With summer on its way, we’ll be leading hundreds of families to destinations around the world in the coming months and we thought it would be a great time to introduce you to some of our family trip leaders. They are responsible for making sure adults AND kids have fun (not an easy job!), learn a lot and have an opportunity to get an authentic view of the culture they’re visiting.

In today’s post, we’d like you to meet Rebecca Sorensen. Rebecca left her job as a film/TV production coordinator in LA to travel the world! After spending four months traveling, including biking in Thailand and biking in Italy, she decided she didn’t want travel to be a hobby but a lifestyle. Enter Backroads!

These days You can find Rebecca leading families on a variety of Backroads family bike trips and family hiking trips, including our Yosemite Multisport Tour in California. On that tour, she’ll take you rock climbing, walking through the giant sequoias, hiking past waterfalls and alpine meadows, and to a visit of the Ansel Adams Gallery. You can even enjoy a family game of bocce ball or ping pong!

Rebecca also leads the Hawaii Big Island Multisport trip where families get to walk through a rain forest, ride horses, snorkel, visit a coffee plantation and bike part of the Kona Ironman Triathlon course. Of course, we work in plenty of swimming and beach time, as well.

“I think families really bond on an active vacation, because they are out there every day experiencing new things together. There’s nothing like biking and hiking together as a family—exploring a national park, being able to smell the trees, pick up rocks and pine cones, and really appreciate the nature that surrounds you,” says Rebecca. “It’s beautiful, challenging, and in the end, it’s something you’ve accomplished together.”

Want to travel with Rebecca? Give us a call daily 7 a.m.-5 p.m. Pacific at 800-462-2848 and we’ll answer any questions you have and get you booked!

Traveling with a family can be a bonding experience that your children will remember for the rest of their lives, but choosing the right trip for your family is key to making those happy memories. Backroads, which offers nearly 40 different active family trips around the world, knows how to create the best travel experience for families and we want to share our knowledge with you.

That’s why we created our new Family Trip Advisor, an online tool to help you discover which family vacation is right for your crew.

To use the tool, simply visit our Family Trips page at www.backroads.com/family-trips and select Family Trip Advisor. A box will pop up and begin to ask you a series of question. The process only takes a few minutes, which we know is important for busy families juggling work, sports, school and other activities.

We start by asking the age of your kids. Are they teens, pre-teens, young kids (at least 6) or mixed ages? Once you’ve made your selection, we want to know what time of year you’re planning to travel. Are you looking for an active family summer vacation or perhaps a winter break getaway for families?

Next we’d like to know just how active you’d like your trip to be and then if you’re more interested in exploring nature or culture on your active family vacation.

Once we know all this information, you’ll receive a customized 2-3 minute video with recommendations for destinations that may appeal to your family. You’ll get three specific family trip suggestions with a description of each trip and photos of the sites you’ll see. Once you’ve watched the video, you can even choose to email it to a friend or yourself so you can watch it again!

Try our Family Trip Advisor and let us know what trips we recommended for your family. Do they sound like a good fit?

Please read our blog on 5 Tips for Active Travel With Kids and give us a call 7 a.m.-5 p.m. daily at 800-462-2848 to book your active family trip!

Trip Leader Kimberly Johnson describes herself as a “happy nomad” who loves to travel all over the world whether it’s Myanmar, Mexico or Martha’s Vineyard.  ”Each region fills every one of my senses and never disappoints in the adventures and experiences,” says Kimberly.

Now in her fourth year as a Backroads Trip Leader, Kimberly loves to share the joy of active travel with others and has led trips to many different regions across the globe. One of her favorite travel quotes from Miriam Beard says, “Certainly, travel is more than the seeing of sights; it is a change that goes on, deep and permanent, in the ideas of living.” It’s a sentiment she heartily agrees with.

In April, Kimberly will be leading a Singles-Solos biking trip to Bali. Backroads’ Singles-Solos program groups individuals traveling alone for a social travel experience. Trip Leaders are essential in setting tone and fostering a chemistry between travelers. It’s a task Kimberly loves and our travelers attest to it!

