Providence Welcomes the New England Shore Trek

Time in their very comfy beds at the Omni Providence has helped the New England Shore Trekkers get well rested and energetic.  They've been getting to know Providence, visiting the State House today to see Rhode Island's replica of the Liberty Bell and the beautiful, ornate architecture.  They're also learning a bit about the state's history and the lawmaking process.

After one more night in their fancy hotel rooms, the Trekkers will enter Massachusetts and start biking toward Boston -- the last leg of their trip.

New England Shore Trekkers Make the Best of a Rainy Day Outside Newport, RI

Rainy group hug after a pizza lunch!

After a relaxing ferry ride from Block Island to Portsmouth, the New England Shore Trekkers had lunch together and went to the movies.  They biked into their campsite, had wonderful, hot showers, and then got a ride to a laundromat.  For dinner, they made one of Teen Treks' favorites, Buffalo Chicken Mac N Cheese.

They're looking forward to seeing Newport tomorrow, and then continuing on up the coast!

New England Shore Trek Cruises Through Rhode Island

The New England Shore Trek was so early to the ferry this morning they had time to hang out and play cards!  The group left Block Island behind and hit Newport running.  They biked around downtown, had a relaxed picnic lunch, and headed for their campsite at Melville Ponds Campground, near Portsmouth, early in the afternoon.  Everyone was very excited to get warm showers.

They'll be in Portsmouth another day, then head to Providence, where they'll take a break from camping by staying at the Omni Hotel.

New England Shore Trek Bikes Across Rhode Island

Today was a big biking day for the New England Shore Trek!  They packed up their gear, left their comfortable hotel rooms and hit the road for a 40-mile day crossing Rhode Island to catch a ferry to Block Island.

Everyone was feeling up for the challenge and excited to get 2 days biking the island, swimming at its gorgeous beaches, and exploring its historic lighthouses and the friendly downtown of New Shoreham.  They zoomed along their route, made the early ferry, and set up camp in what might be record time for trips on this route.

You know a group is getting along when they all collapse into a pile to take an afternoon nap together.  We look forward to hearing what they discover together on Block Island!

Leaving Block Island for Providence: New England Shore Trek Bikes On

Mechanical problems with the Newport Ferry gave this group an extra day on Block Island, and they used it well!  In the morning, they rented kayaks and paddled around the marina and the island's shoreline.

They enjoyed picnicking in town, then hopped on their bikes and headed to Sachem Pond, a beautiful freshwater pond on the north end of the island.  They relaxed around it, went for a swim, and then came back to town to get dinner from a local take-out restaurant before heading back to their campsite.

This morning, they too the Point Judith ferry and biked into Provincetown, where they're going to get to live it up with two nights in the Omni hotel.  In the morning, they took a tour of the statehouse, learning some interesting things about the building's history and about Rhode Island.

They ate lunch at Roger Williams National monument park and then explored Main Street a bit. In the afternoon, the Trekkers went back to the hotel to get some swimming in before going out for dinner later.

New England Shore Trek Visits Portsmouth, Newport, and Providence

Our lead New England Shore Trek got off the ferry from Block Island at noon, landing at Portsmouth.  Even with the short day, they found time to take a cliff walk and tour the mansions in Newport before biking to their campsite for the evening.

They rode the East Bay bicycle path and picked up a new friend on the beach:

They're now enjoying two nights in downtown Providence, exploring the city by bike.  Last night, they had a tasty dinner out at Kebab & Curry:

Beginning tomorrow, they'll be biking through Massachusetts for about a week, heading toward Boston!

Bike Trips for First-Time Explorers

Kids as young as 11 can get in on their first cross-country bike adventure with Teen Treks, on our First-Time Explorers and Easy routes.   These trips stick to quiet trails, tow paths, and little-used roads, and require as little as 15 miles biking per day. 

Some of these popular trips are already filling up!  Reserve your spot now, so you don't have to face the dreaded "SOLD OUT" label on that trip you had your heart set on.

