5 Breathtaking Bike Tours

5 Breathtaking Bike Tours

By: Samantha Brown, host of Samantha Brown’s “Place to Love”

Do you love to ride?  On two wheels, without a motor?  I knew we had a lot in common.  I have this daydream that every month I get to book a bike adventure somewhere.  Somewhere where the scenery is awe-inspiring and there is support should I get a flat tire.  Not to mention the glass of wine and amazing food at the end of the day.  Yes, bike tours get a lot of folks daydreaming and thinking about just pedaling the days away while staying in some of the best-hidden gems along the route.

The hardest part is deciding where to go.  Here are some ideas should you decide to spend your vacation on your bike:

Acadia National Park, Maine

Acadia National Park has a lot of admirers.  It’s quiet and peaceful, making it the perfect place to escape and enjoy nature.  There’s so much to do, that it’s hard to decide between kayaking, sailing, biking, and hiking.  Here’s an idea…book a tour that has all of the above.  Check out this multifaceted tour which offers the opportunity to see the park from every angle.  Bike through classic fishing villages, past lighthouses, and challenge yourself with a ride up Cadillac Mountain.  When you’re not on your bike, you’ll enjoy guided hikes through jaw-dropping vistas, kayak tours of the harbor, and sail on a classic Maine Windjammer.  Sounds like a perfect Maine getaway!!

Columbia Gorge, Oregon

Where can you go for amazing and stunning scenery?  Where the traffic is light and the snowy mountain-tops rise above perfect blue glacial lakes and fields of wildflowers?  Point your handle bars toward Columbia Gorge and travel the historic route of Lewis and Clark.  You’ll see Mt. Hood to the south and Mt. Adams to the north, both providing panoramic backdrops for your journey.  For an extra special treat, this tour takes you past the world’s greatest concentration of waterfalls (wow!).  When the long day is done, you can sample Hood River’s local craft beer and wine alongside unique local cuisine.

Wine Country: Napa & Sonoma, California
The idea of biking through Wine Country is the one that always gets my mind and heart racing.  It’s just the idea of seeing this amazing region from the seat of my bike that’s completely thrilling.  Where else can you experience riding along vineyard-lined roads, through the neighborhood of several wineries?  Plus you can explore the redwood forest and mud baths with healing waters as you make your way from Calistoga to Healdsburg. There’s a reason that biking through wine country is so popular.  You’ll have plenty of tours to choose from, so pick wisely.  Enjoy yourselves…and try not to drink (too much) and ride!

Zion National Park & Bryce Canyon, Utah
Ideal for the adventurous earth-lover, a person who sees themselves shooting down curved roads among the red rocks and deep blue sky.  Is this you?  If so, you’ll be fascinated with the scenery as you ride past all sorts of wild-looking rock formations and visit Cedar Breaks National Monument.  While there are numerous challenging climbs, you’ll be rewarded with a lot of downhill gliding.  Angels Landing is one of the trip highlights with views of Zion’s dramatic rock faces.  Your spinning takes you past Checkerboard Mesa and through Red Canyon with its red-colored pinnacles, spires, and hoodoos.  As you approach Mount Carmel, you’ll see the white-sandstone Elkhart Cliffs.  Do me a favor though and keep your eyes on the road…I don’t want to hear that you went over a cliff because you were sightseeing the whole way.

The Canadian Rockies
Have you had a chance to tour Banff National Park and Lake Louise?  If not, you should consider seeing this part of the Canadian Rockies by bike.  You’ll find yourself smack-dab in the middle of some of the Earth’s finest mountains, glaciers, and aquamarine-colored lakes.  Your two wheels and pedal power will take you down one of the most beautiful stretches of road anywhere called the Icefields Parkway.  You’ll ride along the Continental Divide and spend your time with wildlife such as bears, elk, mountain goats, and bighorn sheep staring at you as you pass by.