The Bali Biking Trip takes guests through lush rice fields, exotic temples, local villages, busy markets, rough rivers and more to discover this artistic and devout Hindu culture. Highlights include seeing lava flows at Mount Agung, snorkeling the wreckage of the U.S.S. Liberty, preparing local cuisine and rafting the Ayung River.

Have you ever traveled with Kimberly? Share your experience! Want to travel with Kimberly? Give us a call from 7 a.m.-5 p.m. Pacific daily at 800-462-2848 to book her Singles-Solos Bali bike tour or to find out what other trips she’ll be leading this year.

Wow, can you imagine receiving a trip or money toward a trip as your wedding gift? We think that’s one of the best gifts that you can give a newlywed couple and so today we wanted to tackle a question we’re asked frequently: Does Backroads offer a honeymoon registry?

Yes, we do and here’s how it works!

Couples interested in taking a Backroads hiking trip or biking trip for their honeymoon or a later vacation need to first call Backroads to make their reservation. We ask for a $600 deposit per person to hold the reservation.

Then, simply invite friends and family to contribute to this ultimate wedding gift of an active honeymoon getaway. You can have them call Backroads directly at 800-462-2848 to make the contribution to your account, and each contributor will receive a gift card to present to you.

We know you’re going to want to write thank you notes for all the contributions, so at the time of the trip’s departure, we’ll provide you with a final list of all contributors and the amounts of their gifts. May we suggest knocking out those thank you notes on the plane ride to your honeymoon? Then you can mail them from your destination so they’ll see the postmark of the amazing locale they helped you to reach. You might even consider sending “thank you” post cards for a more unique approach!

We do require that all payments are made by the final payment date, which is usually 95-125 days prior to departure (so start asking early!). Any remaining balance will be due at that time. If Grandma or Aunt Susie decides to contribute after that date, we’ll credit you back, no problem!

So where should you choose to travel for your honeymoon? Should you take a honeymoon by bike or a hiking honeymoon? Here are a few of our top active honeymoon selections, ranging from European bike tours to Asian multisport adventures:

France: Dordogne & Bordeaux Biking, Loire Valley Biking, Provence Walking

Italy: Amalfi Coast Walking, Tuscany Biking, Italian Lakes Walking

Africa, Asia & the Pacific: Bali Biking, South Africa/Botswana Active Multisport, Morocco Multisport

Latin America: Costa Rice Multisport, Patagonia Hiking

US & Canada: Vermont Biking, Canadian Rockies Multisport, Martha’s Vineyard Biking, Wine Country Biking

Got questions about our honeymoon travel registry or are you ready to set up your dream honeymoon? Call us 7 a.m.-5 p.m. Pacific daily at 800-462-2848.

2013 has arrived and we know you like to travel as much as we do. So we’ve listed out some of our top 10 New Year’s resolutions specifically dedicated to travel. Lots of people make “travel” itself a New Year’s resolution, but we wanted to go deeper and make some suggestions of how to improve your travel experience in 2013.

Here are Backroads’ top 10 New Year’s travel resolutions:

1)      Travel somewhere you’ve never been – At Backroads we travel to hundreds of destinations around the globe, and we can help you find a bike tour or hiking tour to a place you’ve yet to discover. Instead of taking the same trip you do every year, be bold and try something new!

2)      Travel somewhere unexpected – Sure, everyone wants to take a Tuscany bike tour or a Provence walking tour, but consider traveling to a location more off the beaten path. For 2013, Backroads has introduced bike trips to Myanmar, for example, a country that has largely been closed to the modern world for many years. By biking through Myanmar, you will truly discover an “undiscovered” world untouched by tourism.

3)      Add activity to your trip – At Backroads, we believe half the fun of travel is the way you travel. Step out of the car or tour bus and hop on a bike, walk or even kayak down the river. Your travel experience will be so much richer out in the open air with some activity mixed in. You’ll even be able to enjoy all the gourmet dinners we provide without the guilt!

4)      Bring your kids along – Afraid to travel with your kids? Don’t be! We offer wonderful family adventures that will make a trip with the kids a great experience. Our family bike tours and family walking tours are designed with lots of kid-friendly activities, whether it’s a scavenger hunt, eating gelato in Sicily or fencing in the Loire Valley, that will entertain and educate not just them, but you, as well. Browse our family adventures.

