Ventura, Calif. — The City of Ventura is proud to be the host city for the Stage Two Start of the 13th annual Amgen Tour of California on May 14, 2018. The premier cycling race will take place May 13-19, 2018, during which the world’s best cyclists will compete for 600+ miles along roadways, highways, and coastlines making up the seven-stage race from Long Beach to Sacramento.
“Nestled along the Pacific Ocean with marvelous rolling hills as its backdrop, Ventura is an outdoor enthusiast’s dream and offers the most stunning landscape for the 2018 Amgen Tour of California. We are excited to host the tour and share our favorite sights in this beautiful city we call home,” said City of Ventura Mayor Erik Nasarenko.
The annual professional cycling events (men’s and women’s races) carry the distinction of being the only U.S. races on the UCI WorldTour calendar and attract some of the most renowned cyclists and teams in the world. With seven new courses between them, this is the 11th consecutive year the event has featured an international platform for both men’s and women’s racing.
The Ventura Visitors and Convention Bureau (VVCB) first set its sights on increased engagement with the Amgen Tour of California in 2016 when it organized a memorable community event to welcome and cheer on race participants as they passed through Ventura.
“Visit Ventura only had 20 seconds to make an impact in 2016 and with the help of hundreds of students who lined up to spell the largest rendition of Ventura’s brandmark ever made, we made it count. To hear that Amgen Tour of California took notice of our small beach town and felt charmed by the way our community embraced the event is a compliment we celebrate and uphold as a challenge to plan something even more special for 2018,” said VVCB President & CEO Marlyss Auster. (Video of the event in 2016 for which VVCB has since won a Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International award is available at www.youtube.com/watch?v=RWMdkEHrVNY.)
Though the Amgen Tour of California has passed through Ventura in the past, this is the first time the City of Ventura will host a Stage Start. Details on the route have not been revealed but Stage Two, also known as the Queen Stage from Ventura to the summit of Gibraltar Road in Santa Barbara County, is considered a highlight of the men’s race. This challenging mountain stage with an uphill finish at 6,500 feet elevation takes place on day two of the seven-day race.
“The Amgen Tour of California has always shone a spotlight on some of the state’s most picturesque and enjoyable destinations. We’re thrilled to bring one of the world’s most prestigious cycling races to Ventura for the first time – we remember the warm welcome from the community when the race passed through in 2016. We look forward to partnering with a city as progressive and cycling friendly as the City of Ventura and to creating a memorable experience for the teams and fans,” said Kristin Klein, president of the Amgen Tour of California and executive vice president of AEG Sports.
Ventura’s host city information is available at www.amgentourofcalifornia.com/host-cities/ventura and a highlight video of all host cities is available at www.youtube.com/watch?v=KxfHJyTpjkY with a downloadable HD broadcast press version available at www.amgentourofcalifornia.com/media-resources.
More information about the Amgen Tour of California and the full 2018 race schedule is available at www.amgentourofcalifornia.com. More information about Stage Two, Ventura’s commitments, the Local Organizing Committee, and how to get involved will be made available at a later date.
Sports Tours International is taking reservations now for amateur cyclists who want to participate in L’Étape du Tour 2018, an opportunity to tackle a mountain stage of the 2018 Tour de France.
MANCHESTER, UK– Sports Tours International, the UK-based provider of vacations built around nail-biting, world-class cycling and running competitions, is taking reservations now for amateur cyclists who want to participate in L’Étape du Tour 2018, an opportunity to tackle a mountain stage of the 2018 Tour de France.
L’Étape du Tour 2018 is scheduled for Sunday, July 8, 2018, in Annecy, France. The finish is at Le Grand-Bornand, a resort in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region. This finish was used in the 2009 Tour de France on Stage 17 when Alberto Contador famously went against team orders and left Lance Armstrong on both the Col du Romme and the Col de la Colombière.
Riders experience highs and lows while traversing a distance of 169km and climbing to heights of up to 4,000km, just like the pros when the 2018 Tour de France begins on July 7 and runs through July 29. For example, the Col de la Colombière will be the final climb for Stage 10 (Annecy to Le Grand Bornand, 159km) on July 17.
Riders and their guests will enjoy a festival of cycling over the weekend in Annecy. Lake Annecy is a focal point of Annecy, an alpine town known for canals and cobbled streets. Annecy is well known for the heritage of its buildings and natural landscape. It is situated beside one of the purest lakes in Europe, at the foot of the Alpine massifs of the Aravis and the Bauges, but close to Switzerland and Italy.
