Bike the Massachusetts North Shore

A colonial heritage cycling tour of coastal New England

Bike the North Shore is our 5 night and 6 day cycling tour based in colonial Ipswich and charming Newburyport, Massachusetts. This very affordable tour visits the historic communities of the Massachusetts and New Hampshire North Shore , always taking safe and scenic coastal and wooded roads.

Experience level: intermediate to advanced, with 25-50 mile distance options at a comfortable pace. With groups greater than 6 participants, we will have two guides so that each participant can enjoy a guided bike tour at his or her own pace.

Price:   $895.00 . Add $350 for single occupancy.   Includes breakfast and lunches. Our inns for the week are located in the historic districts of Ipswich and Newburyport, where you'll find wonderful restaurants to fit your taste and style!

Dates:   Sunday, August 17 - Friday, August 22, 2008.                                             Thursday, September 4 - Tuesday, September 9, 2008

Commuting participants: $50 / day includes guided tour plus a light lunch with the group. Rides begin promptly at 9 am each day. Please call ahead , (978) 979-6598 to speak to Gordon if you wish to join as a day participant.

Day 1: Jeffreys Neck After checking in at the Ipswich Inn on Sunday afternoon, we'll ride out Jeffrey's Neck Rd. to Great Neck, where we get a panoramic view of coastal new England from Cape Ann to Portsmouth. On our return, we'll ride along the streets of Ipswich's historic district. We'll stop by the new pedestrian walkway to view the mural depicting the history of Ipswich . During the week you'll find many opportunities to visit Ipswich's historic treasures. We recommend dinner tonight at Zabaglione's Restaurante in downtown Ipswich, or Zabaglione's Cafe for lighter fare.

Essex County was originally populated by farmers and fishermen, taking advantage of the abundant natural resources of the area. The rocky soil was often difficult to farm, and in time this area returned to forest. Heading out Waldingfield Rd. near the Trustees of Reservations property Appleton Farms, we turn to ride the paved bike path through Bradley Palmer State Park. On Perkins Row, we'll stop for an hour-long walk in the Ipswich River Sanctuary. We'll visit charming Topsfield and have have lunch at the Boxford General Store, before returning through state forest lands to Ipswich. For dinner tonight we recommend the 1640 Hart House, one of the oldest buildings in New England and a short walk from our inn.

We'll ride out from Ipswich today to Cape Ann, beginning at Manchester-by-the-Sea, continueing on to explore the historic fishing village Gloucester and its rocky shoreline. Along the way we visit sleepy Magnolia , riding along beautiful hidden coves and tidal estuaries. We cycle past Gloucester's historic fishing fleet on our way to beautiful Atlantic Rd. before turning back toward Ipswich and passing through Essex, a Colonial ship-building community. Advanced cyclists may wish to continue to Rockport on the tip of Cape Ann for a visit to Bearskin Neck or a walk at Halibut Point State Park. For great pizza or Italian dishes you'll enjoy Theo's in Ipswich.

Day 4: Newburyport and Plum Island. In the morning, we check out of the Ipswich Inn, and head to the Essex Street Inn in Newburyport, MA. for the duration of our tour. After arriving, we ride through Maudsley State Park, continuing for for miles right along the broad Merrimack River. After crossing the historic Rocks Village bridge, we swing back toward Newburyport, with a visit to Lowell’s Boat Shop, the oldest operating boat shop in America. A favorite for dinner in Newburyport is Glenn's Restaurant.

Day 5:  The New Hampshire Coast. We head north in the van for a few miles to North Hampton, New Hampshire, for a gorgeous ride for miles along the Atlantic coast.   On the way we'll pass the historic Wentworth by the Sea hotel. In Portland, we'll visit Strawberry Bank, which tells the stories of the many generations who settled in the Portsmouth, NH, community.   After lunch, we return to North Hampton via backroads and take the van home. Ride distance is 35 easy miles.     Try the popular Joseph's Winter St. Cafe for dinner tonight.

Day 6:  Plum Island. For our last morning together, we'll enjoy an easy ride out to Plum Island, home of the Parker River Wildlife Sanctuary. On our return we'll swing down through old Newbury and ride through the Great Salt Marsh before returning, checking out of our rooms at 11 am, and saying our farewells.

What's Included?

Prices:   $895 / person. Add  $350 for single occupancy. Arrangements may be made for deluxe rooms or suites when available, at extra charge.

Inn:   3 nights at the Ipswich Bed and Breakfast in charming colonial Ipswich, Massachusetts., 2 nights at the Essex Inn in Newburyport, with  6 days of rides.   Prices are for double occupancy. Add $400 for single occupancy.

Meals: breakfast and light group lunches are included in the tour price.

Rides: Rides generally start about 9 am. You will be led on your ride by Bike New England owner Gordon Harris and one of our knowledgeable guides.   In addition, maps and cue sheets are provided for each ride, and all routes are arrowed!   Van Support is provided only where necessary. Both guides generally ride out from the inn with participants, offering a short and long version each day.

Bike Rentals:   Jamis road bikes with straight handlebars are included in this tour if desired.

Registration closes two months before tour start date. A $100 non-refundable deposit is required with your registration. Full payment is due no later than 30 days before the tour start date. Contact Gordon at Bike New England for more information. The registration form is available online.