ITINERARY 2025
SUNDAY FEB 16 or FEB 23:
Optional Early Arrival at Hampton Inn & Suites Tarpon Springs FL
Welcome to Tarpon Springs! Tarpon Springs is an excellent place to start a bicycle tour because of it's rich history, diverse culture and scenic beauty. With the famous well-maintained Pinellas bike trails just blocks away from our hotel, cyclists can explore the city's natural and cultural landmarks at a leisurely pace. The area is known for its Greek heritage, and visitors can experience unique cuisine and traditions of the local Greek community.
DAY 1
TO CLEARWATER BEACH & RETURN
34 MILES
MONDAY 2/17 or 2/24
Cycle South on Pinellas Trail through vibrant Dunedin towards our turn-around point...PIER 60 on Clearwater Beach! Many cafe's and ice cream stops along the way. A great start to a fun week of biking! Our comfortable Hampton Inn & Suites hosts us 1 more night.
DAY 2
TARPON SPRINGS TO BROOKSVILLE
50 MILES
TUESDAY 2/18 or 2/25
The Pinellas Trail takes us easily through scenic downtown Tarpon Springs and out of town North towards Brooksville. On the way we'll enjoy the newly constructed trail through Sparkey Wilderness Preserve where turtles & sandhill cranes are commonly spotted near our food stop in the Park. Then, onwards to the Suncoast Trail North to Brooksville where our hotels (Fairfield Inn & Suites + Holiday Inn Express) are conveniently located directly off the path! Plenty of restaurants in Brooksville, including a few right across the street from our hotels.
DAY 3
BROOKSVILLE TO LECANTO
47 MILES
WEDNESDAY 2/19 or 2/26
It's always convenient to have a "Good Neighbor," especially when that Good Neighbor is a fantastic paved trail that takes us quickly out of Brooksville! Headed East on this quiet rustic paved trail we're almost to the world famous Withlacoochee Trail, a real highlight of the tour! Cycle past horse farms and through a couple small towns & don't forget to stop at Ferris Groves, a family owned citrus grove dating back to 1931 for an unforgettable milkshake made from their local oranges and fresh strawberries. Not too much further is Inverness with a thriving downtown for those wishing to detour off the path for a cup of coffee, sandwich or ice cream. Our hotel for the next 2 nights is just past Inverness in Lecanto. (Holiday Inn Express) Shuttle Bus to downtown Inverness tonight where you can choose among several good restaurants.
DAY 4
LAYOVER IN LECANTO
OPTIONAL RIDE 0-35 MILES
THURSDAY 2/20 or 2/27
Morning optional ride up to 35 Miles continues on the Withlacoochee Trail, then afternoon bus trip to Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park to see Native Florida Wildlife! Head back to our hotel for a fun Social Hour and it's almost time for our shuttle bus to take us downtown Inverness to sample the outstanding local restaurants. A nearby downtown ice cream shop is open late for those seeking extra credit.
DAY 5
LECANTO TO BROOKSVILLE
47 MILES
FRIDAY 2/21 or 2/28
Leaving the Lecanto/ Inverness area is never easy but at least we are lucky enough to experience the Withlacoochee Trail again headed South this time. Our food stop lies adjacent to the Withlacoochee River in a wooded forest setting. As we continue South through the Withlacoochee State Forest past lush tree lines we once again approach the Good Neighbor Trail and Brooksville, where Fairfield Inn & Holiday Inn Express will host us one last night. A fantastic group dinner catered by Marzellas Catering awaits in the town of Spring Hill, only a 15 minute bus ride.
DAY 6
RETURN TO TARPON SPRINGS
50 MILES
FRIDAY 2/22 or 3/1
Another fun PAW adventure is almost finished as we cycle closer to Tarpon Springs. Cycling through Starkey Park Nature Preserve serves as a reminder of what a gem this trail system is, connecting over 100 miles of fantastic paved and well maintained biking trails, with only 2 small sub divisions of biking to complete our journey. It's no wonder many bikers have made this tour their yearly February destination.