5)      Try a solo trip – Traveling alone can be a life-changing experience and you can do it without worry with Backroads’ Singles + Solos travel program. We offer trips around the world designed for traveling solo. You’ll enjoy meeting other solo travelers on the trip and get plenty of time to explore the world on your own with the unparalleled service, support and guidance of the Backroads team. Browse our singles trips.

6)      Travel at a different time of year – Always take a summer vacation? Try traveling at the holidays to create once-in-a-lifetime memories. Paris in the spring? Yes, it’s lovely, but Europe in the fall can also be a wonderful time to travel. Mix it up this year!

7)      Try a new food – Backroads offers gourmet meals at many Michelin-starred restaurants and plenty of opportunities to try food local to your destination. It might be a little out of your comfort zone, but be brave and try a new food or dish. You just might be surprised at how good it tastes!

8)      Try something adventurous – Add some adventure to your travel! With Backroads, you can fence in Loire Valley, zip line in Costa Rica, hike a volcano in Hawaii and Sicily, visit ancient temples and the list goes on. No ho hum vacations for us! Make your travel exciting in 2013!

9)      Engage the locals – To really get the most out of travel, try to immerse yourself in the local culture. When you bike or hike a destination, you’re more likely to stop and have a conversation with the farmer selling produce by the road or chat with the couple next to you at the café. Make an effort to talk to the locals, ask them about the area and their favorite things to do. You’ll likely come away with a new world view.

10)   Learn a new language – It’s easier to engage the locals if you know a little bit of their language. Challenge yourself a few months before your trip to learn some key phrases in the language of the region you’ll be visiting. Not only will you feel more confident and comfortable, you may just be inspired to learn the language fluently.

Have you set any resolutions related to travel? Let us know what they are and if we can help you meet them! Give us a call 7 a.m.-5 p.m. Pacific any day of the week if we can help you stick to those travel resolutions with a Backroads bike tour or Backroads hiking tour. Happy New Year!

Asia is a popular destination for many of our Backroads travelers. We wanted to share with you some of our favorite Asia bike tours and Asia walking tours as you plan your travels for 2013.

Myanmar – This year, Backroads is introducing an 8-day, 7-night Myanmar bike tour running through March and a Myanmar walking tour, which runs in December. Traveling to Myanmar is an experience few have had the opportunity to enjoy, as this country has largely been closed to tourism. Many of the locals you meet on our bike tour to Myanmar may never have seen someone from outside their country. On our bike trip, you’ll explore the “golden land” including temples, rivers, ancient ruins, a monastery and an extinct volcano and meet a few monkeys along the way.

Thailand – Elephants, rice paddies and fire balloons, oh my! These are just a few of the adventures you’ll experience on our Thailand biking tour. The 8-day, 7-night trip lets you take in the best of Thailand with help from the locals. You’ll receive a blessing from village elders, light a fire balloon and make a wish, eat incredible homemade Thai curry and sample the country’s delicious street food, and conclude the trip with a jungle trek on an elephant. Looking for adventure? This is the one! Thailand biking runs in January, February and December.

Bhutan – We offer a Bhutan walking tour and a Bhutan multisport tour for those looking for a more active exploration of Bhutan. Namgay, a longtime friend of Backroads and Bhutanese local, will give you an inside tour of this lovely country hidden deep in the Himalayas. He’ll lead you on a hike to a 14^th century temple accessible only by foot, rafting down the Po Chhu River, to a visit to an impressive giant Buddha statue,  past a temple hanging on a cliff and to a local teahouse for a warm brew. The 8-day, 7-night Bhutan adventures run March and April and September through November.

China – See China like you never imagined by bike. Our China bike tour lets you pedal through this ancient country through both rural villages and modern cities. Don’t be surprised when local children rush out to greet you, so excited to see visitors! You’ll also take a private boat cruise down the Li River, visit local street markets, see the famous Terra Cotta warriors, pedal the 500-year-old city walls of Xian and see the Great Wall. China Biking is a 9-day, 8-night adventure running April, May, September and October.

