2018
Washington D.C. & Williamsburg: 7 days (April 7-13, 2018) $1599 (Please note: Currently sold out)
- We will bicycle from our hotel that overlooks the Capitol building in the distance taking a neighborhood one-way road with a bike lane to Capitol Street with the Capitol building directly ahead then pass by the U.S. Supreme Court, Capitol Building, National Mall and Washington Monument on our way to George Washington's home in Mount Vernon, following the Potomac River on the Mount Vernon Trail bike path.
- We visit historic Williamsburg, taking a step back in time in when life was a little slower and the city was the center of activity, commerce and entertainment.
- View the living history of Williamsburg with its 18th-centruy buildings and costumed townspeople, covering one square mile.
- After starting in the one of a kind city, Williamsburg, we then transition to the bustling city and home of the Capitol of the United States, Washington D.C.
- If you have not been in D.C. in the past 10, 20 or 20+ years, the city has dramatically changed with almost all the areas in and around downtown being regentrified and is now a thriving and safe city
- The next day we will see many major attractions in Washington D.C. We will stop briefly at each place to take pictures or take-in each site, including the United States Capitol, Supreme Court, the National Mall, the Whitehouse, The Washington Monument, the Reflecting Pool, the Lincoln Memorial, the Jefferson Memorial, the Pentagon and Cherry Blossom Trees (hopefully in bloom).
- We will also ride on the Anacostia River Trail getting to see another view of Washington D.C. from our bicycles.
- After enjoying Washington D.C. for three days, we will ride the Virginia Capital Trail, riding through forests and nature as we transition back to old Williamsburg, stopping at the Jamestown Settlement.
- On our final day of riding we will ride past Historic Jamestowne, take a ferry across the James River, ride through one of the oldest continuously farmed plantations and then we continue on to see the oldest brick dwelling in the United States.
- The Washington D.C. & Williamsburg tour will quickly allow us to visualize our country’s amazing history and take in the beautiful monuments of the United States from our bicycles.
Day 1, Saturday
Take a step back in time while experiencing Historic Williamsburg during the day. Spend time looking and experiencing the old and reproduction buildings and structures that help us feel like we were settlers and colonists from the beginning of the United States. Check into the hotel throughout the day, then meet around 5:00 pm for the welcome meeting and then dinner at the top ranked Italian and generationally owned Giuseppe's restaurant.
Dinner:
Giuseppe's
Williamsburg, Virginia
Ranked #1 Italian Restaurant out of 27 in Williamsburg by TripAdvisor
Soup or Salad:
- Giuseppe's Lentil Soup - with andouille sausage (featured in Bon Appetite magazine)
- Spinach Salad - fresh baby spinach in a sun-dried tomato dressing topped with feta, bacon, red onion, and croutons
Entrée choices:
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Josephine - breaded chicken or veal baked with goat cheese and topped with picatta sauce, fresh arugula, sea salt and extra virgin olive oil
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Scallops Spinachi - pan seared sea scallops sauteed with spinach, roasted red peppers, andouille sausage, and potato gnocchi
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Salmon - fresh Atlantic salmon sautéed with artichoke hearts, tomatoes, capers, and olives in a white wine dill sauce topped with asparagus
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Lobster Risotto - butter poached lobster, asparagus, arugula, and toasted breadcrumbs
Lodging:
Hampton Inn - Central
Williamsburg, Virginia
- Certificate of Excellence from TripAdvisor
- Internet
- Gym/fitness Center
- Pool
- Coin Laundry
- Complimentary Coffee and Tea area
Day 2, Sunday
We rise early and van to Washington D.C., coming in on Sunday to avoid the traffic that consumes the interstates during the workweek. We arrive at our starting hotel that overlooks the United States Capitol in the distance and then mount our bikes and take neighborhood one-way, one-way street with a bike lane to Capitol Street with the Capitol building directly ahead then pass by the U.S. Supreme Court, Capitol Building, National Mall and Washington Monument. Optional, use a series of bike paths and bicycle lanes on our way to George Washington's home in Mount Vernon, following the Potomac River on the Mount Vernon Trail paved bike path. (Optional tour Mount Vernon $18 admission). We will then bike back to the hotel and everyone can enjoy a free night to enjoy the many dinner choices at the famous Union Market, which is only 2 blocks from the hotel and is a food lovers paradise with 42+ food options including sit-down, short-order, bakeries, pop-ups, new concepts and temporary restaurants all within an air-conditioned warehouse setting.
