Florida: Orlando-to-Ocean Pathways Bike Tour

DAY 1:  We meet at our starting hotel near the Orlando airport. We’ll start the rental bike fitting at 3:00pm, have our orientation at 5:00pm and then dinner at 6:30pm. If you’ve arrived early, consider visiting Universal Studio’s CityWalk, where live performances, celebrity appearances and cooking demonstrations punctuate a day of shopping, dining and theater. 0 miles.

DAY 2: After breakfast at our hotel, we shuttle to Winter Garden. This thriving small city on the western outskirts of Orlando welcomes cyclists in a big way by having the West Orange Trail run through its primary downtown corridor.

We ride our bikes west on this well-manicured paved trail under a canopy of majestic oaks and other native trees draped in beautiful Spanish moss, turning around where the trail ends. You might be surprised to feel some gentle undulations on this day, as our route crosses the Lake Wales Ridge, an ancient chain of islands that stayed above sea level while the rest of the Florida peninsula rested on the ocean floor.

There are opportunities to explore off the bike as well. A short hike in Oakland Nature Preserve takes you through wetlands and the shore of Lake Apopka, with the possibility of meeting a gopher tortoise or screech owl along the way.

After a picnic lunch at Clermont Waterfront Park, cycle or shuttle back to Winter Garden, where you’ll have time to explore the shops and galleries before dinner. 27 or 36 miles, ±1023’ for longer route.

DAY 3: After breakfast at our historic hotel, we shuttle to our starting point on the Seminole Wekiva Trail and begin a bike ride that will take us around Lake Monroe, part of the St. Johns River system. As we approach the west end of the lake, we'll be rewarded with magical spring-fed streams, lush green fields and the jungle-like woodlands of Gemini Springs Park. 

On the east end, we'll ride through the Lake Monroe Conservation Area, regaled for its floodplain marshes where swamp sunflowers grow and old-growth palm hammocks mingle with ancient live oaks. Then we'll swing through the waterfront town of Sanford, hugging the lake for several miles on a pleasant bike path before anchoring in Sanford for the next two nights. 39 miles, ±560".

DAY 4: We'll start the day with a leisurely morning bike ride, heading north to Blue Spring State Park, famous for the manatees that live here for the winter. We'll savor a picnic lunch at the park, then meet up with trained kayaking guides for a few hours on the St. Johns River, paddling among these gentle giants. We'll head back to Sanford for dinner at a popular German eatery. 14 miles, ^±292’.

Day 5: Today’s ride is truly about rural Florida, and we'll start it after a brief shuttle past Sanford. Agriculture is the region’s economic driver, and you’ll see both cattle pastures and tree farms along the route as you pass through the communities of Osteen, Farmton, Maytown and Mims.

Enjoy the peace and quiet along these miles, as well as the diversity in vegetation and animal life. We’ve seen bobcats along this stretch of trail, along with osprey, eagles and turkeys. The diversity of trees is also astounding, from cypress to swamp tupelos.

We follow a spur trail north to New Smyrna Beach, where we will stay in an inn on the Indian River. You’ll have time to explore the downtown district’s art galleries and shops, and you’ll have plenty of restaurants to choose from as dinner is on your own. 40 miles, ±223’.

DAY 6: Our final bike ride explores the coastal splendor of New Smyrna Beach. It loops through residential neighborhoods with long stretches along the ocean. We'll circle Smyrna Dunes Park, soaking in breathtaking views of saltwater marches, sand dunes, the Ponce de Leon Inlet and the Atlantic. In fact, we'll ride for a bit on the beach, bathing our bodies in seaside breezes.

This route also offers an option to ride through Canaveral National Seashore, whose pristine coastline remains rustic and undeveloped. The first Native people who lived here depended on oysters and clams, and left their shells in mounds that fascinate archeologists.

Our final dinner together will be at our bed and breakfast, where we will share a toast to the coast and all our adventures to get there. 28 or 42 miles miles, ^±330’ for longer route.

DAY 7: After breakfast, we will shuttle anyone who needs to get back to the Orlando airport or our starting hotel, arriving by 10:30am. Safe travels home and we hope you'll have enjoyed seeing a different side of Florida this week.