A Message from Tom Hale

A Message from Backroads President Tom Hale:

There's no doubt about it - these are difficult times. As I write this, I'm at my home in the Bay Area with my wife Liz and the kids. Like everyone else in California and so many others worldwide, we are sheltering in place and learning to adapt to new realities that would have seemed hard to believe just a short time ago.

From the Berkeley office staff working at our kitchen tables to the worldwide Backroads community of travelers and Trip Leaders, we're all experiencing an unprecedented time of limited mobility. As a community of adventurers, that's a hard pill to swallow. And it's not easy for my kids either, who can't wait to get out of the house!

This isn't the first storm we've weathered and, as always, it's going to be our community that sustains us through difficult times. From neighborhood singalongs in the streets of Italy to 80th birthday celebrations held on opposite sides of apartment windows in Spain, it's been beautiful to see people pulling together in unexpected ways. Travel, like life, is all about connections: with cultures and beautiful places, but also with each other.

We're not going to let that go away. Stay tuned in the days and weeks ahead for new content from Backroads. Our team is working hard to bring a bit of the beauty of travel directly to you and your family as we all get through this together. 

Of course, we're still here, and happy to answer questions about any future travel plans or help you decide which adventure will be first on your list once this is over. Take advantage of our decades of travel experience - pick our brains, ask us detailed questions, share what's on your mind. We're here for you.    

Backroads as a community is here to stay. We'll be here during this difficult time, and we'll be ready when we can safely explore the world again. In the meantime, stay safe, stay healthy, and stay positive. We can't wait to get back out on the roads and trails with all of you soon.  

Yours,

Tom Hale