Maine Coast Trek Winding Down

A rainy morning got the Maine Coast Trekkers on the road early to say goodbye to beautiful Acadia National Park yesterday.  They biked 26 miles before lunch, the group's top early mileage for the entire trip.  They found lunch at the biggest Walmart any of them had ever seen and did a little window-shopping for guns to introduce Samuel, a Trekker who hails from France, to that aspect of American culture.  They had lots of time to swim and take some long, hot showers when they got to their campsite and pulled out the stops for their last night cooking together to make "some crazy creative Sloppy Joes."

Today, they're biking to Bangor -- with stops along the way for back rubs and baked goods.  One more night, and then the Trekkers will meet up with their families to start sharing stories of their biking adventure!

Maine Coast Trekkers Get Ready to Summit Cadillac Mountain

Our Maine Coast Trekkers went an entire 24 hours without biking, but they found more than enough to keep themselves busy.  They did some laundry, popped out to explore downtown Bar Harbor, then had lunch and played hacky sack on the village green.  In the afternoon, they went swimming at Sand Beach. For dinner, they gave themselves a night off from cooking and went out for pizza, then enjoyed an ImprovAcadia show.

Tomorrow, they're hoping for good sunrise weather -- everyone's ready to bike Cadillac Mountain before sunrise, then coast back down to Blackwood Campground for breakfast burritos.

There's essentially no cell reception in the park, so leaders Andy and Carol are in the same tech-free environment as the teenagers in the group.  They're going retro, using paper maps and asking strangers where to find the best spots in the park.

One more night camping out, then a cozy night at a hotel in Bangor, and this group's Trek will be finished!  They're going to squeeze everything they can out of it.

New England Shore Trek's Last Day

 The New England Shore group closed out its Trek with loads of sun and sand!  They went swimming in the ocean, buried each other in the sand, ate lunch on the beach, and of course. . .

They biked!  They put a total of more than 330 miles behind them on this trip -- quite an accomplishment!  Today, they're reuniting with their parents, some in Boston and some in NYC, to tell them all about their adventure.  

It sounds like everyone had a fantastic trip.  Enjoy the last bit of your summer, New England Shore crew, and keep biking!

D&R Canal Trek Leaves New York City

The Delaware and Raritan Canal Trek left New York City today for a 6-day, mostly off-road adventure along beautiful canal bikeways.  These are our youngest Trekkers, ages 10-12, completing a self-supported Trek with full panniers and group gear.

Since this was the first day, they started out by discussing bike safety rules and group biking procedures, then caught a train out of the city.  They did their first biking together around Rutgers University and New Brunswick, NJ. 

Their destination for the day was the Doubletree Hotel in Somerset, NJ, where they had a swim in the hotel pool and then cooked and ate dinner in the fresh air at a picnic table on hotel grounds.

Trekkers, Trip Leaders and Parents meeting in NYC

Swimming and Mini Golf: New York - Montreal Trek Checks Out Lake George

After their longest day of 48 miles, our second New York - Montreal Trek biked an easy 20 miles, much of it on a smooth, shady bike path, to reach Lake George. They got in plenty of swimming time and found a family of friendly ducks to feed:

After the group dried off, they biked up to a mini golf course.  They had a lot of fun with the course's creative, sometimes silly, sometimes surprisingly tricky, holes:

Next, they'll head into Vermont for a couple days, then come back to NY state before entering Quebec.

We hope their ride stays smooth all the way there!

New York - Montreal Trek Has a Great Time in Albany

Our second New York - Montreal Trek enjoyed smooth biking into Albany, where they stayed in the very classy Hilton Garden Inn, right downtown.  They had a particularly fun and energetic guide for their 2.5-hour tour through the New York State Museum, and thoroughly enjoyed the whole thing -- but especially the carousel:

The Trekkers had picked up a whiffle ball set, and they put it to good use in Washington Park:

They finished their day with ice cream, some much-needed laundry, games, and swimming in the hotel's pool and hot tub.  They should be well-rested, because they have their biggest biking day ahead of them: 48 miles to Moreau State Park.

New York - Montreal Trek Rides Upstate

Our second New York - Montreal Trek is making good time through NY state.  They discovered a wonderful swimming spot that we didn't even know about here at the office, which leaders Josh and Rachel have promised to mark on our maps for future Treks. 

They've also been touring the Franklin D. Roosevelt house and gardens -- getting filled in on some of the site's history by a friendly park ranger -- and conquering some long rides with a strong, cheerful team dynamic.  Last night, they rewarded themselves after dinner by making s'mores around a campfire.

