Florida Gulf Coast Bike Tour
6 Day Inn Tour
Tour Information
Florida boasts some of the nicest paved bicycle paths in the country. We’ll cycle some of the longest ones, including the 75-mile Pinellas Trail through the heart of St. Petersburg and the 23-mile Legacy Trail beginning in Sarasota. We’ll also bike along some of the state’s most beautiful beaches. The weather this time of year should be perfect for bicycling. When we’re not on our bikes, we’ll have plenty of time to enjoy the sun, sand, and surf of the beautiful Florida Gulf Coast.
The first 6 women to sign up receive 5% discounts.
Flat terrain on 85% bike paths and 15% quiet roads. Leisurely cycling level.
5 nights lodging, 5 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 4 dinners, snacks, park entrance fees, guided kayaking trip, voice navigation GPS cues, van support, and trained guides.
$195 for Cannondale Quick 3 hybrid, or Cannondale Topstone 2 adventure road bike. $350 for Gazelle T10 Ultimate low-step e-bike or Specialized Vado step-thru e-bike.
Ouick
Topstone
Gazelle
Vado
Accommodations are subject to minor changes.
About half of our guests bring their own bicycles. Cross-country cyclists must ride their own bikes. Upon signing up for a tour, you will receive information for packing, shipping and flying with your bike.
Sure! If we have space available, we’d love to have you. If the tour is within 30 days, you must pay in full when you sign up.
No, you only need to pay the single upgrade if you want your own room. Otherwise, we will match you with others who have come alone as a roommate. Each day that we change hotels, you will rotate roommates. Women usually enjoy this arrangement, as they get to know each other on the tour. You will always have your own bed.
We will be happy to discuss what bike tour would best suit your skill level. However, because our groups are small, we are able to offer van support to shorten the miles or flatten the hills on any bike tour.
Electric-assist bikes - or e-bikes - have quiet, battery-powered motors that add power to your pedaling. They increase your speed and assist you in cycling up hills. Most e-bikes have a range of assistance, so you can choose how much of a boost you'd like. E-bikes make it easier to do all the miles in all types of terrain. We allow electric-assist bicycles on our tours if you'd like to bring your own. We also have e-bikes available for rent on most of our trips -- look for the e-bike symbol. We do not make e-bike recommendations if you're considering purchasing your own. We suggest you rent one on a tour first so you can try it!
"This was a great tour. Everything was as described and the tour guides were wonderful. All three of the hotels were very nice. It was especially nice to have an ocean view room for the last three days."
Florida Gulf Bike Tour Itinerary
DAY 1: We meet at our starting hotel overlooking Tampa Bay. We’ll start the rental bike fitting at 3:00pm, have our orientation at 5:00pm, and then dinner at 6:00pm. If you’ve arrived early, take a walk along the water or treat yourself to a refreshing drink poolside. 0 miles.
DAY 2: After a hearty breakfast, we cycle on one of Florida’s newest bike paths. The traffic-free Courtney Campbell Causeway Trail crosses Upper Tampa Bay. Then we’ll continue to Philippe Park and to the Pinellas Trail, one of the longest bicycle paths in Florida. It’s beautifully signed and paved and cuts right through downtown St. Petersburg.
After finishing up lunch in Seminole Park, we’ll shuttle to our hotel on the gulf at St. Pete Beach. Be sure to watch the sunset over the surf before our dinner together. 34 miles, +521’/-467’
DAY 3: Today, we get to cycle what has been called the nicest bike ride in all of Florida. Fort DeSoto Park boasts a network of paved bike trails through a series of five interconnected keys. The park’s mangroves, wetlands and hardwood forests provide refuge for hundreds of different species of birds.
If you’re a history buff, visit the historic fort and museum. After a beachside picnic, we will head back to St. Pete Beach for another evening on the water. Dinner is on your own tonight. 30 miles, ±57’.
DAY 4: After breakfast we’ll shuttle over the Sunshine Skyway Bridge to Sarasota, Fl, and unload the bikes at the start of the Legacy Trail. We’ll bike through Oscar Scherer State Park where you should keep your eyes open for the vibrant Florida scrub-jay, the only bird species endemic to the state. You could also see a bald eagle’s nest!
We’ll make our way to Venice, known for its cute shops and restaurants, where you can stop for lunch on your own. Then it’s off to our hotel, where we’ll stay for the next two nights. After dark, we’ll explore the Florida waters in a unique guided glass-bottom kayak tour together. 21 or 30 miles, ±147’.
DAY 5: Today starts with a shuttle to the start of the Cape Haze Pioneer Trail. This beautiful inland trail passes by mangroves and tidal creeks and connects to the Boca Grande Bike Path. You could spot a gopher, tortoise or armadillo along the way. Sounds and smells of the ocean will fill the air as you make your way to the gulf and Gasparilla Island State Park. There you can lock your bike and take a stroll on the beach and search for shells. Lunch is at a local restaurant on your own. 39 miles, ±103’.
DAY 6: It’s back on the bike today for one final ride together! We’ll cycle along beautiful Casey Key. The winding road along the narrow key is lined with interesting homes and glimpses of the gulf. We end at our hotel with a farewell lunch, followed by a shuttle back to the Tampa Airport, arriving by 2:00pm and our starting hotel by 2:30pm. 16 miles, ±135’.
Tour Information
The first 6 women to sign up receive 5% discounts.
Flat terrain on 85% bike paths and 15% quiet roads. Leisurely cycling level.
5 nights lodging, 5 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 4 dinners, snacks, park entrance fees, guided kayaking trip, voice navigation GPS cues, van support, and trained guides.
$195 for Cannondale Quick 3 hybrid, or Cannondale Topstone 2 adventure road bike. $350 for Gazelle T10 Ultimate low-step e-bike or Specialized Vado step-thru e-bike.
Ouick
Topstone
Gazelle
Vado
Accommodations are subject to minor changes.
About half of our guests bring their own bicycles. Cross-country cyclists must ride their own bikes. Upon signing up for a tour, you will receive information for packing, shipping and flying with your bike.
Sure! If we have space available, we’d love to have you. If the tour is within 30 days, you must pay in full when you sign up.
No, you only need to pay the single upgrade if you want your own room. Otherwise, we will match you with others who have come alone as a roommate. Each day that we change hotels, you will rotate roommates. Women usually enjoy this arrangement, as they get to know each other on the tour. You will always have your own bed.
We will be happy to discuss what bike tour would best suit your skill level. However, because our groups are small, we are able to offer van support to shorten the miles or flatten the hills on any bike tour.
Electric-assist bikes - or e-bikes - have quiet, battery-powered motors that add power to your pedaling. They increase your speed and assist you in cycling up hills. Most e-bikes have a range of assistance, so you can choose how much of a boost you'd like. E-bikes make it easier to do all the miles in all types of terrain. We allow electric-assist bicycles on our tours if you'd like to bring your own. We also have e-bikes available for rent on most of our trips -- look for the e-bike symbol. We do not make e-bike recommendations if you're considering purchasing your own. We suggest you rent one on a tour first so you can try it!
"This was a great tour. Everything was as described and the tour guides were wonderful. All three of the hotels were very nice. It was especially nice to have an ocean view room for the last three days."