First-Time Explorers trips (15-25 miles/day):

• D & R Canal Trek for students entering grades 6-8
• Connecticut-Rhode Island Trek for students entering grades 7-9
• Niagara-Toronto Trek for students entering grades 7-9

The D & R Canal Trek follows the historic D & R Canal Trail through Pennsylvania and New Jersey.  Ride across the Delaware River where George Washington made his crossing, see 18th century farmhouses, and tour picturesque downtown districts and the Princeton campus on this great six-day introduction to bicycle touring.

The sandy beaches, charming New England towns, and winding back roads along the Connecticut-Rhode Island Trek are a biker's paradise.  This ten-day ride starts in NYC and goes through New Haven, Guilford, Hammonasset State Park, Block Island, Newport, and Providence before coming back to NYC by bus.

Our Niagara-Toronto Trek follows awesome bike trails around Lake Ontario.  We start in Buffalo, NY and cross into Canada on the first day to visit Niagara Falls and Goat Island, then see the lake freighters at on the Welland Canal, spend a day at Confederation Water Park, and head to Toronto for two days to explore Kensington Market, major museums, Chinatown, and the Toronto Islands.  This ten-day trek ends with a bus ride back to Buffalo for wings and last goodbyes.

Easy trips (20-35 miles/day):

• Cape Cod Trek for students entering grades 7-9
• C&O Canal Trek for students entering grades 7-9
• New England Shore Trek for students entering grades 7-9

The Cape Cod Trek heads south out of Boston past Plymouth Rock, to Cape Cod and Martha's Vineyard.  Over 14 days, you'll tour fishing and resort towns and enjoy cabin camping as you make your way up to Provincetown, then come back to Boston for two days visiting sites like Fanueil Hall and Harvard Square, seeing Shakespeare in the Park, and checking out trendy eateries and shops.

Bike the New England Shore with Teen Treks for 14 days, and see beautiful coastal towns and all the beaches you can handle.  We meet up in NYC, then take a train out of the city to start cycling up the coast through New Haven, Mystic, Groton, Block Island, Newport and Cape Cod, ending up with two days in lively, historic Boston.  A bus brings you back to NYC for a day, taking the trek full circle.

On the C & O Canal Trek, you'll bike for 16 days from Pittsburgh to Washington, DC, taking the Great Allegheny Passage (Rail to Trail) and the C&O Canal Tow Path -- no cars or traffic.  You'll get to go whitewater rafting, see Frank Lloyd Wright's Falling Water house, ride a 19th century canal boat, and visit Civil War-era sites at Harper's Ferry.  The last two days, we spend sightseeing in our nation's capital.

  

Our leaders get extensive training in first aid, mechanics, and leadership techniques, and they're all at least 21 years old. Many of them have taken trips just like the ones they're now leading, and many have led for Teen Treks before!

We love to help trekkers of all ages discover how much they can accomplish.  We camp out some, and we stay in clean, friendly hotels and hotels; we make oatmeal around the fire, and we eat out everywhere we go so you get to know places' local cuisine.  You'll make lifelong friends and come away with memories you'll treasure.

For more information on all our treks, including route maps, dates, and costs, visit Teen Treks' website.  Email or call us (716-566-7908) any time with questions.  We'd love to help you choose the best trip for a fantastic, unforgettable summer!

New England Shore on Block Island, by Jonah

The group has accomplished some great mileage with the reward of hanging out on Rhode Island's Block Island!

As Jonah shares:
"After traveling by ferry to the Island, we got to the campsite and had a good night's sleep. We all were excited to go to the beach and have fun on our first day off.  We all went swimming and hung out at the beach, then some of us went and explored the main town, New Shoreham.  My friend Daniel and I (Jonah) also went on a bike ride around the island with Cliff (Teen Treks Director), who was visiting the group for a few hours.  In the evening we went to an outdoor blues concert and ate burgers.  It was a really fun day."

Beach bound!