Breakfast provided by hotel each morning:
- Yogurt
- Fresh fruit
- Cereals
- Oatmeal
- Bacon, sausage link or patties
- Premade egg & cheese omelets
- Bread varieties with assorted spreads
- Bakery products
- Freshly baked waffles
- Juices
- 24/7 Coffee and Tea station
- Power outlets available at the table to help electronics keep charged during breakfast
Lodging:
Homewood Suites - NoMa & Hampton by Hilton NoMa
(the first jointly built Homewood Suites & Hampton Inn in the U.S.)
Washington, D.C
- Spacious suites
- Free Wi-Fi throughout the hotel
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Free shuttle service to Union Station
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Free business center
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24-hour Suite® Shop
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Free grocery shopping services
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Fitness center
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On-site laundry
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Swimming pool
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Outdoor sitting area with a view of the top of the Capitol in the distance
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Complimentary Evening Social (Monday & Tuesday)
Dinner:
On your own.
Most people will eat at the famous Union Market. As of July 2018 the entities include: Almaala Farms, Arepasone, Bazaar Spices, Bidwell, Brainfood Homegrown, Buffalo Bergen, Cordial, Cucina Al Volo, Craft Kombucha, Al Volo, DC Dosa, DC Empanadas, DC Mediterranean Corner, Gorsha Ethiopean, Harvey's Butcher Shop, Honey Comb, Little Baby's Ice Cream, Little Leaf, LyonBakery, Neopol Savory Smokery, Panorama Bakery, Peregrine Espresso, Puddin' Divine Comfort Food, Rappahannock Oyster Co., Redapron Butcher, Righteous Cheese, Saison Wafel Bar, Salt & Sundry, Sloppy Mama's DMV, Soup up, South Block Juice Co., Suburbia Pop-up Bar, Takorean Korean Taco Gill, Taste Lab, Teaism, The BBQ Joint, The District Fish Wife, Toli Moli and Tickling Springs Creamery.
Day 3, Monday
Today we ride early from the hotel. After yesterday getting a brief overview of all the Washington D.C. attractions in the distance, today we ride to the monuments, buildings and attractions up close. We will stop briefly at each place to take pictures or take-in each site, including the United States Capitol, Supreme Court, the National Mall, the Whitehouse, The Washington Monument, the Reflecting Pool, the Lincoln Memorial, the Jefferson Memorial, the Pentagon and Cherry Blossom Trees (hopefully in bloom). Washington D.C. has made the entire tourist area very bicycle friendly, and with miles between the various stops a bicycle makes the ideal mode of transportation to see everything.
,
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Breakfast provided by hotel each morning:
- Yogurt
- Fresh fruit
- Cereals
- Oatmeal
- Bacon, sausage link or patties
- Premade egg & cheese omelets
- Bread varieties with assorted spreads
- Pastries
- Freshly baked waffles
- Juices
- 24/7 Coffee and hot water/tea area
- Power outlets available at the table to help electronics keep charged during breakfast
Bicycling Route: 0 miles, staying at the hotel; 20 miles, riding to see many of the major attractions in Washington D.C. including the United States Capitol, the National Mall, the Whitehouse, The Washington Monument, the Reflecting Pool, the Lincoln Memorial, the Jefferson Memorial, the Pentagon and the Cherry Blossom Trees (hopefully in bloom). We will stop briefly at each place to take pictures or take-in each site. [The route is basically flat using multi-use trails for the vast majority of the ride.]
Lodging:
Homewood Suites - NoMa & Hampton by Hilton NoMa
(the first jointly built Homewood Suites & Hampton Inn in the U.S.)
