8 Reasons to Visit Prince Edward County, Ontario

May 19, 2010

You’ll find Prince Edward County halfway between Ottawa and Toronto, and just south of Belleville. The county borders Lake Ontario’s north shore and the Bay of Quinte. If you’re driving on the Highway 401 and blink, you’ll miss the exit.

This is farm country with a difference. Here are 8 good reasons to visit for a weekend.

• As Beppi Crosariol of the Globe and Mail points out – the counry has come of age and by this he is referring to the quality of the wines. With over 20 wineries there is plenty to taste. Buyer beware – some wines are made from grapes grown in the Niagara area. 
• Take a cooking class at The Waring House. They offer classes on Sundays from 10:30am to 1:30 pm. Try Indian Cuisine, the Mexican Taco Stand or Sushi Basics. Check out their online schedule for lots more offerings.
• Birding is excellent and although the spring migration is over you’re sure to find lots of birds, especially at the Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory. You’ll see lots of waterfowl, raptors and song birds there.
• Look for the signed Arts Trail which takes you to 27 artists around the county. You’ll find potters, painters, sculptors, glassblowers and jewelers, blacksmiths and photographers as well as many multi artist galleries. Be sure to visit La De Dah Sculpture Studio, the Mad Dog Gallery and the Oeno Gallery.
• Head for Sandbanks Provincial Park with some towels and a picnic basket. Here you’ll find sand dunes, long sandy beaches and sparkling water. Try some windsurfing or sailing too.
• Rent a bike in Picton or Bloomfield and head off with one of their bike maps to explore quiet back roads. Also look for the Waterfront Trail which will keep you close to …the waterfront.
• Check out the TasteTrail. Road signs guide you to 31 locations – from cheese makers to coffee shops and from the Buddha Dog to fine dining. Don’t miss The Carriage House Restaurant in Bloomfield. It’s recommended by Where to Eat in Canada. I picked up lunch goodies – think fine cheeses, fresh breads and fantastic desserts.
• For those of you who love spas head to Claramount Inn & Spa and enjoy the pampering.

If you live in Ontario what better time to go than this coming long weekend!!

Leigh McAdam

www.hikebiketravel.com

A Guide to Having Fun in the Okanagan Valley, British Columbia

May 7, 2010

My 18th guide – The Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, A Wine Tour by Car and by Bike, has just been published. You can download it off the HikeBikeTravel website for free.

The Okanagan Valley is a long north-south valley located in the south central portion of BC, Canada, just north of the US border. The Okanagan is known for its sunny, dry climate with hot summers and cold winters. The arid landscape is punctuated with lakes and patches of green. It has become one of Canada’s premier grape growing and wine producing areas. There are upwards of 100 wineries, along the bluffs bordering the lakes, running the length of the valley from Vernon to Osoyoos.

The Okanagan is also one of Canada’s premier summertime playgrounds. There are so many things to do that you can’t help having fun. Highlights of the area include:

• Beautiful vineyards
• Fun wine tasting experiences
• Fantastic, scenic sections of the Kettle Valley Railroad (KVR) trail to hike and bike
• Tubing on the Okanagan River Channel
• Fine dining options at some wineries
• Interesting accommodation choices
• Lake swimming on hot summer days
• Old fashioned milkshakes in Okanagan Falls
• Excellent birding and wildlife viewing

Inside the guide look for: a 6 day itinerary, information on getting there, accommodation and restaurant choices, bike rental shops, companies offering an assortment of  tours - including one day to multi daybike rides on the Kettle Valley Railway, wine tours, wildlife tours and even boat tours on the lake. There’s lots of other useful information …download it and see for yourself.

I’m planning on visiting the Okanagan area again this summer and I just wish I had a week and not a weekend. You won’t go wrong with  a visit to this region.

Leigh McAdam

www.hikebiketravel.com

10 Not to be Missed Activities in the Pacific Northwest in May

May 2, 2010

Try out one or more of these ten not to be missed activities in the Pacific Northwest in May. Finish the ski season at Whistler-Blackcomb and start the hiking season on the Juan de Fuca Trail near Victoria or any of a number of trails in the Columbia River Gorge area of Oregon. Trips to wine country are always fun and what better excuse to visit Seattle then its film festival. Here’s a great lineup to keep you busy in the month of May.

• April 30th – May9th Okanagan Spring Wine Festival Enjoy over 100 events during the annual spring wine festival. Bud break is celebrated with gourmet dinners, fine lunches and wine and food pairings .
• May 9th  Vancouver Sun Run You’ve got a week to get your body into 10 km running shape. Join one of the biggest 10 k events in North America.