They're headed to Albany next, and then on to Lake George!

New England Shore Trek Hits the Beach on Block Island

The New England Shore Trekkers have been having a great time on beautiful Block Island. They biked to one of the island's historic lighthouses (which you can see in the background), swam at the nearby beach, got some ice cream in the afternoon, and then biked out to Mohegan Bluff.  They made dinner together, then made a campfire.

Caleb, pictured above with Amy and Caroline, does not want to let go of his ukelele and get down to the business of planning a grocery list.  (He did, and dinner was very tasty.)

Block Island is full of great bike trails and awesome things to see, so we look forward to hearing more about the group's adventures there before they return to the mainland!

New York - Montreal Trek Reaches Burlington

The New York - Montreal Trekkers biked along the peaceful shore of Lake Champlain, where they could see the high peaks of the Adirondacks across the lake and the Green Mountains reaching up above them on their side.  They made Burlington with time to take a long swim in the lake, and watched the World Cup semifinal match between Argentina and the Netherlands.

They're going to come back through the corner of NY state before crossing into Canada, and then biking through Quebec to Montreal.

New England Shore Trek Visits Mystic Seaport

Mystic Seaport welcomed our New England Shore Trekkers on a bright, beautiful day.  They toured the living history museum and took a relaxing shuttle boat ride up the Mystic River and back.

In addition to learning about the region's history, they got some insight into its ecology -- here, they're watching jellyfish swim in the water below.

They had a blast swimming at their hotel's pool and then dug into some pizza.  Their next stop is Block Island, where they'll camp out for two nights, ride some beautiful bike paths, and check out the town of New Shoreham.

New York - Montreal Trek Rises to Challenges in the Hudson Valley

Traveling from Croton Point Park to Fishkill, NY, our New York - Montreal Trekkers hit more than a few bumps: it was a hot day, they went up and down a lot of hills, and they had a number of bike problems, from flat tires to a wrecked derailleur.  At the end of the ride, they even hit a brief but heavy downpour.  They stayed positive, though, and put in some fantastic team effort to keep everyone moving.

 

Plus, the whole group did a lot of hands-on learning, so every one of them is now more confident about making their own repairs.

After their tough day, the Trekkers swam in the hotel pool and ordered out for pizza to give themselves a night off from cooking.  They're now continuing up the Hudson, with Hyde Park and the Franklin D. Roosevelt House as their next stops.

New York - Montreal Trek Makes a Splash at Lake George

The New York - Montreal Trekkers were determined to prove that they could get ready quickly (so they can sleep in more in the future) so this group had a very early start. They had only 22 miles on their route, quite a relief after the previous day's 48-mile ride, so they took their time and explored downtown Glens Falls, NY.

The Trekkers thought they'd outsmart Mother Nature by eating lunch in a gazebo while it rained, but an hour later, when they were back on their bikes, the rain caught up with them.  By the time they reached Lake George, they were drenched -- but the sun came back out while they got to know the town on foot.

After a tasty dinner at their campsite, they walked back into town and discovered a pool dedicated to bumper boats, so, naturally, they had to give that a try.  As you can see from the photo, fun was had by all.

That wasn't even the end of the group's day, though!  They managed to find a magic show to watch before heading back to camp for showers and sleep. 

The group's next ride will take them into lovely, but hilly, Vermont.

New England Shore Trek Camps Out at Rocky Neck State Park

The New England Shore Trekkers biked a respectable 34 miles on their second day out to reach Rocky Neck State Park.  Each day, a group of Trekkers is responsible for planning the coming day's meals and buying groceries, and the group for this day was so efficient that everyone got to have an especially relaxed lunch. 

They made good time getting to the campsite, so everyone had plenty of time to get settled, take a dip in the ocean, and get to know each other a little better.

The group has an early start planned for the morning -- they're heading to Mystic, CT, and they want to have plenty of time to explore the living history museum there.

Block Island Treats the New England Shore Trekkers Right

Our New England Shore Trekkers started off their day in Block Island early and headed to the North Light lighthouse -- only to find it was closed!  They still got to see the exterior of this charming and historic structure, and then went swimming nearby on an absolutely gorgeous beach:

They biked the Clay Head nature trail:

And spent the afternoon in New Shoreham, an adorable island town full of coffee shops, souvenir shops, and ice cream places.

Tomorrow morning, they'll catch a ferry to Newport, RI and spend 2 days there before continuing up the coast.

