Classic Adventures

"We have taken seven or eight vacations with Classic Adventures. We have always had a great time. The food and accommodations have always been excellent. Van support along the routes is good, and we are always satisfied with the snacks. Benton and Sarah (the owners) frequently lead the tours. They are great to deal with."

"We recently took a 4 day bike trip with Classic Adventures on the Erie Canal. There are many bike tour operators but this group is special. It’s a husband and wife company (Benton and Sarah) with many years of experience and the business dates back to the husband’s parents. The itinerary was excellent, the bikes were great (we actually used Trek E Bikes), and the accommodations and meals were top flight. Can’t say enough about our hosts and their deep knowledge of biking and the history of the canal, and much more. Sarah is an artist and both are well read and interesting people. Most importantly they put us at ease immediately being totally flexible on the length and speed of each ride. Highly recommend this company and especially the Erie Canal trip. Mike DeBernardi Bonita Springs, FL Windham, NY"

"Relaxing Erie Canal Bike Trip July 2021: Well organized, low-key local tour guides/owners Benton and Sarah delivered a relaxing, compact, and informative experience for a group of old college buddies (some of whom did not have extensive biking experience). As hoped, this turned out to be a great choice for newbies wanting to try out a multi-day bike tour experience that is well-supported and provides a deeper dive into the history of the region. Even if you are not a history buff, the saga of the Erie Canal as an economic engine and engineering marvel is a compelling story, and one that continues to shape the region. Riding is not demanding: flat, paved or packed granular surfaces for the most part. Zero trail riding and some limited rural road riding on low traffic roadways. Longest days were circa 40 miles broken into morning and afternoon rides. We had excellent weather and mid-July conditions were mid-70s, light winds, and low humidity. Most of the riding is straight away along the canal. That said, the included trip notes were helpful in negotiating detours and tricky cross-overs in quaint-looking canal towns. Cycling pace is up to the individual -- one guide rides sweep while the other positions the van and trailer for snack breaks and mechanical check-ins. Rental bikes were excellent, and well-suited to the not-so-demanding conditions. Rental set-up is on well-maintained Trek 3.0 hybrids with multi-position handlebars, odometers, and light gear packs. Of note, Benton had an XL frame for one of our taller riders. We had no mechanical issues and each day all bikes were cleaned, tuned, and turned over to us ready-to-ride. Lodging varied, ranging from a B&B (bit faded but with an excellent bed and tasty breakfast) to a generic but comfortable Hampton Inn to a luxury modern property for last two nights. Dining was a mix of group and on-your-own dinners. Group dinners are included in the tour price (not including alcohol). Regional cuisine seems to favor a “quantity over quality” approach but local produce was excellent (including cucumbers from Sarah’s garden). Overall, I highly recommend the Erie Canal Bike Tour with Classic Adventures. The owners/guides put a lot of thought, pride, and local knowledge into creating a relaxed but active tour well-suited for new riders but with plenty to attract more experienced riders seeking a low-intensity ride through a region with a rich but relatively underappreciated history."

"This was our first biking trip ever. We chose Classic Adventures not only because the trip fit the dates we were looking for, the destination we wanted, and the level of biking we needed, but because it is a small family run company. We were concerned about distances, terrain, ability to keep up and several other things; but after calling Benton Hart, the owner to get some of these questions answered, we could tell that he was passionate about biking, biking safety, and the area where we would be going; and that he was genuine and laid back. There was no "sales job" or pressure whatsoever From the first phone call to the last day of the trip, everything went well! The itinerary was very organized, Benton reviewed everything each morning with our trip notes and checked in with us throughout the day. When the weather was not conducive to riding one day, Benton made sure to take us to a winery we would have ridden to on our bikes. The hotels and inns and the restaurants he included in the trip were varied in style and consistent in quality and service. I am a vegan and the restaurants Benton chose were very willing to create delicious meals for me! Plus all of them offered vegetarian dishes on their menus. Our group of 11 was comprised of a three generation family, a single woman and another couple besides ourselves- all from different cities. Benton and his daughter accompanied us -- our "fearless leaders"! In addition to the fact that we were the only first timers, we had a LOT of issues getting to Quebec (unrelated to the tour)!! Everyone was very helpful, friendly and made our transition from our tales of woe to becoming semi -experienced riders so much easier! Our group was a lot of fun! We rented electric assist bikes which made going up the few hills on the trip much easier! We pedaled the whole time but had a power boost when we needed it. The longest distance we had ridden in a day up until the trip was 18 miles on our beach cruisers, but we had no trouble going as far as 42 miles in a day. Benton assured us that the 6 day/7 night tour of Quebec trip was right for us and that we would be fine and have a good time....He was 100% correct!!"

"We have done 5 tours with Classic Adventures. Sarah and Benton are the best!!!! Our favorite tours were Germany and Bordeaux. Their bike routes have taken us places we would have never found on our own. Their equipment is top notch and we cannot wait to book another tour soon!!"