Sports Tours International’s L’Étape du Tour 2018 four-day/three-night tour package includes guaranteed entry when booked through Sports Tours International. With direct-to-the-public entries nearly sold out, Sports Tours will become one of only a handful of operators who can guarantee entry to the event. Also included in the package are accommodations at a range of hotels, roundtrip airport transfers from Geneva, overland bike transfer, bike rental and storage, complimentary coach accommodations for traveling companions to witness the excitement, three breakfasts, and, depending on the hotel, three dinners, staff support along the race course and more. Per person, double occupancy rates begin at £519 and go up to £699 for four-star accommodations. Self-drive packages are also available. While guaranteed, an additional cost is the actual entry fee to L’Étape du Tour 2018.
For non-riders, a free coach from Annecy to the finish in Le Grand Bornand is offered with return to Annecy later in the day.
Sports Tours International is one of Europe’s leading specialists in sports travel. Since the company’s launch in 1973, it has hosted thousands of participants and spectators at major sporting events worldwide. With the tagline, Fanatical about Sport, the company’s initial roots came from a devotion to running when founder Vince Regan began taking runners to the NYC Marathon. Since the early 2000s, the company has embraced international cycling events and triathlon competitions, sports training camps and corporate hospitality. Clients often can participate in events with the pros and are encouraged to “unleash your inner hero” or when it’s not possible to compete, there’s the ability to be active spectators along the routes and “watch your heroes.”
SRide & Seek is offering a new cycling tour across Corsica, Sardinia, and Sicily.
(Sydney, Australia) — Ride & Seek is offering a new cycling tour across Corsica, Sardinia, and Sicily. Split into three weeklong stages, the “3 Islands Tour” is a journey through the history, food, architecture, and traditions of these Mediterranean jewels. Guests ride from north to south, beginning in Corsica, home of Napoleon. Its mountainous north contrasts beautifully with the idyllic beaches and fishing villages. Next, riders head to Sardinia, an island of towering cliffs, beach coves, and history. The final stage is spent biking Sicily where rolling farmland, volcanoes, and a stunning coastline is sprinkled with classical sites in exceptional settings. The 21-day, 1,550 km tour is slated for April 28-May 19, 2018 and starts at $10,440 USD. Weeklong stages start at $3,820 USD.
“The exceptional diversity of these islands is represented through the numerous civilizations and cultures that have left their mark, amazing gastronomic variations, strikingly rugged interior landscapes, stunning coastlines of white beaches and emerald waters, and locals with an incredibly strong sense of place,” said Ride & Seek President Dylan Reynolds.
The average daily riding distance will be around 80km, and extra loop rides will be available for those wanting more hills and ride time. Meals are a centerpiece of the “3 Island Tour,” with an emphasis on local cuisine and wine. Lodging consists of 3 and 4 star boutique hotels.
Other Highlights:
· Ride through UNESCO listed Calanques de Piana.
· Cycle down Corsica’s Costa Verde – one the most stunning coastal roads in the world.
· Visit Tharros – a sacred site for the Phoenicians in Sardinia.
· Explore UNESCO listed Valle di Templi in Agrigento.
· Discover the city of Syracuse – home to Archimedes and a rich Greek heritage.
Freewheel Holidays offers a family-friendly biking trip to Costa Brava, Spain in winter.
MANCHESTER, UK– As the long days of summer fade into fall, and avid cyclists can follow the sun south to warmer climates. Freewheel Holidays, a UK specialist in cycling vacations, arranges week-long bespoke, self-guided bicycle vacations in Sardinia (Italy), on the Costa Brava (Spain), in the Algarve (Portugal) and on Lanzarote (Canary Islands).
These four sun-splashed destinations have in common beckoning cultures and cuisines, wave-fringed coastlines with sandy beaches and dependable reputations for showering warmth on vacationers escaping winter’s doldrums.
Following are snapshots of Freewheel Holidays’ 2017-2018 portfolio of Winter Sun cycling vacations. Accommodating parties with as few as two adults, in some instances these vacations can be tweaked to accommodate families who enjoy traveling at their own pace on two wheels.
Sardinia Family Cycle Tour is an 8 day/7 night vacation in Sardinia bicycling over terrain graded “easy” and over distances that can be tailored to meet family needs. Daily rides range from 20km to 36km. The itinerary is also flexible with choices on one day, for example, to ride to a beach famous for its turquoise waters or to board a ferry to a village where locals fish for red tuna and where surrounding lagoons are populated by flocks of pink flamingo. On some days vineyards and olive groves vie for attention with ancient ruins, Roman roads, vestiges of the Phoenicians and always beaches. The per person double rate is from £549; rates for children ages 3 to 12 are available. Included are seven nights accommodation with breakfast, bike rental, luggage transfers, welcome meeting, detailed route notes and maps and 24-hour emergency/service telephone access. This tour is offered year-round (http://www.freewheelholidays.co.uk/tour/sardinia-cycling-holiday).
