Seattle's location between the sea and Washington's mountains attracts recreation buffs who want to enjoy its natural wonders along with urban amenities. The city's reputation for rain may be well earned, but a little water seldom deters a cycling enthusiast. Guided bike tours are a chance to get fit and learn about the city at the same time.
Tour Basics
Bikes explore parts of Seattle where tour buses cannot go, and they further Seattle's reputation as a city with fresh, clean air. All tours allow guests to bring their own bicycles, but many operators can either provide bikes and helmets or arrange for rentals. Most tours are suitable for beginners, but cyclists should inquire about the level of difficulty before booking any trip. The greater Seattle area hosts numerous bicycle clubs, many of which host occasional special tours and events. Visitors and residents alike should feel free to contact local clubs to see if any tours are scheduled.
General City Tours
Pike Place Market, Pioneer Square, the International District, the University District and a variety of parks, gardens and notable buildings are on the map for comprehensive city tours. Tours like Seattle Urban Adventure's Jet City Bike takes in the waterfront and famous neighborhoods and takes riders through Olympic Sculpture Park to see the art and to a fish ladder to watch salmon. That tour also includes a ride along a ship canal and a stop at Lake Union, which is popular with seaplanes, kayakers and floating homes such as the one featured in the movie "Sleepless in Seattle."
Specialized Tours
Friends of Seattle's Olmsted Parks leads an annual bike tour of Lake Washington Boulevard. Landscape architects in the famed Olmsted family designed green spaces and parks all around the United States during the 19th and early 20th centuries, including Seattle's multi-park plan. Throughout the summer, the boulevard closes to traffic on Sundays between Mount Baker Beach and Seward Park so that cyclists and walkers can enjoy a car-free day. The Friends guided tour gives a history of the area on one of those days. Seattle-Cycling-Tours offers daily city tours of historic neighborhoods but can also arrange specialty tours of area wineries.
Customizable Tours
Customizable tours provide maximum freedom and the ability to tailor a trip specifically to an individual or small group's interests. IBike organizes customizable private tours for individuals or groups of up to 10 people. Options include tours of Seattle's ethnic neighborhoods, religious sites, women's history and Bainbridge Island. Trips can last as little as two or three hours or can take the entire day. Cloud 9 Living's Pop Culture Bike Tour celebrates the city's legendary music scene. Guides lead cyclists on a ride through music trends from vaudeville and jazz to hip-hop and grunge.
Multi-Day Tours
Cyclists who want the adventure to continue for more than just one day can book a multi-day tour that originates in Seattle. Bicycle Adventures offers several overnight tours starting in the city, including tours of the San Juan Islands and of Washington's volcanoes. All of Bicycle Adventure's trips also allow time for hiking, and some add on sea kayaking, complete with the services of a tour guide and van support. IBike conducts a two-week tour of Puget Sound, which includes a historic tour of Seattle before heading out to the San Juan Islands and later to the Canadian Gulf Islands.
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