Florida Bike Tour - Everglades and Keys Winter Escape

Florida Bike Tour - Everglades and Keys Winter Escape

Highlights: 

•  Visit the Everglades National Park and take a guided ranger tour on the Anhinga Trail Walk

•  Ride to the Crocodile Lake National Wildlife Refuge and take a walk through the Butterfly Garden

•  Cycle The Florida Keys Overseas Heritage Trail

•  Visit the Theater of the Sea marine park

•  Ride the famous 7 Mile Bridge from Knight's Key to Little Duck Key (Optional, of course! Van shuttle available)

•  Take a guided bicycle tour of Key West

•  Visit and explore local historic and natural landmarks.

Details:

Terrain:  relatively flat, paved roads and bike paths. This tour is good for the beginning rider as well as the experienced rider.

Weather:  The weather is good for biking with average daytime temperatures ranging to 74° F and dropping to
64° F at night.

Florida Bike Tour - Everglades and Keys Winter Escape

Price: $2,995

Included in Price:

• 5 nights accommodation in resort accomodations

• All breakfasts, 2 lunches, and 4 dinners

• Entrance Fee to the Theater of the Sea

• All state and national park entrance fees

• Bicycle tour of Key West

• Experienced guides familiar with the local area

• SAG (Support and Gear) Van to provide baggage relocation, mechanical support, snacks, fresh water, and
"rest rides" as needed

• Hybrid bike to use during the tour

• Cue sheets and maps with daily meetings to review route options and points of interest

Additional Fees:

• Single supplement: $795 (roommates will be sought when requested)

• Road Bike Rental: Weekly rates available on request.

Florida Bike Tour - Everglades and Keys Winter Escape

The Key Largo Bay Beach Resort: This seaside resort is our home for the first two nights of the tour and offers everything you need to wind down after our ride to the Everglades National Park.  Check out the beach or visit the spa to work out some kinks from your ride. You can visit their web page by clicking here.

Courtyard Marathon : This brand new resort on Marathon offers a great place to relax after our ride down from Key Largo.  Sit by the pool, enjoy the ocean view, or relax at the Tiki bar.  You can visit their web page by clicking here.

Lighthouse Court Hotel in Key West:  Our home for the last two nights of the tour, this lovely Key West inn is located next door to the Key West Lighthouse Museum and across the street from the Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum.  Just one block off Duval Street, the location affords instant access to some of our favorite things to do in Key West including the Mallory Square sunset celebration, Sloppy Joe’s Bar, Margaritaville, the Conch Train, the Harry Truman Little Whitehouse, and the Southernmost Point marker. You can visit their web page by clicking here.

Florida Bike Tour - Everglades and Keys Winter Escape

Arrival and Departure: The tour will originate and terminate in Miami, FL. Escapades will assist with hotel arrangements and local transportation both before and after the trip. 

Daily Mileage Options:  25 - 35 mile daily base routes with longer and shorter options available according to individual preferences.

Day 1: Key Largo
Escapades will shuttle guests from the Miami Airport to the Key Largo Bay Marriott Beach Resort. The shuttle will leave at 12:30 pm and arrive at the Resort around 2 pm.  After meeting for introductions and bike fitting we set off for a warm up ride to the nearby Crocodile Lake National Wildlife Refuge and a visit to the Pollinator Garden in the refuge.  We'll return to the resort and guests can relax and enjoy the beach resort amenities.  We enjoy a relaxing welcome dinner in the evening at the resort.  

Lodging: Key Largo Bay Beach Resort
Meals: Dinner

Day 2: Everglades National Park
First thing in the morning we shuttle (or ride!) to the Earnest Coe Visitor Center in the Everglades National Park.  After a short ride to the Royal Palm Visitor Center, we take a guided ranger tour on the amazing Anhinga Trail.  This elevated boardwalk lets us safely view the large variety of birds and gators that live there.  After lunch at the Gator Grill (Gator is the delicacy of the day for the adventurous), we bike the Southern Glades Trail bike path and Route 1 back to our lodgings where guests can relax at the pool or get some sun at the beach.

Lodging:  Key Largo Bay Beach Resort
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Day 3: Key Largo to Marathon
We bid farewell to Key Largo and bike to our next Key, Islamorada, and stop for a visit at the Theater Of The Sea.  Guests can enjoy a show, visit one of the many fascinating exhibits or take a walk on the nature path down to the private lagoon beach during our visit to this family owned and operated park.  In the afternoon, we head to our lodgings on Marathon Key.

Lodging:  Marriott Coutyard Marathon
Meals:  Breakfast and Dinner

Day 4: Marathon to Key West
We hit the road first thing in the morning and make our way to the famous 7 Mile Bridge.  After our crossing (optional shuttle available), we stop for lunch at Mangrove Mama’s; plenty of fresh fish from the Keys is available at this local favorite.  After lunch, we make our way to Key West.  After settling in, guest can explore at their leisure. 

Lodging:  Lighthouse Court Hotel
Meals: Breakfast

Day 5: Key West
Our final day starts with a bike tour of Key West.  After exploring the city by bike, guests are free for the rest of the day to take in the local attractions.  You may want to visit the Key West Butterfly and Nature Conservatory, take a tour of the The Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum or climb up the Key West Lighthouse next door to our lodgings and check out the view.  Don’t forget to join the sunset festival at Mallory Square and a walk down Duval Street to check out the shops and restaurants!  We will gather in the evening for our farewell dinner.

Lodging:  Lighthouse Court Hotel
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

Day 6: Farewell
We will start our last day with a delicious breakfast at our lodgings.  After breakfast we will shuttle all guests to the Key West Airport where we will say our farewells as our adventure comes to a close.  For guest traveling by air from Miami, the shuttle will continue from Key West to the Miami International Airport.

Meals: Breakfast