Discover Costa Brava for Families is a 7 day/6 night vacation in Spain’s Catalonia, a distinct, autonomous region in northern Spain known for the beach resorts of Costa Brava and for the Pyrenees Mountains. This flexible trip can also be from two to five days, giving ample time to explore this fascinating area and add on a beach or city break. On two wheels guests discover the unspoiled hamlet of Can Muni, a beautiful coastline, pine forests and the fascinating medieval, Greek and Roman architecture of the region. Must-sees are the world famous Dalí museum in the town of Figueres and the Museum of Empordà which showcases the archaeological finds of the region, including the Hall of Asclepius. Guests can also mix in horseback riding. Ambitious riders can ride up to 56km on a day; but shorter routes halving the daily distances are also outlined. The mostly flat terrain is rated as “easy.” The per person double rate is from £539; rates for children under 13 years of age are available. Included are 6 nights accommodation with breakfast, a welcome meeting, bike rental, GPS with everyday tracks and map, detailed route notes and local information and 24-hour emergency/service telephone access. (Offered year-round, for details see http://www.freewheelholidays.co.uk/tour/costa-brava-family-cycling-holiday.)
Guests on the 8 day/7 night Algarve Coast to Coast bicycle vacation enjoy “easy” to “moderate” cycling on the Ecovia do litoral, a dedicated cycle route in Portugal that links Vila Real de Santo António on the Spanish border with Cabo de São Vicente (Sagres) in the west. This route that requires cycling up to 40km on some days combines trails in nature preserves with stunning coastal views and beach access. There are also linked stretches on traffic-calm or car-free routes. Fishing villages that date to Roman times, Moorish architecture and cafes heralding coffee and wine breaks blend into the horizon that’s the sea. The per person double rates begin at £779. Included are 7 nights accommodation with breakfast, return transfers from Faro Airport, bike rental, luggage transfers, detailed route notes and cycling maps and 24-hour emergency/service telephone access. Departures may be scheduled any day of the year (http://www.freewheelholidays.co.uk/tour/algarve-coast-to-coast-7-nights).
Lanzarote in theCanary Islands may not seem an obvious choice for a cycling holiday, but here’s one island in the Canaries that offers easy access, year-round sunshine, minimal rainfall, some of the most dramatic and fascinating landscapes (think volcanoes) in Europe. Restrained development has preserved the best characteristics of this often-overlooked paradise. Fine beaches and quality hotel and rural villa accommodations are laced into this 8 day/7 night vacation on two wheels. The terrain is classed “moderate” with some daily rides covering up to 58km. Routes can be modified for families. A native son, César Manrique, who fought in the Spanish Civil War, left his mark artistically and in architecture on Lanzarote. Guests have an opportunity to view some of his work. They take in a volcanic cave and another volcanic landscape along a beach, cycle and walk under innumerable palm trees in towns with Moorish names, and they tour the wine-producing area of La Geria. A waterpark and go kart attraction add to the family fun. The per person double rate is from $809. Rates for children are available. Included are 7 nights accommodation with breakfast, bike hire, luggage transfers, detailed route notes & cycling maps and 24hr hotline assistance service. (For details on this year-round, self-guided adventure see http://www.freewheelholidays.co.uk/tour/lanzarote-7-nights-self-guided).
To check trip availability, make reservations, or to find out more about Freewheel Holidays’ leisure cycling tours call +44 (0) 161 703 5823, email [email protected] or visit www.freewheelholidays.com.
A division of Sports Tours International, Freewheel Holidays (http://www.freewheelholidays.co.uk/) specializes in self-guided, expertly supported European cycling holidays that strike the perfect balance between leisure pedaling and immersive sightseeing. The company offers easy to moderate cycling programs designed with special appeal to European and North American travelers. Guests cycle on their own, with enroute assistance and distinctive accommodations expertly chosen and secured by the company. A portfolio of over 40 established European holidays offers riders of all levels a freedom of choice. The company features a range of 4, 5, 6, 7 and 9 night itineraries to 12 European countries including the UK, Austria, France, Holland, Czech Republic, Italy, Malta, Switzerland, Spain, Germany, Sweden and Portugal. The majority of tours are self-guided with the exception of a few fully-guided vacation packages in Croatia, France, Italy and Prague to Vienna. The company also offers family-focused, coastal, wine lover and solo traveler holidays.
Freewheel Holidays is offering a variety of self-guided bicycle tours through Italy.
MANCHESTER, UK – Inquisitive travelers eager to see the real Italy at the speed of a bicycle can choose among four bespoke, self-guided tours that dip variously in and out of the Dolomites, Lake Garda, Venice, Tuscany and the Chianti region. These seven-day/eight-night itineraries are available through early autumn from Freewheel Holidays, a UK specialist cycling vacation provider offering a 2017 portfolio of more than 40 European holidays on two wheels.
“We are really passionate about Italy as a cycling holiday destination and have selected cycling holidays that really showcase the varied nature of the country,” says Steven Rittey, Freewheel Holidays’ spokesperson. “There’s still time to book a trip this season and to help decide where to go, here are four of our favorite tours.”