 

• May 15 Reach the Beach Be one of 3000 cyclists to cycle to the Pacific Ocean from Portland. Choose distances of 25, 50, 80 or 100 miles. Enjoy cycling through vineyards, forests and small towns. Finish at Cape Kiwanda in Pacific City on the coast.  Proceeds go to help the American Lung Association of Portland.
• May 20 – June 13 Seattle International Film Festival This year marks 35 years for the festival. It is the longest running and best attended film festival in the US. Tickets go on sale May 6th.
• May 28-30 EAT! Vancouver Sample culinary treats by top Canadian chefs over 3 days. You”ll find artisans, retailers, cookbook authors, wineries and local restaurants represented. Tickets are cheaper online!
• May 29-31 Swiftsure Sailing Race in Victoria’s Inner Harbour.  This is a premier long distance sailing race which draws participants from around the globe. There are 9 races over 4 courses.
• May 30 Ski to Sea Race in Bellingham, Washington. Either join a team or volunteer in this epic yearly event. There are 7 race legs that include cross country skiing, downhill skiing or snowboarding, running, road biking, canoeing, mountain biking and kayaking. A team of 8 racers begins on Mt. Baker and ends on Bellingham Bay. Originally the race was developed to showcase the recreational activities offered in the area. 
• Juan de Fuca Trail Hike this trail on the west coast of Vancouver Island anytime in May. It’s a mini version of the famous West Coast Trail except that it’s easier and day hikes are possible. The trailheads are only about an hour from Victoria, BC.  If you have the time and weather is on your side then hike all 47 kms of the trail over three to four days.
• Blackcomb Skiing Yes, you can still ski until May 24th on Blackcomb Mountain. If you like mountain bike races and skiing then enter the Crud 2 Mud Downhill on May 22nd. Start at the top of Whistler Mountain with your skis or snowboard and head to the bottom of the snow line. Pick up your mountain bike and finish in the Bike Park.
• Columbia River Gorge Anytime in May would be a great time to visit the 80 mile geological wonder that marks the boundary between Washington and Oregon. Try a hike, river cruise, visit a waterfall or take a windsurfing lesson.  Marvel at the cliffs that rise upwards of 4000 feet. The 1200 mile Columbia River is the fourth largest in the US.

Leigh McAdam

www.hikebiketravel.com

California Wine Country biking guide published.

January 4, 2010

The 24 page biking guide to California wine country, including Sonoma and Napa County has been published.

Part of the Castello di Amorosa Winery in Napa

California wine country has been on the map of serious oenophiles since California wines beat out French wines in a blind tasting at the Paris Wine Tasting Competition of 1976. About five million visitors visit the region each year. Wine is the focus but food comes a close second with a huge choice of excellent restaurants, lots of farmers markets and culinary courses available. You will be pleasantly surprised by the interesting pastoral and hilly vistas.

Wine country is located about 1 ½ hours by car north of San Francisco. It encompasses Napa and Sonoma County and includes a number of small cities and towns. Best known is the city of Napa with a population of 75,000. You will also find the towns of Sonoma, St. Helena, Calistoga, Healdsburg and Santa Rosa and the hamlets of Yountville, Glen Ellen, Rutherford and Geyserville.

This is close to perfect cycling country. Rural roads take you by internationally famous wineries, first class restaurants and luxurious accommodation options. The cycling is easy and the distance between towns is very manageable. There are always options for hills and more miles. Drivers are for the most part very considerate. We recommend getting one of the road maps available detailing the safest roads on which to travel. A circular route is laid out herein that loops through wine country and can include a ride to the Armstrong Redwoods Park and over to the coastal highway along Highway 101.

Seven to ten days is about the ideal amount of time to allot for this trip. A longer stay allows you to explore beyond wine country to the wild beaches of the Pacific Ocean and the giant redwoods in Armstrong Woods Park. The weather is best between April and October. Summers are hot and very busy whereas winters are rainy and should be avoided altogether. Early April and late October can be unpredictable but will reward you with green hills in the spring and fall colours later in October.

There are many tour companies offering one day to one week tours but this is an area to contemplate a self supported ride. Bike rentals are available in Santa Rosa, Napa, St. Helena and Healdsburg so any of these spots could be the start of your loop. Bringing your own bike offers you familiar comfort but the airlines are making this a get rich quick scene. The biggest downside to a self supported trip is that you can’t carry much wine and dinner options are fewer, especially in the fall with darkness setting in early. The roads are unsafe to ride any distance at night and taxis are a rarity. However, touring on your own can also be almost half the cost of what a guided tour might cost.

Outside of riding and wine tasting you can look forward to an eclectic mix of activities including cooking classes, mud baths and spa visits, ballooning, bird watching, canoeing and wonderful dining.

