Florida Forgotten Coast

DAY 1: We meet at our starting hotel in downtown Tallahassee. We’ll start the rental bike fitting at 3:00pm, have our orientation at 5:00pm and then dinner at 6:15pm. If you’ve arrived early, consider visiting the Alfred B. Maclay Gardens State Park, whose azaleas and camellias should be at peak bloom this time of year. Or spend part of the day at the Tallahassee Museum, where you can learn about the state’s wildlife and cultural history. 0 miles.

DAY 2: After a quick breakfast, we depart from the hotel under a scenic canopy of live oaks and Spanish moss, and quickly hop on the Tallahassee-St. Marks Historic Railroad State Trail, a paved path that passes ponds and swamps and groves of longleaf pines along the way. Destination?  Edward Ball Wakulla Springs State Park, home to the world’s largest and deepest freshwater springs.

After a picnic lunch, we will take a guided boat tour on the Wakulla River. You’ll see wildlife teaming above and below the bald cypress trees, from Hooded Warblers and Yellow-Crowned Night Herons to alligators, Suwannee cooter turtles and manatees. Did you know that the early Tarzan movies were filmed here? After the river cruise, you can choose to take a hike or a brisk swim in the 70-degree water near the springs. 24 miles, +164'/-340'.

DAY 3: This day is devoted to Florida wildlife in its most pristine state. After breakfast, we’ll pop back onto the paved bike path and pedal south to the St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge and Lighthouse. The lighthouse is the second oldest in Florida and has guided vessels of all stripes - recreational, military, and commercial - to the St. Marks River for 150 years.

After our picnic lunch, we’ll continue cycling through salt marshes, freshwater pools, pine flatwoods and sabal palms - Florida's state tree. Drawing dozens of species of migratory birds traveling the north-south flyway, the 68,000-acre Wildlife Refuge is also a permanent home to bobcats, black bear and alligators, but they keep their distance! 17 or 52 miles, ±255'.

DAY 4: After a quick shuttle to the fishing hamlet of Carrabelle, we’ll start biking along the Apalachicola Bay. We’ll see white sand beaches on the left, and simple homes surrounded by thick forests on the right. Sometimes we’ll ride deeper into the trees, but the water will never be far away.

We'll pedal the last few miles along the John Gorrie Memorial Bridge over East Bay, with an easy downhill into downtown Apalachicola. Dr. Gorrie was a 19th century Apalachicola physician who invented the ice machine which later led to air conditioning - town technologies that have made modern Florida habitable for millions. Apalachicola also honors him with a museum where a replica of his ice machine, designed to cure Yellow Fever patients, is on display. 27 miles, ±255'.

DAY 5: Another day of gulf breezes, sandy beaches and wide-open Florida skies as we cycle along the coast by road and bike path to St. Joseph Peninsula State Park. This 20-mile long spit is deemed one of the most scenic state parks in the country with its white sand beaches and tall dunes on the gulf side and gorgeous marshes on the bay side.

We’ll picnic on the beach and then you can take some time to stretch your legs on the Maritime Forest Nature Trail or rent a kayak and get on the water. Ambitious cyclists can ride back to Apalachicola, while the rest of us can opt for a lift via the van. 30 or 60 miles, ±145' or ±290'.

DAY 6: We conclude the tour with one last ride on St. George Island. Along this barrier island, we’ll see spectacular stretches of coastal dunes and wetlands as well as another romantic beach. We’ll celebrate the week with one last picnic lunch and then transfer to the Tallahassee airport arriving by 3:00pm and our starting hotel by 3:30pm. Till next time, y'all! 22 miles, ±158'.