Dolomites & Lake Garda begins in Resia (accessed by train from Bolzano) near the Austrian border where Italy’s South Tyrol region combines Italian and Austrian influences. Here at 5,000 feet, a dedicated cycle track winds down through Val Venosta and a collection of small villages as mountains on either side rise up to over 13,000 feet. Merano, a town that pampers people in its spas, is followed by Bolzano, the regional capital. Lake Garda beckons through the Adige valley past apple orchards and vineyards, promising a boat trip from Riva del Garda down the lake to Peschiera, a walled town with a traffic-free center. The Arena di Verona Opera Festival can be the piece de resistance in the city of Romeo and Juliet where this summer’s offerings include, among others, three Verdi favorites: Rigoletto, Nabucco and Aida. Per person double rates are from £669. http://www.freewheelholidays.co.uk/tour/dolomites-and-lake-garda
Venice Lands – Self Guided is a classic tour between the Alps and the Adriatic that is centered on the jewel of Venice. Cycle tracks and minor roads are generally flat on this tour that begins and ends in Vicenza with its own Teatro Olimpico and an array of historic buildings and cobblestone streets. The next stops are Marostica, famous for its castle and chessboard in the main square, and Bassano del Grappa with a covered wooden bridge and grappa. Another Italian city shares a canal culture with Venice. This is Treviso that follows a downhill run through Prosecco vineyards. This walled city also sports a castle and may be the birthplace of radicchio and tiramisù. The cycle continues into Venice and later along two rivers which carried Venice’s trade centuries ago. The Bacchiglione River leads to Costozza, a small town at the foot of the Berici hills. The cycle path passes in front of La Rotonda, the architect Palladio’s most famous creation. Per person double rates are from £519. http://www.freewheelholidays.co.uk/tour/venice-lands-8-days-7-nights-self-guided
Tuscany – Pisa to Florence 7 nights embraces the Leaning Tower of Pisa and the Ponte Vecchio in Florence, enroute exploring an intimate landscape beloved by anyone who has ever visited Tuscany. Travel is on cycle-friendly tracks and minor roads, with two rest days to explore Lucca, a city ringed by Renaissance walls and the birthplace of Puccini. Enroute to Montecatini Terme, known for its spa waters, is a village, Collodi, known as the place where Pinocchio sprang from his creator’s hands. There’s never enough time to imbibe all of the ancient villas and landscapes, but two days in this region affords a fair amount of time for unscheduled pedals led by curiosity. The per person double rate is from £659. http://www.freewheelholidays.co.uk/tour/tuscany-pisa-to-florence-7-nights
Siena, Chianti Region and Florence brings into the spotlight the history of Palio di Siena, a race held twice annually in Siena with riders representing 10 of the city’s 17 wards and political feuds never to be forgotten. This adventure begins and ends here. The history of the dynamics, again political, between this one-time highly important municipality and Florence begin to sink in, along with ample quantities of Chianti ripe for the sampling. Along with viniculture comes high culture (think Florence), thanks to Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci and, of course, assorted Medicis. Siena was also an important stop along the ancient (11th century) pilgrim’s way (from Canterbury to Rome), the via Francigena. The per person double rate is from £659. http://www.freewheelholidays.co.uk/tour/siena-chianti-region-and-florence-7-nights
Freewheel Holidays’ (www.freewheelholidays.com) self-guided tours include, among others, inn and/or bed and breakfast accommodations, bike rental, luggage transfers, route maps and notes, services of a tour host including welcome and information talk.
To check trip availability, make reservations, or to find out more about Freewheel Holidays’ leisure cycling tours call +44 (0) 161 703 5823, email [email protected]
or visit www.freewheelholidays.com.
A division of Sports Tours International, Freewheel Holidays specializes in self-guided, expertly supported European cycling holidays that strike the perfect balance between leisure pedaling and immersive sightseeing. The company offers easy cycling programs designed with special appeal to European and North American travelers.
Guests cycle on their own, with enroute assistance and distinctive accommodations expertly chosen and secured by the company. A portfolio of more than 40 European holidays offers choices for riders of all levels. The company features a range of 4, 5, 6, 7 and 9 night itineraries to 12 European countries including the UK, Austria, France, Holland, Czech Republic, Italy, Malta, Switzerland, Spain, Germany, Sweden and Portugal. The majority of tours are self-guided with the exception of a few fully-guided vacation packages in Croatia, France, Italy and Prague to Vienna. The company also offers family-focused, coastal, wine lover and solo traveler holidays.
There’s still availability to join the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy’s 2017 Pennsylvania Sojourn, June 18-23, a six-day cycling trip exploring two dedicated trails—the legendary Great Allegheny Passage and beautiful Montour Trail – a total of some 150 miles of biking.
