Tour of Three Cities

United States Bike Tour

Washington, Baltimore and New York

This is a multi faceted tour with something for everyone. You will have the opportunity to bike and explore three of the most important cities in the US; Washington D.C., NYC and Baltimore. There are options within options, as well. In fact, if you desire, you can spend all of your time in DC or you can split your time between DC and Baltimore. New York can be added or not, it is up to you, but NYC will be especially enticing during the historic 5 Boro Bike Tour. In fact, we do have a tour that is based in New York during this time called  New York City and the 5 Boro Bike Tour.

A bike is the ideal way to get around the bike friendly cities offered on this tour. You can cover much more ground at a faster pace, yet still have the pleasure of seeing things up close and in person. Traffic and parking hassles disappear, and you always have the option to stop when and where you please.

The possibilities are endless and as unique as you are.

We have tried to think of everything with this tour and will first take you on the historic trails around Washington DC.  On Sunday, it is off along the Mt. Vernon trail, an 18.5 miles off road path that links Washington with the estate of the president for whom the city was named. In between, lays historic Alexandria, Virginia, the perfect place to stop and get something to eat amidst the 18th century homes and shops occupied since the city was a tobacco and shipping port. With the Potomac River as your companion you will also have opportunity to explore Fort Hunt Park or Jones Point Light House which features a 19th century light station.

For those who desire to venture and overnight outside of DC, a ride on the C & O canal. to Leesburg, which lies at the base of the Catoctin Mountain and adjacent to the Potomac River,  is included. Your luggage will be transferred and will await your arrival. Prior to European settlement, the area around Leesburg was occupied by various Native American tribes. The Piscataway tribe occupied the environs of Leesburg and was there when the first known Europeans arrived. Settlement began in the late 1730’s when large farms and plantations were established.

The 184.5 mile long C & O(Chesapeake & Ohio) Canal is located along the north bank of the Potomac River, starting in Washington, DC and ending in Cumberland, MD. The canal was built between 1828 and 1850, and it operated sporadically between floods until 1924. In 1954, US Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas organized an eight day hike up the canal's towpath in an effort to save it from being converted to a parkway. His efforts succeeded, and in 1971 the canal became a National Historic Park. Today, much of the canal has been drained of water and reclaimed by the forest. However, the canal's towpath remains a favorite of hikers, joggers, and bicyclists.

Another possibility is to stay your entire time in Washington D.C.  You will be provided with suggestions,  route descriptions and maps so that you can truly explore the city in depth. Please visit our Washington D.C. tour page.

Those that spend the night in Leesburg will return the next day by way of the Washington and Old Dominion Rail Trail to Arlington where a transfer of cyclists and bikes to Baltimore will occur. Founded in 1729, Baltimore is the largest U.S. seaport in the Mid-Atlantic and is situated closer to major Midwestern markets than any other major seaport on the East Coast. Baltimore’s Inner Harbor was once the second leading port of entry for immigrants to the United States and a major manufacturing center. The city is home to the National Aquarium, the Maryland Science Center, Harborplace and the Baltimore Orioles.  Two nights in Baltimore and then it is off to historic Annapolis which served as the nation’s first peacetime capital under George Washington. 

Cyclists will stay at one of the three Historic Inns of Annapolis, the Maryland Inn, the Governor Calvert House or the Robert Johnson House. These inns are a collection of charming and historic hotels in downtown Annapolis. Guests enjoy a refreshing mix of modern luxuries with Victorian elegance and the rich traditions of this charming seaport community. You will embrace the history of Annapolis and the centuries-old tradition of gracious service at these historic hotels.

After a memorable overnight in Annapolis, you will then cycle back to DC to enjoy your last evening in the Donavan House with departure scheduled in the morning. We have included the opportunity to take an Amtrak train into New York. If you are traveling during the time of the famous 5 Boro Bike Tour, then you are in for the experience of a lifetime. This tour is the largest recreational cycling event in the United States. Every year on the first Sunday of May, approximately 32, 000 riders participate in the 42 mile ride around New York City. The route, closed to automobile traffic, takes riders through all five boroughs of New York City, across five major bridges, and finally across New York Harbor on the Staten Island Ferry. Nothing can describe the feeling of taking part in this annual event. It is like riding in a sea of cyclists and of course you will experience ALL of NYC in a very unique way.

Where You’ll Stay

3 * or 4 * accommodations.

