Your Next Adventure
Your Next Adventure
Florida Keys Multi-Adventure Bike Tour
Trip Overview
Imagine. It’s the middle of next winter (remember winter?!), and you are on a bike tour basking in the bright sunny warmth and exquisite beauty of the Florida Keys, a string of spectacularly beautiful islands connected by a series of causeways and bridges that ultimately take you to exciting Key West, the southernmost (and warmest!) point in the entire continental U.S.
This is a tropical paradise. You can enjoy the easiest of cycling, and immerse yourself in all the included pleasures of kayaking, paddle boarding, swimming, golf, tennis, and such other options as jet skiing, scuba diving, day sailing and deep-sea fishing. Equally important is the ample time you will have throughout your tour to luxuriate in full relaxation – ease yourself into a lounge chair, take a dip in the warm ocean or a swimming pool, and enjoy an evening beverage at a poolside tiki bar. The biking follows the paved Florida Keys Overseas Heritage Trail, meandering from island to island (30 in all) and we are often treated to views of the Gulf of Mexico on one side and the warm blue waters of the southern Atlantic on the other.
You kick off your perfect winter escape by staying two nights at one of the most sought-after resorts in the Keys. Then stay at second beautiful waterfront resort ... and finally a prestigious property Old Town Key West. Your tour includes visits to sites such as the Dolphin Research Center, Robbie’s Marina (where you can kayak among the mangroves), and Windley Key. In Key West, visit Ernest Hemingway’s old haunts and take a tour of his home and museum; tour the renowned Key West Butterfly and Nature Conservatory; ride out to the huge red buoy that marks the southernmost point of the continental U.S.; and be treated to a gorgeous sunset sail in Key West Harbor.
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Itinerary
From start to finish, check out the route.
Today we take full advantage of our stay at our luxury destination resort. Discovery Bicycle Tours will provide you with transportation from Miami International Airport to Cheeca Lodge and Spa and get you there by early afternoon. Now relax and enjoy all of the amenities we include in your stay– go for an outing on Cheeca Lodge’s paddle boards or kayaks, enjoy tennis on their six courts, play a round of golf (clubs included), opt for their many excellent spa services, stroll out along their wooden fishing pier for a view of the bay, rest by the heated swimming pools or saltwater lagoon, or just lounge in the sun on the warm sands of their palm-tree-lined private beach. Later in the afternoon we will have a get-acquainted meeting followed by a superb dinner in one of their three restaurants.
This is your vacation, so sleep in if you wish, or get up early to watch a sensational Florida Keys sunrise. After a leisurely breakfast, we will lead you on a ride to Robbie’s, a famous old-style marina and fish shack immortalized in paintings by dozens of artists and photographers. The marina has a number of open air shops and is well known for the large schools of majestic silver king tarpon that cruise to their docks. We enjoy a professionally guided kayak adventure (weather permitting) of the amazing mangrove “tunnels” to get an up-close and personal encounter with the flora and fauna of a mangrove ecosystem. For those wanting additional miles, we offer an optional 8-mile ride to an interesting fossil reef at Windley Key. We arrive back at Cheeca Lodge in plenty of time to take advantage of the many exciting and fun experiences offered at the resort, or best of all, just relax by the ocean or by one of the heated swimming pools, and luxuriate in the warmth of south Florida. Dinner is together at a nearby seafood restaurant.
After another leisurely breakfast, we are back on our bikes riding south along a series of narrow causeways. We cross several of the keys in the middle chain such as Conch Key, Long Key, Fiesta Key and Lower Matecumbe. On either side of you, and for miles ahead, are the emerald waters of the Florida Sound and Atlantic Ocean. Surely this must be one of the prettiest bike rides in the world. Today we include a fascinating visit to the Dolphin Research Center where we can get up close to dolphins and sea lions and learn about some of the amazing research being done. Tonight’s destination is the Hawks Cay Resort on Duck Key. Enjoy a dip in their lovely pool, soak in the hot tub, snorkel in the lagoon, or just gaze into the blue ocean. Then, after dinner on your own (options at the hotel include the tiki bar or a high-end restaurant), you can enjoy an evening refreshment sitting by their poolside bar.
