Last summer I successfully completed my first bike tour, a round trip of the Gaspé Peninsula of Québec. It was arguably the best experience of my life. The small group that I rode with and I are thinking about a new trip for this coming summer, without going TOO far from home (at least before we start biking ) Our current idea is a tour of our home state of Vermont, as my friend and I are both going to college out-of-state next year. After some thought, though, that doesn't sound exciting enough; I've lived in Vermont my whole life. Does anyone have any ideas for tours (preferably that you have already done) that you could recommend? Based on my experience from last year, I would like a ride with some hills, great scenery, not too crowded, and with roads that are safe enough to bike.
Thank you!
update: I think a good distance would be anywhere from 300 to 500 miles. I don't think we would pay for a guide; it's cheaper and more fun to plan it alone.
update 2: We would probably ride unsupported and mostly sleep at campgrounds.

Cape Breton in Nova Scotia. The roads don't have shoulders but I thought it was safe. I didn't ride on the southern part of the island and I don't know if the sea coast or Bras D'Or lake shore is better.





- Northeast of Inverness, take the shore road.
- If you stay in Cheticamp and the weather is nice, it's worth taking the bags off and ride a bit in the park in the evening.
- In the park, I suggest you hike the skyline trail. About half is a dirt road and you can bike it. Watch the sky for eagles, the forest for moos and the water for whales.
- Take the white Point road betweem South Harbour and Neil's harbour.
- There's a little shortcut via highway 312 and a cable ferry. Good thing it was free for cyclist because I had lost my wallet!
- There's a short stretch on the Trans-Canada. Traffic is high but shoulders are huge. No problem there except for car noise.

I would also recommend Nova Scotia. I've done a few different tours around and through the province, and the west coast of Cape Breton Island is certainly the most scenic and impressive part, but the whole province is a pleasant place to go bike touring. I believe you can stick take a ferry there from Maine.

Another vote for Nova Scotia. Lovely scenery (Nova Scotia translates into New Scotland), quiet roads, nice people. Only don't go in November, it's cold, it's dark by 6.00 p.m. and everything is shut for the winter. At least it was when I was there.

chrdauph, I vote Nova Scotia also, some really nice people.

Brad

Thanks for the support, guys! I haven't brought it up to my friends yet, but I was actually thinking that Nova Scotia would be nice.

If you wanted to get off the roads, take a look at the Confederation Trail on Prince Edward Island. It is 300 miles of converted railway that loops around the entire island.

We have toured around cape Bretton and PEI, followed the light house and Angeline routes in nova Scotia - all nice places to visit, interesting scenery and pleasant people. Sorry you think you need something more exciting than VT, however before you decide on that - follow the adventure cycling green mountain route around the state (include NY on western leg) -
I'm a Vermonta, I do what I wanta.

I wasn't even aware that this route existed! I'll definitely give that some more thought. Thank you!
edit:
Have you actually done that route before? If so, what did you do for lodging? The group that I would go with likes to stay at campgrounds when possible.
Thank you!

I'm an ex Vermonta who moved accross the lake to the Adirondacks. You could put a good trip together over here. Take the Charlotte ferry to Essex NY, head to Elizabethtown, up to Newcomb, Long Lake, Tupper Lake, Saranac Lake, Lake Placid, Ausable Forks, back roads to Peru, up to the Plattsburgh ferry and back through the Champlain Islands. Lots of campgrounds, you'd have to do some work to put it together but the riding is great here and (other than Lake Placid) is less traveled then VT. Just one idea......

I did a good deal of it in '10. It was a supported Adventure Cycling trip, but we camped. Started and ended in Burlington. Went clockwise. Had to go off route once or twice to get to campgrounds. It was quite nice. Stayed at state parks (Lake Carmi, Brighton, Silver Lake, Button Bay) and one private campground. I had been looking into doing it self-contained. One logistical problem I kept butting up against was the lack of grocery sources near the places we camped.

Another vote for the Cabot Trail. I've done it three times and it's one of the most scenic drives on North America. The Atlantic Provinces in general are also very bike friendly in that pedestrians and bicycles are given a level of respect I haven't seen elsewhere.

Closer to you is the Blueridge Parkway and the Skyline Drive that would be another amazing way to spend a whole summer. About 120 waterfalls scatterred along about 600 miles of parkway. Lots of ups and downs though.

Any of the above. 30 years ago I did the Cabot Trail, PEI, the Adirondacks, Blue Ridge Parkway & Skyline Drive. Of course being from Florida, almost anyplace else is great riding. The only problem I found was the Black Flies in early summer in the maritimes. Although I only had some swollen glands around my neck, I met several people that were hospitalized because of them. I learned how to set up and take down my tent really fast.

keep going north: New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland.

Yeah - black flies can be pretty vicious in the spring and early summer. Best time to travel in the maritime provinces is September. Tourist season is over , prices are down, vacencies are up and bug season is long gone.on a bicycle the cooler weather is a big plus and Indian Summer is warm - just the nights can be colder. PEI has a normal population of less than 800,000 people but during tourist season it swells to over 6,000,000. That's actually what I want to get away from!

The old railroad route on Prince Edward Island is great.

And yet another vote for Cape Breton -- if you don't mind climbing, the Cabot Trail is outstanding.

I also enjoyed cycling in Prince Edward Island.