What’s Included

• Washington and Baltimore tour:
• Accommodation in the 4* Donavan House in DC
• Accommodation in Leesburg 3* Best Western (continental breakfast included)
• Accommodation in Baltimore 3* Radisson
• Accommodation in Annapolis (full breakfast included)
• 21 speed bike
• Route descriptions
• Luggage transfer
• Transfer Arlington to Baltimore (bike included)
• Add on NYC w/ 5 Boro Bike Tour:
• Additional two nights accommodations in 3* or 4* hotel depending on preference
• Bike rental for 5 Boro Bike Tour
• Entrance fee for 5 Boro Bike Tour
• Train ticket from Washington DC to NYC
• Add on NYC w/o 5 Boro Bike Tour
• Additional two nights accommodations in 3* or 4 * hotel

What’s Not Included

• Local transportation costs
• Any museum entrance fees
• All meals other than those mentioned
• Bike rental for Add on NYC w/o 5 Boro Bike Tour

Tour Dates

• Arrival Fridays, April 6 to November 2, 2012.

Skill Level

Day-To-Day Itinerary

1. Individual arrival to Washington, DC
2. Downtown DC and monuments (31 miles)
3. Mt Vernon and the Pentagon
   Option 1: (+/- 42 miles)
   Option 2: (+/- 47 miles)
   Option 3: (+/- 32 miles)
4. C & O Canal to Whites Ferry, overnight in Leesburg, Virginia (+/- 36 miles)
5.  Leesburg to Arlington. Transfer to Baltimore (+/- 38 miles)
6. Baltimore (+/- 13 miles)
7. Baltimore to Annapolis (+/- 26 miles)
8.  Annapolis to DC (+/- 40 miles)
9. Departure or extension, Amtrak to NYC
10. NYC (5 Boro Bike tour: 42 miles) or bike at leisure in NYC
11. Departure from NYC or extension of stay.

Day to Day:

FRIDAY:  ARRIVAL
Individual arrival to Washington, DC. Check in to Donavan House. Bringing urban chic to the nation's capital, Donovan House provides a metropolitan hideaway in historic downtown Washington, D.C.  The hotel’s acclaimed restaurant, Zentan, by celebrity chef Susur Lee serves up inventive Asian inspired cuisine. Above it all  is “ADC”  (Above DC), a private rooftop pool and bar. ADC offers guests and natives a metropolitan hideaway, boasting a full-service bar, food from Zentan, and private cabanas. ADC is the perfect place for relaxation.

SATURDAY:  Downtown DC and monuments ride.  (+/- 10 miles )
 Bethesda option: (+/- 31 miles) through Rock Creek Park to Bethesda

Highlights: Washington’s major monuments and museums plus Georgetown, Embassy Row and the White House.

Bike rental pick up at the Old Post Office Pavilion.

If you opt for the downtown DC and monuments ride, the possibilities are endless. You will be provided with various maps and suggestions and can decide which sites you desire to see and how much time you would like to spend at each. You will have the opportunity to visit the Grant Memorial (sculpted by self taught sculptor Henry M. Shrady), National Gallery of Art, National Air and Space Museum (repository of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence), National Museum of Natural History, Museum of American History, Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial, Reflecting Pool and the White House. In addition, you can visit the World War II Memorial, FDR memorial, Holocaust Museum and more. You can choose and prioritize what you would like to see and do.

You won’t want to miss the opportunity to cycle through Georgetown at some point during your stay.  Located in the Northwest quadrant of Washington, D.C., along the Potomac River waterfront, it was founded in 1751, substantially predating  the establishment of the city of Washington and the District of Columbia. It was assimilated into the city of Washington in 1871. Georgetown served as a major port and commercial center during colonial times because of its prime location on the Potomac River. Today, Georgetown is a vibrant community.

If you decide to include the ride to Bethesda, you can still do a DC loop and monument ride and then head off through Rock Creek Park on paved and hard packed trails and have your lunch in Bethesda, Maryland. Bethesda is one of the most affluent and highly educated communities in the country. Throughout most of the 19th century, Bethesda was a small crossroads village, consisting of a post office, a blacksmith shop, a church and school, and a few houses and stores. It was not until the installation of a streetcar line in 1890 and the beginnings of suburbanization in the early 1900s that Bethesda began to grow in population. You will return via the paved Capital Crescent Trail. This trail lies along an abandoned rail spur, developed in the first decade of the 20th century. Since 1986, the spur has been purchased, “rail banked” and converted by the National Park Service into a multi use trail. It is one of over 700 rail-trail projects nationwide, linking parks, trails, and communities in the Washington metropolitan area. It serves as a protected greenway for wildlife and outdoor recreation.

