New England in a Nutshell Raffle Winner to Be Announced Friday

New England TravelThank you to everyone who purchased a copy of my latest book, New England in a Nutshell! Three months after publication date, I’ve finally been paid by Amazon. So let’s have some fun! As I mentioned before, anyone who purchased a copy of the book is eligible for a raffle giveaway for one of the outfitters, inns, or restaurants I’ve included in the manuscript. First up is a chance for you and a guest to bike with Summer Feet Cycling on a day ride on the outskirts of Portland. You’ll be biking to 5 lighthouses, including the exquisite Portland Head Light, where you’ll stop at a food truck for yummy lobster rolls. You’ll be going on the same ride I did with my family and friends when I turned 50. If I don’t already have your name, please let me know. I’ll announce the raffle winner this Friday. Good luck!

Backroads Launches New Dolce Tempo Journeys

Backroads 2021Backroads just announced the launch of its new Dolce Tempo segment, offering 29 easygoing itineraries, easier than Backroads other trips, but still wonderfully active and perfect for first-timers. These active adventures were created to provide options for guests who may be new to active travel and looking for an alternative to large resort hotels, all-inclusive resorts and even cruises. Dolce Tempo journeys are for travelers who want to escape the crowds and have an authentic one-of-a-kind vacation, immersed in a place and culture, and fully supported by experienced leaders.

Additionally, Backroads is also further expanding its popular Active Weekend Getaways for guests looking for a shorter getaway. They include trips in Saguaro National Park & Tucson, Arizona; California’s Sonoma Wine Country; Bend, Oregon; Charleston, South Carolina; Northern Vermont; Whistler, British Columbia; and Texas Hill Country.

Backroads also just announced its new 2021 trips, including new adventures in Europe, North America and the Southern Hemisphere. The company has also greatly expanded its 20s & Beyond segment – trips for families with young adults in their 20s and early 30s – with more tours to accommodate guest demand. This fast-growing segment is expected to take more than 1,000 guests on departures next year.

A Sampling of Backroads New 2021 Itineraries Include:
• Berlin to Prague Bike Tour
• Chile Patagonia & Fjords Cruise Walking & Hiking Tour
• Italy’s Gran Paradiso to Matterhorn Walking & Hiking Tour
• Israel & Jordan Walking & Hiking Tour
• Netherlands & Belgium Walking & Hiking Tour
• New Zealand South Island Multi-Adventure Tour
• Northern Portugal & Douro Valley Bike Tour
• Scotland Bike Tour
• Sicily Multi-Adventure Tour
• Quebec Walking & Hiking Tour
• Umbria to the Adriatic Bike Tour
• Vancouver & Gulf Islands Bike Tour

Dolce Tempo, Active Weekend Getaways, and all new 2021 trips are available for booking now. Please let ActiveTravels know your dates and we’ll check pricing and availability.

Bike Southern New Hampshire with Ciclismo Classico

Bike New HampshireIt’s not too late to plan a long weekend getaway to Southern New Hampshire with biking outfitter, Ciclismo Classico. Hop on your car on a Thursday morning and in a few hours you’ll arrive in Keene. Their team has taken many precautions to keep you safe while on tour, and carefully planned many iconic and beautiful cycling loops from Keene that include historic architecture, art galleries, covered bridges, abundant lakes, cool forests, zigzagging rivers, farmland and fall foliage galore and daily views of the region’s crowned granite jewel, Mt Monadnock, the second most climbed mountain in the world. Read all about the top cycling loops on their blog, “The Best Bike Rides in Southern New Hampshire.” Tour Dates are October 1-5 and October 8-12 (Women’s Only). If you can’t make those dates, private tours are available through November.

Ciclismo Classico is also still offering their one-day private Story Rides across Massachusetts, with your choice of a guided ride in Boston, Newburyport, or Lexington. Please let ActiveTravels know your date and number of people and we’ll help arrange.

Ciclismo Classico Offers Boston-Based Day Rides This Summer

Biking the Finger LakesAs owner of this Arlington-based biking outfitter, Lauren Hefferon has been featured in a number of my stories, including this article for The Boston Globe on how to get fit before a bike trip. Ciclismo Classico’s specialty is biking in Italy, including fantastic trips to Sardinia, Sicily, and Tuscany. But due to the nature of current events, Lauren is focusing on North American options this summer, with scheduled group trips to the Finger Lakes, North Carolina, and Colonial Williamsburg, among others.

