Sometimes the best way to discover a beautiful place is on two wheels.
Exploring a city on a bicycle allows travelers to immerse themselves in a destination’s culture, often while being surrounded by nature. From short excursions to multiday journeys, here are nine bicycle tours groups will love.
Jacksonville, Florida
With more registered historic buildings than any other city in Florida, Jacksonville boasts a storied past. Following a 1901 fire, the downtown core was rebuilt by creative architects whose work continues to be appreciated today. The city’s century-old structures have been transformed into charming restaurants, modern offices, museums and even City Hall.
Art Bikes’ guided three-hour Art, Architecture and History Tour takes groups over the St. Johns River on the city’s new paved shared-use path and into three iconic neighborhoods — San Marco, Avondale and Riverside — to learn about their architecture and see the city’s impressive collection of public art and vibrant murals. Participants are given electric bikes, helmets, water and sunscreen for the 10-mile tour. Each bike has been customized by a local artist, and the company donates a portion of every booking to participating artists.
Juneau, Alaska
After a scenic shuttle ride to the Mendenhall Glacier in Juneau, Alaska, riders are fitted for safety gear and bikes before heading out with guides from Cycle Alaska on the company’s Bikes, Glacier Views and Microbrews Tour. Combining cycling and nature exploration with a post-ride beer tasting at a local brewery, this 8-mile tour through the Mendenhall Valley treats participants to old-growth forests, stunning lake views and breathtaking ocean vistas.
After free time at the glacier, stops along the route include learning about the region’s history and wildlife, as well as time spent exploring the massive Juneau Icefield. Riders weave in and out of Tongass National Forest, the world’s largest temperate rainforest. After 45 minutes enjoying nearby scenic trails on their own, cyclists head to Forbidden Peak Brewery to sample a selection of local craft beers or nonalcoholic beverages, all while surrounded by harbor views.
Sonoma County, California
For active adventurers that also enjoy exceptional food and wine, Sonoma County offers a complete cycling package: rolling hills with panoramic valley views, massive redwood trees and towns packed with charm. Here, groups can find multiday itineraries that include scenic rides, luxury lodging and farm-to-table dining.
Trek Travel and DuVine Cycling + Adventure Co. offer high-end bike tours with three or four nights in boutique hotels, along with guided rides. In between riding through lush forests and sprawling vineyards, groups experience behind-the-scenes wine tastings and delicious meals crafted with local ingredients. Groups seeking single-day adventures can do a Sip ‘n’ Cycle ride in Healdsburg with Getaway Adventures to visit to two or three wineries, plus enjoy a picnic lunch. Or they can soar high above the vineyards with Sonoma Adventures’ Hot Air Balloon and Bike Tour Combo, where groups do a sunrise hot air balloon flight followed by a scenic five-hour guided bike ride.
Calgary, Alberta
Groups should bring their appetites along with their pedal power to the four-hour Calgary Food Bike Tour, a culinary adventure where participants explore several thriving neighborhoods including downtown, Mission, Inglewood and Kensington. The scenic ride along Calgary’s iconic Bow River includes three food stops. After riding for 30 minutes or so, participants stop for a behind-the-scenes look and a chef-curated sampling at top local cafes and restaurants: the French-inspired Hutch Cafe; Canela Vegan Bakery & Cafe; and Bodega, a Portuguese- and Spanish-inspired tapas bar. This tour is a great way to work off all the food sampled during the stops. Groups also get to see the gorgeous Prince’s Island Park and St. Patrick’s Island Park.
Riders can bring their own bikes or rent e-bikes and helmets on-site, and a percentage from each ticket sold is donated to a local charity.
Southwest Germany
Thanks to its long cycling seasons, even longer trails and 320 routes through varied landscapes, Germany is a top biking destination. The southwest state of Baden-Württemberg — the birthplace of the bicycle — is considered one of the best places to cycle in Europe. Lovely lakes, nature reserves and picture-perfect mountain landscapes will enthrall groups riding up the ridges of the Swabian Jura or coasting downhill in the Black Forest.
There’s a vast network of cycling trails and touring options in Baden-Württemberg. Look for group tours certified by the German Cycling Association (ADFC) that run through the Swabian Alb, the Black Forest, Lake Constance or Remstal Valley; they’re designed for all ability levels. Black Forest Tourism also has various cycling packages, as does Radweg-Reisen, Germany’s leading cycle tour operator. Along the way, groups can stop to enjoy everything from Weisswurst sausages to strong wheat beer.
San Antonio
Once your group has explored San Antonio’s famed missions and its River Walk, take them on a Mural Ride, billed as “a museum on wheels.” San Antonio’s public art scene, made up of bold murals and installations, adds to its bustling vibe. This guided two-hour e-bike tour for groups of up to 20 people makes it easy for beginners to participate while guides bring the street art to life along the way.
During the tour, which begins in the D.R.E.A.M. District, San Antonio’s official street art and mural district, riders can snap selfies and learn about the colorful Texas artists behind the city’s rich art culture. Participants will pass through downtown, Southtown and historic neighborhoods like the King William Historic District to see dozens of murals celebrating the city’s heritage and creativity.
Vermont’s Mad River Valley
Groups seeking half- or full-day guided rides through forests, river crossings and mountains will enjoy heading to Madbush Falls, a lodge and adventure base camp in Waitsfield, Vermont, with top-notch mountain, gravel and fat biking trails. Gear is available at the lodge’s on-site bike shop, and a wide variety of tours will appeal to every skill level. Blueberry Lake is ideal for beginner and intermediate riders, while the All Day Epic will appeal to cyclists looking for a challenge.
Madbush Falls also has Creekside Tent camping sites, on-site saunas and a 30-foot waterfall swimming hole, where groups can unwind after the ride. At the end of the adventure, participants will enjoy a classic Vermont Creemee, the state’s unique twist on soft serve ice cream. Guides can also arrange customized multiday itineraries for any size group.
Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park
Groups will love getting an exhilarating, up-close-and-personal look at two active volcanoes — Kilauea and Mauna Loa — on Hawaii’s Big Island during Volcano Ohana’s three-hour bike tour. Fat tire e-bikes make navigating the sprawling Volcanoes National Park and its challenging terrain a bit easier. Riders will learn about the park’s various craters and how the island was made. They will also walk through a lava tube, an underground passageway carved by hot magma. This tour is for intermediate-level or better cyclists only and is available for groups of up to 12 people.
Washington, D.C.
For group members who have may have mobility or balance issues that make riding a two-wheeler difficult or uncomfortable, Trike My Way offers 90-minute tours in the Washington, D.C., area around Chesapeake Bay, the C&O Canal and the National Mall in a three-wheeled recumbent bike. Owner Wayne Hayward launched the company in 2019 to make cycling more inclusive. The easy-to-pedal British Inspired Cycle Engineering (ICE) Adventure trikes allow anyone to hit the road and enjoy the ride. Custom triking adventures are suitable for small groups and are ideal for older riders or ones with knee or hip issues, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, nerve disorders or other disabilities. Cyclists can rent or bring their own two-wheelers to join the tour, too.
