Tour Schedule

To celebrate Black History Month, we're proud to introduce this late-April tour which will begin with a day in downtown Atlanta in the vicinity of the MLK National Historical Park and Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum, and end with an afternoon/evening/morning stay in downtown Birmingham at the historic and elegant Hampton Inn Downtown Tutwiler Hotel, just blocks from the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute and the 16th St. Baptist Church. In between we'll ride the magnificent Silver Comet and Chief Ladiga Rail Trails, which together stretch almost 95 miles across western Georgia and eastern Alabama, among the longest paved pedestrian paths in the country.

BONUS for baseball fans: Our starting hotel is just steps from the Atlanta Braves' new-ish stadium, Truist Park (formerly SunTrust Park), and the Braves play at home on Sunday the 23rd at 1:30 (vs. the Houston Astros) and on Monday at 7:20 pm (vs. the Miami Marlins). Let us know if you're interested in taking in a game! 

These two trails are rich with tributes to the glorious age of passenger rail, with three trestles and a railroad tunnel integrated into the trail designs, as well as numerous train depots restored as resting places for trail users. Both are remarkably flat and smooth,and pass through small towns that embrace the trail with welcome centers, ice cream and sandwich shops, as well as long stretches of protected wilderness and alongside enchanting wetlands. where you may spot fox, deer, and numerous species of birds.

We'll cover 94.5 miles in 3 days of riding on the Silver Comet & Chief Ladiga Trails; the mileage in Atlanta and Birmingham will depend on your desire for cycling on trails/local streets vs. touring museums and memorials in the area. 

Tour Leaders: Jack Pettry & Tony Palmer

Included

Overnight accommodations for 5 nights, 5 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 3 dinners

Itinerary

Difficulty Level: Intermediate

This tour begins and ends with a day of "free form" riding, per your desires/interests, in urban Atlanta and downtown Birmingham. On Monday we will van all riders to the vicinity of the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library & Museum. From there, bike path possibilities include the Freedom Park Trail, the Atlanta Beltline Eastside Trail, and Stone Mountain Trail, with destinations including Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park, MLK's Birth Home, the Atlanta Botanical Garden in Piedmont Park, Freedom Park Bird & Butterfly Garden, and Stone Mountain Park which offers a Summit Skyride.

The middle three days are on paved, smooth Rail Trail, with about 30 miles of riding each day. The support van is always available for those wishing to ride less. The routes are suitable for all bicycles.

On Thursday afternoon we'll van from the terminus of the Chief Ladiga Trail to our hotel, the elegant and historic Hampton Inn & Suites Birmingham Downtown Tutwiler. We ought to have a few hours left to cycle and/or walk around downtown Birmingham, and we'll spend the morning the same way - there are some designated bike lanes, and attractions include the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, Linn Park, the Birmingham Museum of Art, and Sloss Furnaces National Historic Landmark. We'll have a quick lunch in Birmingham before vanning back to our starting hotel, the Holiday Inn Express Atlanta Galleria-Ballpark. 

Suggested tire size for this tour: 28mm and larger 

Pricing

$2,100 per person (based on double occupancy)

$425 – Single Supplement (extra price to have your own room)

$150 – Bike Rental (helmet and bike bag included)

Your Travel Plans

For this tour we meet riders at 5:00 pm on Sunday, April 23 at our hotel in Smyrna, GA, the Holiday Inn Express Atlanta Galleria-Ballpark. The trip ends on Friday, April 28.  The hotel is just 7/10 of a mile from Truist Field, home of the Atlanta Braves, and the Braves are playing at home on Sunday at 1:30 vs. the Houson Astros and on Monday night at 7:20 vs. the Miami Marlins.

If you are traveling by air, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta Airport is 20 miles from the hotel. We return you to our opening hotel at the end of the trip.

If you are driving, you drive to the hotel. We'll return you there at the close of the trip.  You may leave your car there during the trip for no charge.

Your Lodging Plans

Your lodging from Sunday, April 23 through Thursday, April 27 is included.  Our return to our starting point, the Holiday Inn Express Atlanta Galleria-Ballpark (in Smyrna, GA) is expected to be about 3:00 p.m. on Friday April 28th. If you'd like to stay that night, please contact the hotel directly and tell them you're with the Senior Cycling tour. 

• The base cost of this trip is $2,100 per person (double occupancy)
• Single supplement fee is $425.
• 50% of the total is a required deposit, due upon registration
• The remainder is due 30 days prior to departure date. (Due date March 23) Cancellation details: If you cancel by 30 days prior to departure date, you will receive a 90% refund. If you cancel less than 30 days prior to departure date you will not receive a refund.
• Please purchase trip insurance. We trust Allianz Travel Insurance. https://www.allianztravelinsurance.com
• If we cancel due to not meeting our minimum number of riders, we will refund 100% of your payment. This decision will be made no later than thirty (30) days prior to the trip.