Activities

EuroVelo Rhine River Signs
September 19, 2017

Rhine River Cruise Biking: Europe's Easygoing Bike Paths

As I pedaled along the riverside bike path on a clear and sunny day, I couldn’t let go of the feeling that something about this riding just felt different. I was leading our Rhine River Cruise biking trip last summer and the thought kept dancing in the corner of my mind, ever-present as the smile that wouldn’t leave my face. Finally, it dawned on me.

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September 14, 2017

Women of Tuscany's L'Eroica Vintage Bike Race

It isn’t just cool that we’re a group of chicks on bikes, it’s phenomenal that we’re a team of women riding vintage bicycles in a historically male-dominated Tuscan race. We’re five Backroads Trip Leaders who have each led trips in Tuscany, and we’ve been planning to partake in the famed L’Eroica vintage bicycling race together for almost a year. This is my second experience racing L’Eroica in Tuscany, and this time I feel like I belong.

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Copenhagen, Denmark bicycle sign
December 19, 2016

On a Winter's Day in Copenhagen

It's the second winter that I'm spending in Copenhagen, the city that also happens to be the destination of Backroads' Stockholm to Copenhagen cycling voyage. Up here in the North, the winter days are short, sunrise is late and counting the hours to sunset does not require all fingers of both hands. Sometimes it seems as if the cold is not only freezing the lakes and ponds in the countless parks and city gardens, but it is also freezing time. The hands of the watch slow their pace, as if they want to save energy for the long awaited summer, when suddenly music festivals, foodie fairs and street galleries pop up at every corner as if they were tulips and Copenhagen was not a city, but a large, fertile field. While summer is the perfect time to explore Copenhagen's art and food scene, the slow winter is well-suited to chat up the locals and engage in some philosophizing, especially when a few sun rays manage to break through the cloudy sky.

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Backroads Slovenia Lake Bled
September 22, 2016

Biking Undiscovered Slovenia

Twenty years ago, I found myself in Slovenia for the first time. I had never heard of it; to me, it was just a rumor, a whisper of adventure, a place where few were aiming their sights. "You've gotta check it out, man. No one even knows it's there." So, with very little thought and absolutely no plans, my friends and I grabbed our bags and set out for the station.

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Rhine River
August 26, 2016

Rhine River Cruise Bike Tour Video

This unique Rhine River Cruise bike tour combines the comforts of luxury cruising with the total immersion of active travel. And thanks to Backroads Regional Coordinator Michael Bernhard, who grew up exploring his native Germany on two wheels, it's a journey shaped by an insider's perspective: our flexible routes take you well beyond the typical tourist paths, deep into the rich culture and natural beauty of the Rhine Valley.

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San Juan Islands Backroads Biking
April 18, 2016

San Juan Islands Bike Tour Video

We've biked in the San Juan Islands since the earliest days of Backroads and know every inch of the great routes we've linked together with help from island-hopping ferries and an amazing network of local friends. We're constantly fine-tuning our itineraries, keeping what's great, revisiting what's changed and making sure you enjoy the best of the San Juans – whether it's an ideal picnic spot, an interesting regional artist or a feast of perfectly prepared fresh salmon.

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The Eiger and the Jungfraujoch station
March 24, 2016

Hiking the Eiger Trail

It's said that long ago in the Bernese Oberland region of Switzerland, there were two monasteries at the top of the world. One, on a peak called the Jungfrau (the virgin), is where the women would stay. The other, called the Eiger (the ogre), housed the men. In the middle stood the most formidable of the three peaks, called the Mönch (the monk), to keep the sexes apart. These mountains tower over the village of Grindelwald. The Eiger in particular, with its steep exposed north face, has long been a test piece for serious mountaineers. Last fall another Backroads leader and I hiked in the shadow of the Eiger--and you can too!

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The Narrows
March 8, 2016

Bryce, Zion & Grand Canyon Family Multi-Adventure Tour Video

When everyone's together, there's lots going on! That's why our Family Adventures in Bryce, Zion and Grand Canyon have three Trip Leaders--including a dedicated Kids Activity Expert who regularly takes younger travelers off to do their own thing. So, while kids are exploring the Grand Canyon's rim by mule, adults descend into the canyon by foot. As adults hike through the red rocks of Zion, kids are off canyoneering. And then there's plenty of biking, hiking, swimming and swapping stories as a family too!

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Dalmatian Coast Croatia, Jumping off boat
December 30, 2015

Dalmatian Coast Family Multi-Adventure Tour Video

On our Dalmatian Coast Family Multisport Tour, you're are invited to walk the plank! After a day of biking by the sparkling waters of the Adriatic, at some point you and your family will likely want to plunge in. We recommend waiting until you're back on board our private trabakul, the double-masted sailing coaster unique to this region, as the crew will drop anchor and suggest that you walk the plank - in a good way. And once you've enjoyed a refreshing swim in the sea, it's time to relax on deck with a cold drink and watch the coastline slip by.

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Flowers, trees and mountains in the Canadian Rockies
November 4, 2015

Top Ten Hikes in the Canadian Rockies

There isn't a trail to be missed in the Canadian Rockies. Bold statement? Yes. True? Absolutely. So you can't go wrong. But to help you get the most from your precious time in this magical region, let me give you the lowdown. From Banff, Yoho and Kootenay National Parks to Kananaskis Country, here are my ten favorite hikes in the Canadian Rockies.

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