The organization’s main fund-raiser of the year, you get to experience Pennsylvania’s famous scenic wilderness, charming towns, beautiful tunnels, iconic sites and can’t-miss destinations.
The fully supported rail-trail adventure vacation, operated by Wilderness Voyageurs, offers great food (breakfast and dinner), hot showers, flexible scheduling (you ride at your own pace), fun evening activities, optional trips and experiences—and the added benefit of supporting America’s trails.
The trip is June 18-23, and costs $720/adult, $620/child. You have the option of bringing your own tent, renting tent service through Comfy Campers (extremely handy), or booking nearby bed-and-breakfast accommodations.
The tour highlights include optional climbs to the highest mountain in the state, Mt. Davis and the Eastern Continental Divide, the Mason-Dixon Line and Big Savage Tunnel.
The third-day is a layover with an opportunity to choose an excursion – visiting Fallingwater (a home designed by Frank Lloyd Wright); visiting Kentuck Knob (also designed by Frank Lloyd Wright) or taking a rafting trip, either Lower Yough Class 3 rafting trip or Middle Yough Class 1-2 rafting trip
The annual RTC Sojourn is not just a great way to experience these trails, but also are powerful “trail-building tools” that highlight the significant impact of long-distance trail routes on America’s communities. Participants explore communities and attractions along the way (from the picturesque to the historic), take advantage of open trails and draw attention to gaps in would-be trail systems that, if completed, could result in substantial benefits (economic, health, social, environmental and much more) for their local regions.
For example, the Pennsylvania Sojourn will call attention to a major project, the Industrial Heartland Trails Coalition. A collaboration of more than 100 organizations, and led by the Pennsylvania Environmental Council, the National Park Service and RTC, the project would link 1,400 miles of multiuse trails, stretching across 48 counties in four states – Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Ohio and New York. It would stimulate the regional economy through outdoor tourism and small business investment, and create social equity and new health connections for underserved communities across the project footprint.
The sojourns serve to unite a selection of trails for a short period of time, serving as “dry runs” designed to benchmark—through real-world examples and user surveys how trail-system improvements could increase local bikeability and walkability.
Over the past 15 years, Sojourns have helped influence the creation and/or growth of multiple regional trail alliances through demonstrating the significant boost to local economies generated by the sojourn participants in just a few days – a small reflection over what can be achieved when programs are established.
RTC compiles economic impact data on the combined spending on food, supplies, rentals, equipment and other sojourn-related services, which is shared with local hosts to inspire future trail building and enhancements.
The 2014 sojourn’s positive economic impact to the region was $211,000.
Rails-to-Trails Conservancy helps communities meet their own challenges toward trail development, with expertise and assistance obtaining funding and design; and advocates with lawmakers at local, state and federal levels for policies and funding programs that make trail development and walking/biking infrastructure possible. The organizations promotes trails – awarding Trail of the Year, for example – forges partnerships, and is the nation’s foremost nonprofit advocate for rail-trails, working to create and protect the legal structures that make them possible.
The sojourns are designed for all ages and skill levels—from the young to the young-at-heart, aficionados to first-timers, families to freewheelers!
New York State Governor Andrew M. Cuomo, in his 2017 State of the State policy pronouncements, has proposed completing the Hudson River Valley Greenway and Erie Canalway trails by 2020 to create the Empire State Trail, the largest state multi-use trail in the nation. To achieve this, the state will develop 350 miles of new trail in three phases to create a 750-mile pathway for hiking and biking along scenic vistas and through charming, historic communities. The Empire State Trail will span much of the state, from the New York Harbor up through the Adirondack Mountains to the Canadian border – and from the shores of Lake Erie along the historic Erie Canal to the heart of the Capital Region.
“The scenic natural beauty that spans every corner of this state is key to our prosperity, vital to our future and part of who we are as New Yorkers,” Governor Cuomo said. “The Empire State Trail, once completed, will be the nation’s largest state multi-use trail network, providing residents and visitors alike unprecedented access to New York’s outdoor treasures, driving tourism and economic activity to communities across the state and helping to protect our environmental resources for generations to come.”
New York’s existing Hudson River Valley Greenway and the Erie Canalway are two of the most renowned multi-use trailways in the United States, but both trails remain unfinished with a number of gaps across the state. Currently, the Hudson River Valley Greenway is nearly 50 percent complete and crosses the Appalachian Trail, spanning over 260 miles between the Manhattan Battery and Lake George. The trail closely, and in many places parallels State Bike Route 9, which extends the Greenway an additional 130 miles along Lake Champlain to the Canadian border. The Hudson River Valley Greenway generates more than $21 million in economic impact annually from visitors stopping in communities along the trails.