SUNDAY:  Mt Vernon Ride and the Pentagon via Mt. Vernon Trail
Three options:

1.      Mt. Vernon and back: 37.6 miles

2.      Mt. Vernon, Pentagon and Arlington National Cemetery (41.5 miles)

3.      Mt. Vernon, Pentagon and Arlington National Cemetery utilizing the metro as well (32 miles)

The Mount Vernon Trail is a big favorite of area cyclists. The route affords riders beautiful vistas of the Potomac River and of the national memorials, the U.S. Capitol and the National Cathedral. Other points of interest include Navy and Marine Memorial, Gravelly Point, Olde Town Alexandria, Arlington National Cemetery and George Washington’s home at Mr. Vernon at the end of the trail. If you desire to tour the estate, please plan on about 2-3 hours for this part of your cycling itinerary.

You can return via the Mt. Vernon Trail to end your cycling day or you can visit the Pentagon and ride into Arlington National Cemetery via the Four Mile Run Trail.

If you want to visit the Mt. Vernon Estate and have time to explore there and do not want to forfeit the ride by the Pentagon and into Arlington National Cemetery you can hop on the Metro, boarding at King Street in Alexandria and exiting at the Pentagon.

Yet another possibility for this day is to return from Mt Vernon on board the Miss Christin for a narrated boat cruise back to Alexandria. Boat departs Mt. Vernon at 4 pm and arrives in Alexandria at about 5:30 where you can board the metro to either return to DC or to exit at the Pentagon.

The Pentagon is the headquarters of the United States Department of Defense designed by the American architect George Bergstrom (1876–1955), and built by Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, general contractor John McShain.  

The Pentagon is the world's largest office building by floor area, with about 6,500,000 sq ft.  It has five sides, five floors above ground, two basement levels, and five ring corridors per floor with a total of 17.5 mi (28.2 km) of corridors. The Pentagon includes a five-acre (20,000 m2) central plaza, which is shaped like a pentagon .On September 11, 2001, exactly 60 years after the building's groundbreaking, hijacked American Airlines Flight 77 was crashed into the western side of the Pentagon, killing 189 people, including five hijackers, 59 others aboard the plane, and 125 working in the building.

MONDAY:  C & O Canal Trail to Leesburg (36 miles)
Highlights: Georgetown, Great Falls, Great Falls Visitor Center and Museum,  White’s Ferry

The towpath begins in the Georgetown section of Washington DC, at the edge of the Rock Creek Parkway, between Pennsylvania Ave. and the Whitehurst Freeway. This roughly marks the inland most point of the navigable Potomac River.

The canal's first few hundred yards is lined with shops and a series of lift locks. Barge rides are also available here during the summer months. The towpath begins as a red brick walkway along the north side of the canal bed. After a few blocks, the towpath's gravel/clay towpath surface begins and then crosses over to the south side of the canal just prior to Key Bridge.

For the first three miles or so, the towpath surface is fairly rough due to the heavy traffic load in the section. It is recommended that you use the parallel Capital Crescent Trail. The paved CCT begins at the western end of K Street (under the Whitehurst Freeway). At this point it is not apparent that the two trails are next to each other, as there is a 40-50 foot elevation differential and forest growth between the trails. The two trails meet at Fletcher's Boathouse (mile 3.1). In addition to a snack bar, boat and bicycle rentals are available here. The CCT trail crosses over the towpath about a half mile past the boathouse and heads north to Bethesda and Silver Spring.

By mile 5, the towpath traffic reduces significantly. Between miles 8 and 10 is the area known as seven locks (since there are seven lift-locks here). The canal passes under the Capital Beltway at mile 9.3 and you enter the area known as Carderock. The half mile long building to the north is the David Taylor Model Basin where the Navy tests scale models of new ships.

Miles 10 – 25 is probably the most heavily used section of the canal. Generally, the towpath here is in excellent condition, and the canal basin still contains water.

The major point of interest in this section is Great Falls, located at mile 14. Roughly 35,000 years ago, The Potomac River began carving out the Great Falls of the Potomac. The river cascades over a series of 20-foot (6.1 m) falls, falling a total of 76 feet (23 m) in elevation over a distance of less than 1 mile (1.6 km), making the Great Falls the steepest fall line rapids of any river in the eastern United States.

 At mile 22.8 are the remains of the Seneca Creek Aqueduct. This three arch aqueduct is the first of eleven such structures along the canal. The western most arch was destroyed by a local thunderstorm flood on Sept 11, 1971

After the Seneca Creek Aqueduct, the conditions change radically. First, the canal bed is no longer watered and thus has been completely reclaimed by forest growth. This makes the towpath quite shady, which is great during the summer months. Expect to see a variety of wildlife, including towpath favorites such as deer, rabbits, and the occasional fox..