Today we begin cycling from Duck Key. We then cycle from Key to Key admiring the sparkling blue waters along the way. Circle back to Marathon Key for lunch before a shuttle into Key West. At Key West you are literally the end of the road…you are at the southernmost point in the continental U.S. (closer to Cuba than Miami) and to go any further you will need a boat! And yet its geographical location is only part of its world-famous attraction. You will ride along its palm-tree-lined streets, pass gingerbread mansions and tin-roofed conch houses, and later visit the homes and neighborhoods where Ernest Hemingway, Tennessee Williams, Elizabeth Bishop, Robert Frost, Jimmy Buffett and Harry Truman all lived. And while Key West is famous for the night life and shenanigans of Duval Street (all true), you will also be impressed that it is not just a party town but is likewise a tightly knit community of permanent residents who cling fiercely to their live-and-let-live attitude.
Our home for the next two nights, The Silver Palms Inn, is perfectly situated in a quiet location in Old Town and yet just an easy walk to all that makes Key West such a sought-after destination. In the afternoon you can take an optional guided walk to get acquainted with Key West, often meandering along Duval Street and Mallory Square before arriving at the harbor docks in time to take a spectacular sunset sail complete with complimentary hors d’oeuvres and a celebratory glass of champagne. After your sunset sail you are on your own for dinner selecting from numerous excellent restaurants or maybe just opting for some bar food while enjoying the nightlife at one of Key West’s legendary pubs or open air bars such as Sloppy Joe’s, the Green Parrot, or Hog’s Breath Saloon.
For early risers, morning can begin with a pre-breakfast “bike stroll” along the quiet streets of Key West for a chance to see the more renowned sites of town before the crowds descend. Afterwards, meet up with the rest of the group to enjoy cinnamon brioche, eggs Benedict, and other elegant fare at Croissants de France on Duval Street. After breakfast, you have the option for an out-and-back ride back along the Keys to Baby's Coffee, or explore Key West. Perhaps you will choose to board the very entertaining Conch Train which features a professionally narrated 90-minute tour taking you by many of the more famous (and infamous) places in Key West. Then you can stroll around town to visit the Southernmost Point, Harry S. Truman’s Little White House, Ernest Hemingway’s Home and Museum, Key West Butterfly and Nature Conservatory, Sunset Pier, and Mallory Square. Lunch is on your own, so if you are hungry or thirsty, try the Green Parrot Bar, Kelly’s for Key Lime Margaritas, Mojito from Mr. Mojito (aka Jimmy) at Mallory Square, hot sauce tasting at Peppers, and please don’t leave without trying a locally made Key Lime Pie. It’s the best! Later in the afternoon we will gather for a cocktail reception followed by a gala farewell dinner celebration.
You can start today with an optional 7-mile sunrise bike ride which includes an out-and-back ride along the beautiful ocean bike path of Key West’s south shore, followed by a bountiful breakfast at the funky and fun Banana Café. Afterwards, there is a visit to the Butterfly Conservatory to enjoy some magical time amidst the tropical flora and fauna offered there, ending in time for us to get you to Key West Airport by 1 p.m. There are several afternoon flights from here to major hub airports along the East Coast. Or if you left a car at the Pullman in Miami, there's an option for a 3.5-hour shuttle back to that hotel.
Map
Dates & Pricing
Prices are per person based on double occupancy (2 people in one room). Single supplement for private room is listed at the top of this page. A deposit of $750 holds your reservation for most tours. For tours less than 6 days, the deposit is $500.
What’s Included
5 nights' lodging, 4 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 3 dinners, one free transfer time from the Pullman Hotel near Miami International Airport to Cheeca Lodge and from Silver Palms Inn to Key West Airport. Professionally guided kayaking, sunset cruise (weather permitting), park entrance fees, wine and cheese reception, entry fees for Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum, Key West Butterfly and Nature Conservatory, Dolphin Research Center. At Cheeca Lodge: free use of golf course, tennis courts, paddle boards, kayaks, fishing equipment. We also include detailed maps and itineraries, experienced guides, full van support — plus use of a bike and helmet. Airfare is not included.
Dates & Pricing
Prices are per person based on double occupancy (2 people in one room). Single supplement for private room is listed at the top of this page. A deposit of $750 holds your reservation for most tours. For tours less than 6 days, the deposit is $500.
What’s Included
5 nights' lodging, 4 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 3 dinners, one free transfer time from the Pullman Hotel near Miami International Airport to Cheeca Lodge and from Silver Palms Inn to Key West Airport. Professionally guided kayaking, sunset cruise (weather permitting), park entrance fees, wine and cheese reception, entry fees for Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum, Key West Butterfly and Nature Conservatory, Dolphin Research Center. At Cheeca Lodge: free use of golf course, tennis courts, paddle boards, kayaks, fishing equipment. We also include detailed maps and itineraries, experienced guides, full van support — plus use of a bike and helmet. Airfare is not included.
Inns
Where you stay along the way.
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