Diverse Directions Southern Vermont Multi-Sport Adventure Tour

Brattleboro is a lively southern Vermont arts and cultural center ideal for window shopping, gallery hopping, people watching, participating in a walking tour, canoeing on the Connecticut River, hiking the trails of the Brattleboro Retreat or visiting the Retreat's Petting Farm, buying Vermont handcrafts, relaxing over a locally brewed beer, catching a movie or some live music, and of course, enjoying any one of a variety of exciting eateries and fine restaurants.

Accommodation options for your stay in Brattleboro include a downtown 1930's art deco style hotel, several lovely bed and breakfasts, and for the budget-minded, a variety of motels. Click here to view Brattleboro accommodation options.

For more information about the town of Brattleboro, click here.

Monday, Day 1: Bike Pick-Up & Fitting - Cycle from Brattleboro to Townshend /Newfane - Distance: 26 miles - Spend 2 nights.

Following breakfast you will pick-up and test ride your bicycle and then begin your first day's journey from Brattleboro to the Townshend / Newfane area.

Following the crystal clear waters of the West River, you'll pass cascading waterfalls and the Dummerston Covered Bridge, the first of five historic covered bridges you may see on this tour, and Vermont's longest covered bridge still in use. As you hug the river's edge you'll bypass Newfane (returning to it later), pass the Winchester Stables, and wind your way through the picturesque village of Townshend. From there you'll cycle through the Townshend State Park via the Scott Covered Bridge!

Along your way today, you'll be tempted to stop (and we encourage you to do so) to sample locally grown produce and, of course, our world famous Vermont cheeses and maple products. But save time for horseback riding at the stables, swimming in the refreshing waters of the West River at the Townshend Lake Recreational Area, shopping for teddy bears at the world famous Mary Meyer's Teddy Bear Store, or hiking to the summit of Bald Mountain in Townshend State Park.

You'll conclude today's journey with a visit to Newfane, the loveliest of Windham County's so-called 18th Century "White Villages."

Accommodation options for your stay in the Townshend / Newfane area include a luxury inn with award winning cuisine, two quaint country bed & breakfasts, two lovely tourist accommodations offered by local residents, and an economy motel. Click here to view Townshend / Newfane accommodation options.

For more information about the village of Newfane, click here. For more information about the village of Townshend, click here.

Tuesday, Day 2: Free Day in Townshend / Newfane - Cycle (optional), Hike, Swim, Sunbathe, Shop for Antiques, Relax, Dine.

Your two-night stay in the Townshend / Newfane area will delight your senses from head to toe. Enjoy the area's pristine waterways with a swim in Townshend Lake, the West River, or the Rock River (where you'll find quiet, off-the-beaten-track swimming holes where the locals enjoy skinny-dipping and nude sunbathing.) Return to Townshend State Park and/or the Townshend Lake Recreational Area for more hiking; trails in both parks offer outstanding views of the entire West River Valley. Spend some time strolling the lovely streets of Newfane and visiting its many antique shops. Or simply relax and enjoy the peaceful outdoor amenities of your inn / bed & breakfast. Enjoy fine dining in Newfane's award winning restaurants!

Wednesday, Day 3: Cycle from Newfane to Wilmington - Distance: 27 miles - Spend 2 nights in Wilmington.

Not long after the start of your journey from Newfane to Wilmington you'll pass through the sleepy village of Williamsville, cycling through its tiny picturesque Williamsville Covered Bridge. From there you will venture far off-the-beaten path into a dense forest down a tiny, dirt road. For many miles, you'll be surrounded by the sights, sounds, and aromas of unspoiled woodlands interrupted only by the babbling streams and brooks running through them.

Departing the shaded canopy of the forest, you will abruptly begin a challenging climb up Hogback Mountain. After conquering the Hogback, you'll be rewarded with its locally famous "100 Mile View" followed by an exhilarating 4-mile descent into the fun and lively village of Wilmington.

In Wilmington you'll find a myriad of boutiques, coffee shops, brew pubs with live music, and lots of wonderful restaurants!

Accommodation options for your stay in Wilmington include several very well-appointed inns, two charming bed & breakfasts, and two unique motels. Click here to view Wilmington accommodation options.

For more information about the village of Wilmington, click here.

Thursday, Day 4: Free Day in Wilmington - Cycle (optional), Hike, Swim, Sunbathe, Kayak, Tour a Winery or Maple House, Shop, Relax, Dine.

For your rest day in Wilmington you'll have a variety of options from which to choose, including a scenic bike ride on a retired rail bed along the western shore of beautiful Lake Whitingham (also known as the Harriman Reservoir) and / or an exploration of the lake's crystal clear waters and pristine shoreline in a rented canoe or kayak.

Should you need a break from the saddle however, you may choose instead to visit Wards Beach for fun in the sun on Lake Whitingham. From sunbathing and swimming to enjoying a picnic and hiking along the scenic shoreline, you're sure to be rejuvenated by this excursion.

Or, you may find that a visit to a local winery for a free tour and wine-tasting and / or a visit to a local Sugar Maple House is in order.

However you choose to spend your free day in Wilmington, be sure to set aside some time to relax -- many accommodations offer pools and spa facilities -- and to explore Wilmington's eclectic mix of shops, boutiques and fun places to eat and drink!

Friday, Day 5: Cycle from Wilmington to Brattleboro - Distance: 27 miles - Return Bicycle - Sightsee, Canoe, Kayak, Dine, Relax - Spend 1 night.

For your journey from Wilmington back to Brattleboro, you'll have two distinctively beautiful routes from which to choose (your route instructions will include additional information for selecting the route that's best for you.)

Our "southern route" is a bucolic delight featuring quiet, winding, dirt roads through rich woodlands and working farms (many of them organic). You'll cycle under the canopy of magnificent maple trees and follow the path of the meandering Green River until you reach the romantic Green River Covered Bridge. Entering Brattleboro via its foothills, you'll pass through the fifth historic covered bridge of your tour, the old-world Creamery Bridge.

On the other hand, our "northern route" features sights that fill the pages of classic Vermont wall calendars! From the quintessential Vermont town of Dover to the colorful wooded hillsides of your long and thrilling descent back into the West River Valley, these final images of the Vermont countryside will stay with you for a lifetime.

In Brattleboro, you'll return your bicycle, shop for keepsakes made by Vermont artisans and enjoy a final evening of fine dining and entertainment before heading home the next day.

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