Washington, D.C
Dinner:
Roofers Union
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Salad:
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Mixed Greens - Shaved vegetables, honey dijon vinaigrette
Entrée choices:
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Potato Gnocchi - Brasied lamb shoulder, peppers, onion, tomato, pecorino, mint oil
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Smoked Peruvian Half Chicken - Roasted pee-wee potatoes, farm beans, caramelized onions, salsa verde
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Grilled Flatbread - Acorn squash puree, roasted maitake mushrooms, kale, pear, goat cheese
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Steak Frites - 8 oz NY strip, hand cut rosemary-pecorino fries, house steak sauce
Day 4, Tuesday
Today we ride on the Anacostia Riverwalk trail to see yet another part of D.C. and the trail that was built with the idea of interconnecting residents, visitors and communities as the trail travels along the Anacostia River and seamlessly connects the Fish Market, RFK Stadium, the National Arboretum and 16 communities. We will ride overlooking the water for the majority of the ride as we avoid traffic and experience a little bit of laid-back paradise hidden within the city. In the evening have dinner on your own or with friends at your favorite restaurant that you have been researching, utilizing the free hotel shuttle that runs to the Union Station with a short walk to the heart of the city's restaurants or a quick Metro (subway) ride to anywhere in the city.
Breakfast provided by hotel each morning
Bicycling Route: 0 miles, staying at the hotel; 37 miles riding from the hotel and back along the Anacostia River Trial for another view of the city [The route is basically flat and utilizes multi-use paths for almost the entire river part of the route and utilizing dedicated bike routes to get to and from the path.]
Lodging:
Homewood Suites - NoMa & Hampton by Hilton NoMa
(the first jointly built Homewood Suites & Hampton Inn in the U.S.)
Washington, D.C
Dinner:
On your own.
Day 5, Wednesday
This morning we leave the city after a leisurely breakfast and van to the Four Mile Creek Trailhead of the Virginia Capital Trail, riding through forests and nature as we transition back from the "big city" to beautiful and historic Williamsburg, stopping at the Jamestown Settlement. We will ride next to historic landmarks, wooden bridges, along and over rivers and experience beautiful landscapes before the trail ends at the Jamestown Settlement, America's first permanent English colony. Stop and take a look at the new style museum that tells history through film, gallery exhibits and outdoor living history, including recreations of the three ships that sailed from England to Virginia in 1607. Then either take the SAG van back to the Hampton Inn - Central or continue biking taking the Colonial parkway to downtown Williamsburg and then riding to the hotel.
Breakfast provided by hotel each morning
Bicycling Route: Van from Washington D.C to the Virginia Capital Trail - Four Mile Creek Trailhead then: 40 miles, riding from the Four Mile Creek Trailhead to the Jamestown Settlement; 51 miles riding from the Four Mile Creek Trailhead to the Jamestown Settlement and continuing on the Colonial Parkway to the Hampton Inn-Central [The route is basically flat and utilizes the Virginia Capital Trail, a paved dedicated bike/multi-use path and the Colonial Parkway, a restricted use roadway]
Lodging:
Hampton Inn - Central
Williamsburg, Virginia
Dinner:
On your own.
On your own.
Day 6, Thursday
After eating breakfast we join the Colonial Parkway, a restricted use roadway, from Williamsburg and ride to Historic Jamestowne. See the actual grounds where Captain John Smith and Pocahontas walked. Visit the place where the successful English colonization of North America began, laying down the groundwork that later led to the rise of the United States as an independent country. Adjacent to Historic Jamestowne we will catch a ferry and cross over the James River, named for King James I of England and which served as the primary mode for commerce for Virginia's first 15 years of existence. After crossing the James River we will ride to Chippokes Plantation State Park which encompasses one of the oldest continuously farmed plantations in the United States. The park offers a glimpse of life in a bygone era, including historic antebellum mansion and outbuildings and formal gardens. In addition, visit the antique equipment at the Chippokes Farm & Forestry Museum. Then we proceed to Bacon's Castle, the oldest brick dwelling in the United States. We then ride our bikes back to Williamsburg for our farewell dinner.