New England Shore Trek Has a Great First Day

Our New England Shore Trekkers are cruising up the east coast.  Here's how their first day went, in their own words:

We rode 9 miles, and after that we went to the beach, went on to Pride Rock, and checked out some cool places – the observatory and the nature center.  It was really fun.

-- Alex

We rode our nine miles and went to the beach.  Then we chilled out at the campground, and we swam a bit in the ocean – that was really fun.  And I cooked beef.

-- Jonathan

 Jacob and Alex pose with a giant shell at the nature center.

Feeling triumphant on top of Pride Rock!

They'll be in Rocky Neck State Park soon, and then on to Mystic, CT.

Adventure awaits you!

May is National Bike Month, and to celebrate it, we thought we'd show off some of the adventures Teen Trekkers get into while traveling by bicycle.

Hiking through the lush woods in the Pacific Northwest:

Climbing the rugged landscapes and rocky beaches along the Maine Coast:

Kayaking on a sunny afternoon, which we do on the New York-Montreal trek, as well as on the Pacific Northwest:

 

Stopping for an afternoon swim on our way Across America and on the 1000 Mile Challenge:

Grilling over a campfire on our way around Lake Ontario:

And of course, biking. . .

Biking. . .

Biking!

There's nothing like the thrill of discovering the world under your own power:

Celebrate National Bike Month by getting out on your bike and seeing where it takes you!

Many of our trips are filling up, but we do have spots available. Don't miss out -- apply now to make your summer unforgettable!

Bike the California Coast this summer with Teen Treks! SUN and FUN!

California’s bright, sunny days and cool ocean breezes make biking its coastline a summer in paradise. Join us to soak up beautiful beaches and tour some of the country's most famous cities for 18 glorious days!

You’ll start in bike-friendly San Francisco, seeing the Golden Gate Bridge and historic Fisherman’s Wharf, then travel south, down the coast.

Along the way, you'll stay in unique lighthouse hostels and enjoy great hiking and camping in Big Sur. Much of our California Coast route follows the Pacific Coast Highway, the winding, scenic road high above the ocean you’ve seen in movies and on TV. Take this trip, and you’ll see that California was made for biking!

You'll get loads of swimming and sun on the beaches through Santa Barbara and Santa Monica, and finish your adventure with three days in Los Angeles -- including sightseeing in Hollywood!

We're running two treks up the California Coast this summer, for teens entering grades 10 and up:

• June 27 - July 14
• July 18 - August 4

Apply now to reserve your place on one of our most gorgeous routes!  

Or sign up for one of our other amazing trips: New York City - Montreal, European Phantom, Pacific Northwest, New England Shore, Maine Coast -- and more!

Bike from New York City to Montreal with Teen Treks

Spend an amazing 16 days this summer traveling through the U.S. and Canada with Teen Treks!  Join a great group of high schoolers on our popular New York City – Montreal bike trek for some of the best cycling and most fun stops on the continent.

Head out from NYC early in the morning, following the Hudson River.

Enjoy the gorgeous countryside of upstate New York and go through smaller towns and Albany, the state capitol.

Stop off for the beach and water fun at Lake George.

Dig into Ben & Jerry’s famous (and enormous) Vermonster, a 20-scoop sundae served in, yes, pretty much a giant bucket. 

Come back up through NY state to head into Quebec, Canada. 

Spend 3 days exploring Montreal, hearing Quebec French, eating poutine (Canada’s favorite junk food – fries with fresh cheese and gravy), and seeing some of the world’s most beautiful architecture.

Like all Teen Treks, this trip gives the group flexibility on the daily details of the route.  If everyone wants to bike hard to get to the lake faster so you have more time on the beach, or if everyone wants to take it easy at a park, stop to appreciate a view, or make an extra ice cream stop, you can do that.

 

This trek ends with a bus ride back to NYC, where you’ll spend a day in Manhattan before heading home.

The New York – Montreal trek features moderate biking (30-50 miles per day) and camping as well as stays in hostels and hotels.  Teenagers entering grades 9-12 can enjoy this short trip, which is packed with things to see and do.  We’re running several New York – Montreal treks this summer:

• June 23 - July 8 (trip code JN-23)
• June 30 - July 15 (trip code JN-30)
• July 7 - July 22  (trip code J-7)
• July 28 - August 12 (trip code J-28)
• August 4 - August 19 (trip code A-4)

Visit TeenTreks.com to apply to bike New York City – Montreal with us, or sign up for one of our other super trips: Across America, Pacific Northwest, European Phantom, California Coast, New England Shore, Amsterdam-Paris, Maine Coast -- and more!