The Erie Canalway is nearly 80 percent complete and runs approximately 360 miles along the storied Erie Canal, connecting Buffalo to Albany. The Governor’s commitment to complete this trail coincides with the bicentennial of the Erie Canal, as construction of the engineering marvel begin in 1817. Each year, approximately 1.5 million people use the Erie Canalway Trail along the historic Erie Canal, resulting in an estimated $253 million in economic activity from visitor spending. The Buffalo-Pendleton segment is the most heavily used part of the Canalway Trail with approximately 350,000 annual users. With this proposal, remaining gaps will be completed, connecting the two trails to establish the New York’s Empire State Trail.
Once the Empire State Trail is complete, the trails will attract more hikers, bikers, and cross country skiers than ever before and provide access to destinations, heritage areas, and historic sites and districts including:
Hudson River Valley Greenway
Battery Park, NYC
· Walkway Over the Hudson, Poughkeepsie
· Olana State Historic Site, Hudson
· Martin Van Buren National Historic Site, Kinderhook
· Schodack Island State Park, Schodack Landing
· Saratoga National Battlefield, Stillwater
· Fort Ticonderoga, Ticonderoga
Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural Historic Site, Buffalo
· Buffalo State Park, Buffalo
· The Salt Museum on Onondaga Lake, Liverpool
· The Montezuma National Wild Refuge, Seneca Falls
· The Great New York State Fair, Syracuse
· Oriskany Battlefield State Historic Site, Oriskany
· Fort Stanwix National Monument, Rome
This extensive trail network will enhance community connectivity and support healthy lifestyles by providing both urban and rural communities access to endless outdoor recreational opportunities. These long distance destination trails are economic drivers that can generate $1.5 – 5 million in annual economic impact for surrounding communities. Additionally, this trail network is expected to support an estimated 9.6 jobs for every $1 million invested, and every dollar will yield $3 in direct medical benefits for surrounding communities. The trails will also draw tourists from around the world to explore New York’s striking landscapes and rich history, while enjoying local bed and breakfasts, hotels, restaurants, wineries, breweries, farmsteads, and cultural attractions along the way.
Empire State Trail Website and Mobile App Launch
A new trail website and mobile app will launch to further connect New Yorkers and visitors to the state’s great outdoors. Both the website and app will feature a list of greenways, trails with hiking descriptions, and their level of difficulty. The app will allow users to find services and attractions nearby using location services with the option to share the user’s exact location with friends, or first responders, in the case of an emergency. Social sharing options will also be available, to share photos on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. A live tour map, walking and driving directions, are available as well as an elevation reader that lets users know when trails cross hills and mountains.
The trail system will provide travelers access to a number of signature attractions, all of which can be found on the website and mobile app, including Battery Park, Walkway Over the Hudson, Corning Preserve, Lake George, Schenectady Rivers Casino, the Erie Canal Museum, the Buffalo Naval Military Park, local breweries, and other lodging accommodations and family-friendly destinations found along the Empire State Trail.
“Parks, historic sites, and heritage areas are the very fabric of our local communities and the Empire State Trail will further connect these treasured resources with all New Yorkers, neighbors and friends,” said New York State Parks Commissioner Rose Harvey.“Governor Cuomo is rejuvenating the state park system and now with the creation of the Empire State Trail we are deepening the connection and sharing many of these wonderful treasures and all it takes is a bike ride or casual stroll.”
“New York’s natural resources are truly world class destinations and through Governor Cuomo’s leadership, the new Empire State Trail will establish important connections to offer residents and visitors even more opportunities to experience all the state has to offer,” said New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Basil Seggos. “I look forward to working with our partners in State Parks, to expand and enhance marketing of all the outdoor adventures one can have throughout the state, and continuing to help communities across the state capitalize on the economic potential of outdoor recreation.”
New York State Canal Corporation Director Brian Stratton said, “Tens of thousands of people already use the Canal trail year-round for hiking, biking, jogging and cross-country skiing. I’m beyond thrilled that Governor Cuomo has proposed completing the trail along the entire length of the Erie Canal. Now, more people will be able to enjoy all this iconic waterway has to offer as we celebrate the canal system’s bicentennial in 2017.”
Meanwhile, the US Department of Interior has just designated New York State Barge Canal as a national historic landmark. “This massive early-twentieth century enlargement of New York’s canal system was an embodiment of a Progressive Era emphasis on public works. The New York State Barge Canal was built explicitly to counter the growing monopoly of railroad corporations over the American economy. The spine of the canal is a direct descendant of the Erie Canal, which opened the interior of North America to settlement and commercial agriculture, transforming the Atlantic economy.”
19th Annual Cycle the Erie 400-Mile Ride Returns July 9-16
Each year, Parks & Trails New York, a nonprofit organization dedicated to advocating and raising funds for the maintenance of New York’s trails and greenways, organizes an eight-day, 400-mile trip from one end of the Erie Canal in Buffalo, to the end, in Albany. The 19th annual Cycle the Erie Canal , is scheduled July 9-16, 2017, just in time to celebrate the beginning of the bicentennial celebration of the Canal.
