Anybody who has ever taken the time to ride a bike through wine country during the fall harvest season knows the almost intoxicating (no pun intended) aroma that wafts on every breeze, making for a glorious and memorable ride. It’s that sort of experience that keeps them coming back year after year for the Lakeshore Harvest Country Annual Bicycle Tour. This year marks the 6th Annual Bicycle Tour and everyone is invited to join the fun.
The annual ride is slated for Saturday, September 9th, and offers up a leisurely countryside bicycle ride to the fruit farms, wineries and cideries in and around South Haven, Fennville and Saugatuck at the onset of the fall color season.
Four routes ranging in length from 15 to 62 miles are available to accommodate riders of varying abilities, starting in either Douglas or South Haven. Rest stops, snacks, lunch and even shopping are offered along the route—with concierge service to transport purchases (such as produce, artwork and other goodies) back to the starting point, for riders to pick up following the event.
The event is coordinated with the help of the Friends of the Blue Star Trail, in cooperation with the Saugatuck-Douglas Visitors Bureau, South Haven Visitors Bureau, Blue Coast Artists and Lakeshore Harvest Country and will begin at 8am on ride day. Advanced registration is required, however you can accomplish that right now if you wish by clicking this link: http://www.lhride.com
In addition to its trail events such as the bike ride, Lakeshore Harvest Country publishes a brochure and map which identifies each of its members and provides additional information about the activities found at each of their venues. The map is available at any of the member locations, as well as at the Visitor Bureau offices in Saugatuck and South Haven and Welcome Centers around the state. It can also be downloaded online at this link: http://LakeshoreHarvestCountry.com
Members of Lakeshore Harvest Country include the following:
- Barden’s Farm Market
- Bumbleberry Acres
- Cogdal Vineyards
- Country Road Vineyard
- Dee’s Lakeshore Farm
- DeGrandchamp Farms
- Evergreen Lane Artisan Cheese
- Fenn Valley Vineyards & Winery
- Hungry Village Tours
- Khnemu Studio on Fernwood Farm
- McIntosh Apple Orchards & Winery
- Overhiser Orchards
- Ridley Family Sugar Farm
- Riverbend Raspberries
- Root-Fennville
- Salt of the Earth
- Sunrise Orchards
- Virtue Cider
