Florida Forgotten Coast
6 Day Inn Tour
Tour Information
Welcome to the “Forgotten Coast,” a stretch of the northern Gulf Coast that has largely been left alone by developers, and frankly, by people in general. Surrounded by state parks, national forests, wildlife refuges and research reserves, this is an area where Mother Nature and Southern culture still get along. Expect to bike along some of the country’s most beautiful beaches and see some of the most diverse flora and fauna. Off the bike, you’ll have a chance to savor a lazy river cruise, spy nesting eagles and osprey, swim in a freshwater spring and eat freshly harvested oysters. Floridians may call this the “Forgotten Coast,” but to those who see it up close and personal, it’s unforgettable.
Guaranteed
The tour still has space. Make your travel arrangements.
Leisurely
Moderate
Flat terrain on paved roads and bike paths. Beginner to moderate cycling level. Easier with an ebike.
5 nights lodging, 4 breakfasts, 4 picnic lunches, 4 dinners, snacks, park entrance fees, river boat cruise, digital maps & GPS files, van support, and trained guides.
$195 for Cannondale Quick 3 hybrid, or Cannondale Topstone 2 adventure road bike. $350 for Gazelle T10 Ultimate low-step e-bike or Specialized Vado step-thru e-bike.
Ouick
Topstone
Gazelle
Vado
Accommodations are subject to minor changes.
Fly in and out of Tallahassee, FL, and take a taxi to our starting hotel for about $20. WomanTours will shuttle everyone back to the Tallahassee airport by 3:00pm and our starting hotel by 3:30pm.
Lauren McKay
Tour Leader/Chef
Beth Orenstein
Tour Leader
How do I sign up?
You can Register / Sign-up for a Tour online. . You'll need a Visa, MasterCard, or Discover card or a check for the deposit. If you sign up within 30 days of the start of the tour, we require payment in full. Then, we’ll send you a tour confirmation packet with many more details about your trip, including travel arrangements, a packing list, and an optional training schedule. Most of our tours fill completely and have waiting lists, so don’t wait too long before deciding to join us!
How do I know if I can do it?
If you can ride 5 miles on your bicycle today, then you can do our tours marked as leisurely. If you can ride 10 miles on rolling terrain, then you can do our moderate tours. If you can ride at least 20 miles on rolling terrain, then you can train to be able to tackle our advanced tours. Remember that our support vehicle is always available to pick you up if you get tired. That’s what we’re there for.
If you're still concerned about being able to do it, then consider renting an e-bike. These electric-assist bicycles flatten out the hills and increase your speed. They make more challenging tours available to more cyclists.
What do the numbers mean at the end of each day's itinerary?
If we describe a day as being 25 miles, ±1340', the full ride is 25 miles long and has 1340 feet of elevation gain. This ride also has 1340 feet of elevation loss, so you start and end at the same point of altitude. It could have one long hill up and down, or many shorter rolling hills. We try to describe the type of terrain in words too in the tour description. If you have any questions about any of the rides, please just ask us!
What about electric-assist bikes (e-bikes)?
Electric-assist bikes - or e-bikes - have quiet, battery-powered motors that add power to your pedalng. They increase your speed and assist you in cycling up hills. Most e-bikes have a range of assistance, so you can choose how much of a boost you'd like. E-bikes make it easier to do all the miles in all types of terrain. We allow electric-assist bicycles on our tours if you'd like to bring your own. We also have e-bikes available for rent on most of our trips -- look for the e-bike symbol. We do not make e-bike recommendations if you're considering purchasing your own. We suggest you rent one on a tour first so you can try it!
Do I need to pay the single upgrade if I am coming alone?
No, you only need to pay the single upgrade if you want your own room. Otherwise, we will match you with others who have come alone as a roommate. Each day that we change hotels, you will rotate roommates. Women usually enjoy this arrangement, as they get to know each other on the tour. You will always have your own bed.
I am coming alone on this tour. Will I be the only one traveling alone?
Absolutely not. Many of our participants come by themselves. That is part of the reason for the existence of WomanTours--to provide women with riding partners as well as scenic vistas and interesting tours.
What if I cannot keep up with the rest of the group?
Our tours are self-paced. Each woman rides to her own rhythm. The support van or tour leader on the road are available until the last person comes home for the day.
What about the rental bikes?
We have a fleet of women-specific bicycles available for rent for $195 for most tours in the U.S. We will need your height and inseam measurement to fit you properly. You can choose a hybrid bike with straight handlebars or an adventure road bike with racing-style drop handlebars. We also have electric-assist bikes, Gazelle T10 or the Specialized Vado, available for $350 for most tours. Our rental bicycles have a phone holder, back rack, water bottle holders, and back bag.
What if I have to cancel a tour within the USA?
We understand that personal circumstances sometimes force women to cancel their travel plans. Therefore, we have tried to be as generous as possible with the following domestic tour cancellation policy for our regular tours:
- 75+ days before tour departure: forfeit $150 of your deposit.
- 50 - 74 days before tour departure: forfeit 25% of the complete tour price.
- 30 - 49 days before tour departure: forfeit 65% of the complete tour price
- 15 - 29 days before tour departure: forfeit 85% of the complete tour price.
- 0 - 14 days before tour departure: forfeit 100% of the complete tour price.
- No refunds are possible after the tour begins.
In addition, you may transfer $350 to another trip up to 75 days before departure. On domestic US trips (excluding Alaska,) you may also transfer 50% of the trip price, less $50 up to 30 days before departure. WomanTours will hold any “transfer funds” on account through December 31 of the following year. Any money left on account beyond this deadline will be forfeited.
Please note that our cross-country and epic tours have their own cancellation policies, depending on the tour's payment schedule. The $300 registration fee for these tours is nonrefundable and nontransferable.
"I really enjoyed the small group of 15 women. It makes it possible to get to know the other women, and it felt like we all connected and established a nice bond. I hope to join you for one ride every year!"
Tour Itinerary
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'.