Leigh McAdam

founder, www.hikebiketravel.com

Victoria to Cowichan Valley Bike and Wine Tour guide Published

November 19, 2009

The 18 page Victoria to Cowichan Valley bike guide has just been published.

There is much to recommend about this trip that is best done from late spring until early fall. Some of the highlights include the following:

• great food offerings especially in Victoria, Cowichan Bay and at some of the excellent local restaurants
• fun wine tasting at over a dozen wineries
• balsalmic vinegar tasting at Venturi Schulze Vineyards
• pretty back road cycling
• a long car free stretch on the Cowichan section of the Trans Canada Trail
• interesting accommodation choices from lavender farms to cooking schools to B&B’s to 5 star choices
• good mixture of city and country stays
• ability to easily add some of the Gulf Islands seamlessly to the itinerary, especially Salt Spring Island
• diverse activities for the non biking hours including cooking classes, a raptor handling program, whale watching and river or ocean kayaking

The area is easily accessed via ferry service from Vancouver or a flight into Victoria International airport. Allow a  minimum of 3 days and a week or more if you would like to include the Gulf Islands.

For those of you who live close to Vancouver, why not venture a little off the beaten path and discover this gem in our own backyard. Everything you need to know to book your own trip is outlined in this eguide. Happy traveling!

Leigh McAdam

www.hikebiketravel.com

California Wine Country – Biking & Tasting

October 23, 2009

Our recently completed bike and wine tour of California was a great success, in no small part because of what fun we had at the wineries. The number of wineries in the Napa and Sonoma regions is a tad overwhelming and judging by what we heard there will be alot of grapes left unpicked since wine sales are way down. In the Napa Valley alone there are approximately 400 wineries!! and there are over 250 in the Sonoma region.

The Napa wineries in particular, are on a scale I haven’t witnessed before, especially when you consider the numbers of them that have huge buildings, tasting rooms, picnic areas, gift shops and in some cases, art galleries.  The Sonoma wineries are generally smaller in size and are often family owned.

Here is my list of the ones I think are worth visiting (in no particular order), ones I wish I’d had time for and ones that I would pass on next time round.

Worth a Visit

Del Dotto – for their barrel tasting **reserve ahead** $40 pp

Cakebread – reserve ahead- $10 pp for amazing wines - excellent value!

Rombauer – also has nice views (which means a stiff climb to get there!) and related to ‘Joy of Cooking’ fame author where you can pick up autographed books; also recommended by locals

Castello di Amoroso – if you’ve never seen a castle before

Ferrari Carano – to see the gardens. Do the reserve tasting.

Sbragia Family – friendly, picturesque, great wines and a nice picnic patio

Gary Farrell - extremely strenuous climb to the winery BUT great fun and truly delicious wines- $10-$15 pp

Wish I’d Been

Robert Mondavi – because he was one of the originals and the tour is supposed to be excellent

Far Niente – supposed to be extraordinary wines and gardens though $50pp and definately requires a booking

Grgich Hills – now that I know more about the wine maker

Opus One – just to see the winery which is architecturally very interesting

Cliffe Lede – of Cliff bar fame- would like to see what they do with wine since I’ve existed on their Cliff bars on many of my adventures

Sonoma Cutrer – since I’ve been drinking and enjoying their wine for years

Wish I hadn’t bothered

Beaulieu Vineyards(BV) They were friendly enough but the regular wine tasting was overpriced especially the whites at $10 pp. Perhaps the reserve tasting would have been worthwhile but compared to other wineries the value wasn’t there

Clos Pegase – interesting spot, love the wines but felt depressed by the spot as it had the signs of being unkempt and staff seemed unhappy

Visiting wineries by bike is actually a great way to do it with the only downside being that you can’t carry much with you. You burn off the calories that you’ve drunk, it’s much easier for bikes to zip across the busy Highway 29 that passes through Napa Valley and even better is the fact that you are deemed more approachable and you end up having great conversations  with a huge cross section of people. That happened at almost every winery!

I don’t usually like to revisit a spot but there are more back roads to explore and so many more wineries to visit, that this is one trip I would happily make again. Doing it self-supported also costs less than half of what tour companies charge.

I highly recommend this trip from April to October if you are doing it as a bike tour but obviously with a car, wine tasting can be a year round activity. However, it does rain ALOT from November to January.

And if you are somewhat interested check out these Napa Valley wine facts.

Leigh McAdam

hikebiketravel.com

Blotto at Del Dotto

October 19, 2009

Okay – blotto is a bit of a stretch but if I hadn’t dumped some of my $40-$125 wine between the barrels I would have been.