Join more than 650 cyclists from across the country and the world cycling and visiting iconic port towns such as Lockport and Brockport, and places rich in history such as Seneca Falls and Rome, and visit charming small towns, museums, and historic sites which collectively tell the story of America. Marvel at the natural beauty of the rolling farmland of America’s original frontier and experience 19th century engineering innovation.
The trip is supported, which means your luggage and camping gear is transported from each campsite (typically schools and recreation centers) to the next, so all you have to do is cycle from one attraction to the next. A team of SAG vehicles provides peace of mind knowing that you’ll be taken care of if you need mechanical support.
There are some updates for 2017:
Return shuttle: for the third consecutive year, we’ll be offering riders from Buffalo and points west our shuttle from Albany back to Buffalo at the end of the ride.
Erie Canal Trailblazers: Interested in cycling the whole tour for $100? Become a Cycle the Erie Canal Trailblazer and fundraise to help PTNY Close the Gaps in the Erie Canalway Trail. Registration is only $100 and includes a free Cycle the Erie Canal jersey, guidebook, and special recognition on the tour. Trailblazer registration also opens on January 3.
Cycle the Erie Canal Jersey: A must-have souvenir from the ride. Other merchandise options for this year’s ride include a commemorative Cycle the Erie Canal pint glass, an ECT sticker, our best-selling guidebook, and new for 2017, a Cycle the Erie Canal cap. Visit the PTNY shop for more information about these items.
Four-day and Weekend Options: If you don’t have the time for the entire eight-day tour, consider a shorter getaway on the Erie Canalway Trail. PTNY’s four-day and weekend options allowing you to fit the tour to your schedule. They are also great for families with kids and inexperienced riders.
Ride & Seek has unveiled a cycling tour of historical proportions: tracing the footsteps of Julius Caesar on a 33-day, 2,929 km journey from London to Rome.
(Sydney, Australia) — Ride & Seek has unveiled a cycling tour of historical proportions: tracing the footsteps of Julius Caesar on a 33-day, 2,929 km journey from London to Rome. Split into two stages, the “Caesar Expedition” traverses England, Belgium, France, Switzerland and Italy on a historical, gastronomic and cultural excursion. Crossing waterways, vine-clad hills and mountain passes, this is the only tour of its kind being offered today. The two-stage Caesar Expedition is slated for June 3, 2017 to July 5, 2017 and starts at $14,276 USD for the full tour or $7,405 USD for a 17-day stage.
“Caesar is considered by many historians to be the foremost figure in Western civilization,” said Ride & Seek Co-Founder Dylan Reynolds. “Our journey with him begins at the farthest northern point he reached as the first Roman invader of Britain, and ends in Rome, the city he eventually ruled as dictator and was assassinated in 10 years later.”
Starting in London, riders head to the white cliffs of Dover before traversing the channel into France by boat. The cycling route through France includes the Champagne region and into the gastronomic heartland of Burgundy. From there, guests ride alongside Lake Geneva in Switzerland and over to Italy.
“The culinary delights on this epic tour include delicious truite ardennaise, boeuf bourguignon and coq au vin to name just a few,” said Ride & Seek Co-Founder Sam Wood. “It’s fascinating that these regions now famous for fine wine and food were once the bloody battlefields of Caesar’s epic Gallic Wars.”
The route through Italy heads towards the picturesque northern lakes of Como and Maggiore before moving up towards the stunning limestone peaks of the Dolomites. From that point on, riders experience a bit of respite descending down to Venice and along the Adriatic coast. After crossing the mythical Rubicon, once marking the boundary between Roman controlled Italy and Cisalpine Gaul, the route heads inland through the more rugged regions of Abruzzo and Molise, before heading due east to Rome.
“We’ll enjoy some relief from the hills as we follow the Adriatic Coast before heading inland to the Via Amelia and crossing the Rubicon as Caesar did uttering those fateful words, ‘The die is cast’, as he descended on Rome ,” said Wood.
Pure Adventures has introduces self-guided bike vacations in Quebec, Canada
SCOTTSDALE, AZ–Pure Adventures announces that its self-guided bike vacations are now being offered in the Province of Quebec. Plus with a favorable exchange rate, a vacation in Canada is more affordable than ever for Americans.
While in the early 1600s the French created the fur trade on Canada’s east coast, subsequent decades of war brought the Brits to power. But Francophiles today appreciate that the Province of Quebec retains a French imprimatur as regards language, food and hospitality. Plus the province offers one of the best organized networks of bicycle pathways and trails anywhere in North America.
Pure Adventures (http://pure-adventures.com/) has a special affinity for all things French and for bicycles. In fact the company pioneered self-guided bicycle tours in France before expanding across the globe. Now an itinerary on this side of the Pond recognizes this province’s privileged French heritage as it allows guests to embrace the hospitality of Quebec at a personal pace, on two wheels.
