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Maine’s Shores & Lighthouses Getaway Bike Tour
Trip Overview
Enjoy the beautiful Maine coastline, historical towns, iconic rivers, islands, and lighthouses!
You start just outside the city of Portland, a history-rich seacoast town with a working waterfront and hundreds of one-of-a-kind shops. After cycling near town, you take a ferry across Casco Bay to ride the coast of Peaks Island ... while visiting museums that dive into the rich seafaring traditions of the island. Experience famous, small coastal towns, where you see 18th- and 19th-century homes and get an insider look at the culture of seacoast living.
Head inland to see the bays and pristine rivers where salmon run during the migration period. And as a special treat, you unpack once and spend all three nights at the prestigious Higgins Beach Inn, a block from the waterfront and the unspoiled white sands of lovely Higgins Beach.
Surfaces for this tour: 87% Paved and 13% Gravel.
Itinerary
From start to finish, check out the route.
Meet your leaders at the hotel just outside Portland. After brief introductions, shuttle to the trailhead and get fitted on your bike. Next, enjoy a scenic ride to explore the coast around Portland and beyond. Begin along the Eastern Promenade bike path, where you discover the history of Casco Bay and the Calendar Islands. From there, take a ferry to Peaks Island – once known as the “Coney Island of Maine” and an important WWII outpost. Stop to visit the 5th Maine Museum and Battery Steele to learn how this small island played a vital role in two wars and how it became part of the historic register … and the first property protected by the Peaks Island Land Preserve. Next, cycle around the island for stunning open ocean views. Have your first night's dinner at Shade located at Higgins Beach Inn.
It's time to discover Casco Bay's shores and the lighthouses that make this state unique! Ride through history as you stop at five different lighthouses today. Get the full lighthouse story as you visit each ... capturing photo-worthy moments. You can imagine the exciting lives and essential responsibilities of lighthouse keepers. Dinner is on your own.
Leave the coast today to explore inland. Start in the small town of Richmond on the banks of the Kennebec River. After a quick coffee at Annabella’s Bakery, your ride takes you along the ridges above the river to Merrymeeting Bay, where 5 rivers flow together. After crossing the Androscoggin River, you enter the quintessential Maine community of Brunswick — a college town dating back to the early 1800s. You can have coffee or lunch here and then continue your ride to Freeport. This section has some rollers, and you end your ride near L.L. Bean, where you can enjoy some shopping (even at the outlet store) or get lunch or a beverage at a nearby pub. Afterward, shuttle back to Higgins Beach to have a celebratory dinner together at a local restaurant!
Today, you have two ride options. One option is to ride from the inn on the crushed gravel Eastern Trail — a rail trail through Scarborough Marsh and nearby woods. The other option is to ride a paved route along the coast, with two out-and-back sections on quiet roads. Both rides are of similar distance, and you can shorten your ride on either route by turning around and returning to the inn in time to shower before the 11 a.m. checkout time. Then we say farewell for your travels home.
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 $500 holds your reservation for most tours. For weekend tours, the deposit is $300.
What’s Included
3 nights’ lodging, 3 breakfasts, and 2 dinners (you are on your own for all lunches, and 1 dinner in Portland), certain museum tickets, and ferry tickets. We also include detailed maps and itineraries, experienced guides, full van support — plus the 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 $500 holds your reservation for most tours. For weekend tours, the deposit is $300.
What’s Included
3 nights’ lodging, 3 breakfasts, and 2 dinners (you are on your own for all lunches, and 1 dinner in Portland), certain museum tickets, and ferry tickets. We also include detailed maps and itineraries, experienced guides, full van support — plus the use of a bike and helmet. Airfare is not included.
Inns
Where you stay along the way.
Guests say …
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Gallery
Images from this tour. Click each to see it larger.
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