Del Dotto is a winery that we visited while bike touring in the Napa Valley last week. They have two locations which offer quite different but very worthwhile experiences. Without hesitation I would highly recommend their cave tour and barrel tasting – and at $40 per person it is really a bargain. It was the highlight of the week as far as wine tasting was concerned.

Close to the city of Napa are the historic limestone caves and tasting room and to the north in the St. Helena area is the estate winery and Venetian cave lined with Italian marble. We visited the Napa one though I understand that the wine experiences are similar.

You will need to reserve ahead of time directly with the winery. Allow at least 1 1/2 hours for your wine education, tour and tasting. Have a small bite to eat before you show up or the consequences of the barrel tasting will be magnified. The tasting is of red wine only so don’t go if you only drink white!

The wine tour will lead you through the types of barrels used, whether it be French or American oak, the level of toasting and so on. The guides are very agreeable sorts and encourage questions. Nick, our guide, led us into the candlelit cave with Andre Bocelli music piped in to accompany our wine tasting directly from the barrel.
Most people haven’t actually done a barrel tasting but it is a great way to really understand the ability of the wood to impart it’s flavour, and affect the final profile of the wine.

The guides are liberal with the size of the pours so the onus will have to be on you to show restraint and dump, since there is nowhere to spit here. We enjoyed pours from nine barrels with price points upwards of $50 a bottle.

Bike touring and wine tasting, especially wines of this calibre, is a wonderful way to experience the region. We preferred the late afternoon tours when we knew that we wouldn’t have to pedal much further so do take into consideration where you might be staying that night.

If you enjoy great wine, beautiful countryside and bike touring then you won’t go wrong with a trip to the Napa Valley.

Leigh McAdam of

hikebiketravel.com

Kettle Valley Railway Biking, British Columbia

September 9, 2009

The Kettle Valley Railway (KVR) is an old, abandoned railway bed that has a new lease on life as a non motorized biking and hiking trail. It is located in southern British Columbia. Outside Magazine once named the trail as one of the top 10 to cycle. The trail is broken into subdivisions or sections with a total length of approximately 600 kilometres. In theory you can cycle from Castlegar in eastern British Columbia to Hope which lies about 2 hours east of Vancouver, though that would take the better part of two weeks.

The Kettle Valley Railway is truly a fantastic trail especially since it is possible to cycle it in sections depending on how much time you have. The trail covers a wide variety of terrain. It will take you through remote backcountry, past lakes, forests, over old railway trestles and then in the Penticton area you’ll find yourself cycling through vineyards and orchards.

Last week I spent a few days cycling a section from Chute Lake through Penticton and on into Okanagan Falls and Oliver. It was fabulous! This is what I would recommend.

• plan on a stay of a few days in the Penticton or Naramata area. There are lots of campsites, B&B’s and small inns to choose from. Some options include the Naramata Inn and Spa, Apple d’Or Guesthouse (a 5 star property), Burrowing Owl Winery and Guesthouse, D’Vine Dreams B&B and the Sandy Beach Lodge and Resort.
• Either bring your own bike or rent bikes from either Okanagan Bike Rentals or the Freedom Bike Shop in Penticton.
• Grab a map from a tourist information office and head off. It is an easy cycle from Penticton down along the canal, along the west side of Skaha Lake and into Okanagan Falls. (Try an old fashioned milkshake at Lollies in Okanagan Falls). For more energetic people I highly recommend riding up the road to Chute Lake from Naramata and then hooking up with the Kettle Valley Trail. The road up is steep but quiet and the views are pretty darn good. The reward is the ride down. The grade is a steady 2% for 18 kilometres if you stop in the Naramata area or 28 kilometres if you continue onto Penticton. Views from the Little Tunnel at Mile Marker 122 are fantastic.
• Did I mention the other reward? Wine tasting at wineries found  all along the Naramata Road.
• The Oliver section can be done as a day on its own, especially if you’re into wine tasting. There is a nice loop starting at the tourist information center in Oliver that takes you on bike paths which are both paved and unpaved and then along the length of Black Sage Road. Consider a lunch stop at the Burrowing Owl Winery.

It’s not all fun and games on the KVR and I believe a word of caution is in order. Once you are past the village of Naramata it will immediately feel remote so head off prepared. Carry water, food, a map, rain gear and a cell phone. Cell coverage is excellent.  Also, bring a few bike tools and a repair kit for a flat tire.

Lastly use some common sense with regards to the following:

• rattlesnakes – do not attempt to pick up
• bears – we saw a big black bear but it scurried off. Read my August blog on bear attacks.
• poison ivy – do not touch the three leafed plant with shiny leaves though in the fall the leaves become red and yellow. If you inadvertently touch it wash the area imediately with soap and water.

Happy trails. This one will put a smile on your face.

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