New this summer is her 29-mile day trip from Arlington called the Battle Road Bike Tour that she’ll be offering on select dates throughout June, July, and August. You’ll pedal along the path of battle taken on April 19, 1775 in Lexington, Bedford and Concord. In addition to this Battle Road Ride, Lauren will also be developing several local 3-4 hour bicycle tours for small groups (10-15) with expert local bicycle guides that will immerse people of all ages and abilities in the rich cultural offerings of our own backyard. Each will follow a robust historic and culinary theme and a behind the scenes view of the cultural significance of places like:

The Ports and Harbors of the North Shore
The Mill Towns and Hamlets of Middlesex County
The Grand Tour of Boston By Bike

Additionally, she will be offering cycling instruction and ensure that every cyclist is COVID safe as well as improving their cycling skills to be safe and confident cyclists.

If interested in any of Ciclismo Classico’s trips, please contact ActiveTravels and we’ll help arrange.

Bike Regionally with DuVine Cycling this Summer

Thankfully, coronavirus cases and deaths have plateaued and are hopefully now on the downslope in Massachusetts. Obviously, our health and safety are still the No. 1 priority, but slowly, we’re starting to see an interest in possible travels this summer and fall. Lisa and I, and are our son, Jake, have been holed up in our house like the rest of you for a good two months now. So we understand your need to dream about a new locale that’s anywhere but the backyard. But having gotten a number of you home safely from abroad in late February in early March, we want to be damn sure that the places we send you in 2020 have a good degree of social distancing, are regional, and, if not regional, can be found after one relatively quick flight. This is not a good time to be connecting in an airport. We also have to be concerned with individual state regulations. For example, Maine wants to quarantine all out-of-state visitors for 14 days upon arrival. This is currently on the books through August, which would restrict all hotel stays.

This week, we decided to reach out to some of our favorite outfitters and see what’s happening this summer and fall. First up, DuVine Cycling. If you had the chance to join Andy Levine, owner of the Cambridge-based DuVine Cycling, on the ride he created for ActiveTravels members in the fall of 2017 from Wellesley to Concord, you know they’re a top-notch biking outfitter. Lisa and I had the good fortune to bike with DuVine in Puglia the fall of 2019 on one of our most memorable trips. There’s been a demand this summer for private regional bike trips this summer and fall. Here’s what they’ve created. Pricing is based on a minimum of 6 guests, so 3 couples, or 1-2 families.

Hudson Valley Highlights:
• Enjoy all three nights at Troutbeck, a stylish and historic country retreat in the heart of farm country on the New York-Connecticut border
• Bike over covered bridges, through sleepy towns, and into fertile farmland in a pastoral paradise that’s surprisingly close to New York City
• At private visits and meals, sample farm-fresh produce with local producers and meet the chefs spearheading the region’s farm-to-table renaissance
• Taste artisanal whiskey and bourbon made from grains grown on the grounds of a boutique distillery
• Ride to lunch at Connecticut’s award-winning Arethusa al Tavolo restaurant

Vermont Bike Tour, 6 Days, Highlights:
• Cross the Green Mountain State on Vermont’s extensive network of unpaved roads, a traffic-free paradise of packed-dirt gravel
• Spend a day cycling to local farms in the Mad River Valley, culminating in a totally locally sourced picnic in a mountain pasture
• Enjoy insider access to local chefs and innovative farmers during private meals and visits
• Cool off after a challenging day of cycling with a dip in the local lake or swimming hole
• Stay at three of Vermont’s most luxurious and historic hotel properties

Vermont Bike Tour, 4 Days Highlights:
• Cycle beside the Ottauquechee River and past historic Taftsville Covered Bridge to a cheese tasting at Thistle Hill Farm
• Visit Vermont’s most well-known microbrewery, Long Trail, for a tour and tasting
• Go leaf-peeping from the seat of a bicycle, feeling the warmth of the fall sun
• Watch a glassblowing demonstration and dine at the riverfront flagship location of glassmaker Simon Pearce

ActiveTravels is here to help you get away during these difficult times. If you’re itching to leave the house, please let us know and we’ll toss around some travel ideas.