The major point of interest in this section is Whites Ferry, the only working ferry on the Potomac. You will use the ferry to cross over to Leesburg, Virginia, founded in 1758, it  is one of the state’s most picturesque and best-preserved communities.

TUESDAY:  W & OD (Washington & Old Dominion) Rail trail to Arlington. (+/-38 miles)
The Washington & Old Dominion Trail (W&OD or "Wad") is a great rail trail through the Northern Virginia counties. The entire 45 miles is paved with nine foot wide asphalt and has a painted yellow center line. There is also a parallel horse trail along much of the trail. Starting in Leesburg, you will follow this to the town of Arlington where a transfer awaits for both you and your bicycle to the city of Baltimore.

WEDNESDAY: Baltimore (+/- 13 miles)
Baltimore is the largest independent city in the United States and the largest city and cultural center of the state of Maryland. The city is located in central Maryland along the tidal portion of the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay.  Your bicycle route today begins and ends at Boston Street from Canton Waterfront Park and leads you to the Aquarium, Harbor View Drive and the science center.

THURSDAY: (+/- 25 miles) Baltimore to Annapolis.
Via the BWI Trail, you will connect in Glen Burnie to the Baltimore and Annapolis Trail. The Baltimore & Annapolis Trail is an established recreational greenway following the route of the old Baltimore & Annapolis Railroad from Glen Burnie to Annapolis. This linear park is 13.3 miles long and encompasses 112 acres. The trail has a 10-foot wide, paved surface within a 66-foot wide, landscaped corridor. The trail has a two percent grade and is used by walkers, runners, bicyclists and equestrians as well as various forms of wildlife.

 Annapolis has a thriving historic district with shops and restaurants along the waterfront. Most of the buildings are original 17th, 18th and 19th century, with brick lined streets. Tourism from the surrounding Baltimore and Washington, D.C. metro area is a major part of the town's life, as is a thriving boat business. One could easily spend a day walking around the town's downtown harbor area shopping and eating. There is also a lively nighttime scene.

FRIDAY: Annapolis to DC (+/- 29 miles)
This is a capital to capital ride, from Annapolis, the capital of Maryland to the nation’s capital.

Return rental cycles to Old Post Office Pavilion.

SATURDAY: Individual departure or extension.
Departure from Union Station via Amtrak to NYC, extension of stay in Washington DC.  or departure from Washington DC. In 1903, Daniel H. Burnham, Director of Works, principal architect of the 1893 Chicago World's Fair, was chosen to design Union Station. He modeled the Station in the monumental Beaux-Arts style and after the Baths of Caraculla and Diocletian and the triumphal Arch of Rome. Union Station's arches symbolize its primary function as a gateway. The white granite and classic lines of Union Station set the mode for Washington's classic monumental architecture for the next 40 years through the construction of the Lincoln and Jefferson Memorials, the Federal Triangle, the Supreme Court Building and the National Gallery of Art.

SUNDAY: NYC.
Participation in the 5 Boro Bike Tour depending on time of travel. The 2012 event will be held on Sunday, May 6. This event is organized by Bike New York, which dates back to 1977, when the Five Boro Bike Tour began as a program of American Youth Hostels. Known as “Bike New York: The Great Five Boro Bike Tour,” the event grew so much over the years that by the late 1990s it required a dedicated, year-round staff to handle operations, sponsorship, and communications. Thus, in 2000, Bike New York was established as a not-for-profit organization. Since then, the Tour has continued to introduce generations of riders to the joys of cycling in New York City.

If you are traveling at any other time, you will be provided with maps for some exciting biking in NYC. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and entertainment. The home of the United Nations Headquarters New York is an important center for international affairs and is widely deemed the cultural capital of the world.

Located on a large natural harbor on the Atlantic coast of the Northeastern United States, New York City consists of five boroughs: The Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, and Staten Island. New York is the most densely populated major city in the United States. As many as 800 languages are spoken in New York, making it the most linguistically diverse city in the world.

 Monday: Departure from NYC or extension of stay

Washington Based Option:
This option provides for 8 days/7 nights in a 3 * or 4 * hotel depending on  your preference. You will be provided with bike rental and route descriptions detailed enough for you to be able to completely explore DC by bicycle.

Book This Trip

Questions? Call us! 877-965-2064 or e-mail us