Watkins Glen — 45 miles with some climb. Expect some hills – this area of New York State is beautiful, but it isn’t flat!
Where will we be staying?
While this could change, here are some of the hotels that we plan to stay.
Best Western Plus Vineyard Inn and Suites