Tour Description:
The Mad River Valley and surrounding areas offer a microcosm of all things Vermont. You will experience panoramic views of the green mountains, clear rivers for swimming, covered bridges and country general stores, Vermont-made products and antique shops. We visit the historic villages of Waitsfield, Warren, Woodstock and Montpelier to name a few. These towns will give you a picture of the Vermont that has inspired artisans, poets and statesmen. Riding from village to village, you will enjoy some of the most scenic vistas Vermont has to offer.

We begin our tour on the outskirts of Waitsfield Village where Linda & Tom Gardner welcome us into their cozy post and beam Featherbed Inn (circa 1806). You can sink into a cozy chair in the reading nook or relax over a board game in the living room with its original wide board hardwood floors. Dinner is at seven.

Monday, after a country breakfast, we follow the Mad River east to its terminus at the Winooski River. From here we enjoy a quiet pedal on our way to the smallest state capitol in the Nation, Montpelier. Here you may have a picnic lunch on the lush front lawn beneath the gold dome of the granite capitol building. Fun fact: Montpelier is the only state capitol in the country without a McDonald's.

The afternoon is spent cycling back roads through Northfield, home of Norwich University, the oldest Private Military Academy in the nation. Our day finishes with a ride to the Three Stallion Inn in Randolph. You will easily succumb to the comforts of this sweeping property with an outdoor swimming pool and two hut tubs as well as hundreds of acres of hiking trails. There is even an 18-hole golf course on the site.

Tuesday, we pedal south through Bethel on our way to Barnard, home of the unique Barnard General Store on the shores of Silver Lake, a perfect place for a picnic and swim. Next, enjoy what feels like an endless descent on the way to one of the prettiest towns in America, Woodstock. Here you may stroll the village green, bike through the Lincoln covered bridge and visit the array of craft shops and galleries. The Billings Farm Museum and Rockefeller family mansion are also worthwhile stops.

We will spend Tuesday and Wednesday nights in the relaxed comfort of the October Country Inn, a restored 19th century farmhouse. Edie and Chuck Janisse, our experienced and friendly hosts, will make you feel at home while preparing international cuisine which will dazzle your palate and fuel your cycling body. The inn's rooms are cozy. The common areas are ample and designed to encourage group activity.
Wednesday, we see more quintessential Vermont as we pass a series of lakes en route to Happy Acres Farm. Here, Jim and Sandy Peplaus explain the maple sugaring process and offer samples of their Pure Vermont Maple Syrup and homemade jams. You can purchase lunch in the bustling ski town of Ludlow, home to Okemo Ski Area, and enjoy a picnic by Buttermilk Falls. You may want to go for a dip in the local swimming hole. On the return trip, we stop at The Calvin Coolidge Homestead where President Coolidge was both born and sworn in as the 30th President of The United States. The homestead has been completely restored and there is a cheese factory open to visitors. Beer enthusiasts will want to visit the Long Trail Brewery for a tour and tasting. At the end of the day, you can swim in the pool at October Country Inn, take a walk in their garden, or head for the hammock to do nothing at all.

Our final day of cycling is stunning. We ride through the gentle White River Valley on our way to the Granville Gulf, a protected wilderness area. You may want to pause at Moss Glen Falls (a rushing waterfall) before arriving at the peaceful Village of Warren. The Village is famous among cyclists for one reason: The Warren (General) Store. You go back in time with the enticing selection of penny candy, an award-winning bakery, homemade sandwiches, plus gifts/clothing and more. Warren is the perfect place to end your Mad River Valley adventure.

Tour Dates
Spring
June 1-5, June 15-19
Summer
July 6-10, July 27-31, August 10-14, August 24-28
Fall
September 28-October 2, October 5-9, October 19-23