Breakfast provided by hotel each morning
Bicycling Route: 0 miles, staying at the hotel; 22 miles, riding on the Colonial Parkway to Historic Jamestown, taking the ferry across the James River, riding through Chippokes Plantation State Park and arriving at Bacon's Castle, then taking the van back to the hotel; or 41 miles, riding on the Colonial Parkway to Historic Jamestown, taking the ferry across the James River, riding through Chippokes Plantation State Park and then riding back to the starting hotel.
[The ride is basically flat, with the half the ride utilizing the Colonial Parkway, a restricted use roadway and the other half on limited use country roads.]
Lodging:
Hampton Inn - Central
Williamsburg, Virginia
Dinner:
Food for Thought
Williamsburg, Virginia
Soup or Salad:
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Roasted Veggie Bisque
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Side Salad
Entrée choices:
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Cilantro Lime Chicken - Two boneless breasts marinated overnight, charbroiled to perfection and drizzled with cilantro lime glaze
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Fork Tender Pot Roast - Our pot roast is slow cooked for hours and hours until it falls apart with a fork. Smothered in our homemade gravy
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Stick to Your Ribs - A generous slab of 'fall off the bone' pork baby back ribs. Grilled with a slightly sweet and smoky finger lickin' BBQ sauce
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Panko Baked Wild Caught Flounder - A crunchy outer texture surrounds a delicate flounder filet, and is served drizzled with lemon butter sauce
Day 7, Friday
Enjoy the beautiful history and sights of area on your own before heading home, incuding visiting Williamsburg one last time or driving to see Yorktown, where the final battle of the American Revolutionary War for independence was fought on land and sea and where now stands the Victory Monument, which commemorates the end of the war and the alliance with France that brought the war to an end.
Breakfast provided by hotel each morning
Please note all trip information is based on previous trips and/or contracted lodging and restaurants and is subject to change based on availability or specific trip needs.
Riding difficulty:
Riders who are comfortable riding at least 10 miles per hour should have an enjoyable trip. The majority of the routes are on bike paths. Please see the daily routes descriptions for additional information. Though we see monuments and historical sites each day the routes are designed to have as little climbing as possible. Of course, if a rider is tired or does not feel like riding, the SAG vehicle will transport the rider to the hotel. All routes are on paved bike paths and bicycle recommended roads. All riders may ride at their own pace, slow or fast.
Arriving by automobile:
Hampton Inn - Central, 718 Bypass Rd, Williamsburg, VA 23185, leaving your car at the hotel for the duration of the trip.
Arriving by Plane:
Fly directly into the Newport News/Williamsburg Airport (PHF) and then take the Tidewater Shuttle www.tidewatercoach.com to the starting hotel. Or fly into Richmond International Airport (RIC) or the Norfolk International Airport (ORF) then rent a car or take UBER to the starting hotel.
Deposit:
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$200 to reserve your spot and the remainder due 45 days before the trip start.
What's included:
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Hotel lodging
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Ride packets including maps & cue sheets (directions)
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Fully sagged including ride leaders, luggage transport, van transportation and rider assistance.
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Breakfast each morning
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Dinner with the group three evenings (see above)
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Great sights, fun and enjoyment!
Bicycles:
- Most participants bring their own bicycles.
- To ship your bike, we would suggest using shipbikes.com or bikeflight.com for shipping. Your bike can be sent to the starting hotel: Hampton Inn - Central, 718 Bypass Rd, Williamsburg, VA 23185
- To rent a bike please contact Bikes Unlimited; bikewilliamsburg.com or 757-229-4620 (They are located about 1.5 miles from the Hampton Inn - Central, the starting hotel)
Weather on April 7-13 in the Washington D.C./Williamsburg area is normally perfect for biking:
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Average historical high 66°F
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Actual highs for prior year Saturday through Friday temperatures: 64°F, 72°F, 82°F, 85°F, 78°F, 71°F & 72°F