“The good news for Americans is that the exchange rate for US dollars over Canadian dollars makes it more inexpensive than ever to visit our neighbors across the border,” said Loren Siekman, founder and director of Pure Adventures. “This spring and summer the predicted exchange rate should hover at around $1 US dollar to $1.3 Canadian.”
Explored over seven leisurely days and six nights is a swath of countryside called Saguenay Lac Saint-Jean. This region is accessed by riding east out of Montreal to Quebec City along the St. Lawrence River and then north to Lac St-Jean, Quebec’s third largest lake that creates the Saquenay Fjord, one of the world’s longest, that eventually flows into what becomes the Gulf of St Lawrence.
The rides average 50km daily through this historic playground that includes world-class bike trails that are among Quebec’s most popular cycling routes: Route Verte (Green Route) is a network of dedicated bicycle trails on both sides of the Saint Lawrence River leading to Quebec, and the Véloroute des Bleuets (Blueberry) is another dedicated cycling route around Lac Saint-Jean. Guests also cycle along Chemin du Roy (King’s Highway) enroute to Old Quebec City. (Pure Adventures suggests that guests arrive in Montreal a day before the tour begins so they can walk the cobblestones of Old Montreal.)
The well organized and marked network of 350 km of bike trails allows cyclists to admire the beauty of countless beaches, lakes, rivers and traditional Quebecois villages as they ride. Stops along the way are a must for tastings at microbreweries (Microbrasserie du Lac, La Chouape, Le Coureur des Bois), for samples at cheese-makers (fromagerie Perron and fromagerie Médard) and for smatterings of culture at historic sites. This self-guided tour is a road cycling trip that can also be accomplished by hybrid bike; the entire ride is on paved roads.
Guests enjoy a variety of accommodations ranging from white-washed cottages reminiscent of Brittany or Normandy to dwellings that might once have housed aristocrats. Sometimes guest rooms enjoy views of the lake and at one lodging breakfast is taken in an art gallery. All accommodations have been curated to provide comfort and off-bike access to shops and restaurants along the bicycle route.
This tour can be arranged for a minimum of two people from now through Oct. 15, 2016. The per person rate, double, is from US$1040 for seven days and six nights of immersion in French culture a la historic villages where the French language is pervasive. For more information please see http://pure-adventures.com/show-tour/181/Canada+Quebec+Bike+Tour
The trip rate includes personal orientations to review the route book and trip details; six nights lodging with breakfasts; luggage transfers; detailed road book with maps, cue sheets and suggestions for visitation and site information as well as restaurant suggestions; pre-travel documentation and information; pre and post travel assistance and travel planning; vehicle transfers to Saguenay and return to Quebec; emergency telephone support to local support staff during daytime office hours; Canadian taxes; bike rental with associated gear (hybrid bikes are included and there’s an option to change to cross/road bikes at no added cost). Custom tours for groups can also be arranged.
For more information on all of Pure Adventures guided, self-guided and supported, self-directed tours, call: 800-960-2221 or 480-905-1235, Email: [email protected], or visit online: http://pure-adventures.com.
Pure Adventures was created to meet North America’s growing demand for high-quality, self-guided cycling tours. Pure Adventures leverages and utilizes local expertise for route development, sites to see, people to meet, where to eat, and shop and experience life as a local would. Pure Adventures award-winning tours are competitively priced and meticulously planned with substantial behind-the-scene support creating a unique combination that makes a bicycle adventure more easily accessible to today’s active traveler.
This company pioneered self-guided tours in Europe in 1994. Tours span Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Czech Republic, England, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Portugal, Scotland, Slovenia, Spain, and Switzerland. Twenty programs are available in the American West. Pure Adventures was recently recognized with a Best of Travel 2015 award by OUTSIDE Magazine for their California tours that elevated that state to the top destination in the category of Best Road Biking.
(Arlington, MA) – Ciclismo Classico has unveiled a new week-long cycling and hiking tour of Nova Scotia. Guests will enjoy scenic rides and hikes amid pristine beaches, marshland, quaint villages, and beautiful vineyards.
Highlights include absorbing the region’s history at UNESCO World Heritage Sites; cycling a variety of picturesque paved roads and trails; wildlife viewing opportunities; exceptional local cuisine and fresh seafood; and four-star accommodations. This intermediate cycling tour averages 29 miles per day. Prices start at $2,795 and the departure date is set for September 19-25, 2016.
“Quiet coastal roads, delicious local food, colorful fishing villages and fertile farmland combine to make Nova Scotia a hidden gem for cyclists,” said Ciclismo Classico Founder Lauren Hefferon. “There’s no bonding experience like hitting the pavement or a well-maintained trail and digging into scallops, fresh lobster and other fresh seafood at the end of the day.”