Vietnam/Cambodia – See Vietnam and Cambodia by bike or by hiking through these areas. These are some of our most popular Asian bike tours and Asian walking tours. If you choose by bike, you’ll share the road with many others, like food carts, water buffalo and locals and kids headed to school and work; it’s quite an experience! Visit Hoi An, Vietnam’s oldest town, bike over Cloud Pass, stop at Cam Kim Island, ride through Angkor Wat at sunrise and visit famous ancient temples. Our Vietnam bike tours and Vietnam walking tours run January-March, November and December and are 9-10 days.

Where have you visited in Asia? Are there any Asia tours you’d like to add to your bucket list or 2013 travel plans? Let us know!

If you have any questions about our adventure tours to Asia or would like to get one booked, please give us a call 7 a.m.-5 p.m. Pacific at 800-462-2848.

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner and we can’t think of a better gift for your significant other than an adventure tour to a romantic destination. Just picture yourselves biking the great outdoors together, exploring a new country and enjoying gourmet dinners and magnificent wines as your reward in the evening.

Here are our top 3 recommendations for a surprise Valentine’s Day vacation with Backroads:

Loire Valley Biking — With its fairytale castles full of towers and turrets at every turn, this is your chance to play princess and knight in shining armor. The Loire Valley in France is a countryside full of castles like the romantic Chateau de Chenonceau built in the 1500s and the home of the king’s mistress Diane de Poitiers and later Queen Catherine de Medici. We’ll also visit Chinon, known for its full-bodied red wines, and Leonardo da Vinci’s last residence, Clos Luce. Join hands as we head to the centuries-old wine cave and enjoy quintessential French cuisine throughout the France bike tour. The trip is 6 days and 5 nights and runs April through October.

Bali Biking – Looking for an exotic Valentine’s getaway to a warm weather locale? Look no farther than Bali! On our Bali bike tour, couples can swim in the famed Blue Lagoon, visit an ancient temple and cycle past lush green landscapes in Bali where romance is sure to bloom. Enjoy the adventure of rafting the Ayung River, cycling up a volcano and relaxing at the spa. The trip is 8 days and 7 nights and runs March-April, October and December.

Wine Country Biking – Closer to home, rekindle the romance on our California Wine Country bike tour. Pedal along rolling hills and endless vineyards and enjoy a picnic under the majestic redwoods. Of course, there’ll be plenty of wine to taste along the way. Our 6-day, 5-night wine country biking tour heads through Sonoma and Napa and along the coast, and includes several Michelin-restaurant starred meals. This is one of our more popular trips and it runs March through December.

When you travel with Backroads, we provide the ultimate in service with three trip leaders and two support vans on every trip to move baggage from hotel to hotel and provide you with anything you need from a snack to a ride to a bike repair. You focus on the romance; we’ll focus on the details J.

Hurry and call us soon at 800-462-2848 7 a.m.-5 p.m. Pacific to surprise your sweetie with a Backroads adventure tour of a lifetime on Valentine’s Day!

For more than a decade, a tourism boycott persuaded many travelers to steer clear of Myanmar. But things have changed and Backroads can now fulfill the desire of those who’ve dreamt of traveling to Asia to uncover the mysteries of this secluded country.

For 2013, Backroads is offering an 8-day Myanmar biking tour and an 8-day Myanmar hiking tour, both of which will introduce you to Myanmar’s remarkable scenery, fascinating culture and its welcoming people. And it’s already booking quickly and is appealing to those looking to travel to unspoiled destinations and truly off-the-grid locales. It’s a great one to add to your travel bucket list!

First, let’s talk about the people of Myanmar. You may have the impression that with an organized tour, you won’t have much interaction with the local people. But that couldn’t be farther from the truth with a Backroads adventure. We have relationships with locals who are proud to introduce you to their culture. In fact, we arrange exclusive experiences for you in areas rarely seen by outsiders.

On both trips, you’ll be led off the beaten path to experience temples and the landscape. For example, Yangon (previously the capital of Burma) is a distinctive city with colorful streets and hectic open-air markets. In addition to the public areas, you’ll experience a peaceful stroll with a monk through the impressive 6^th-century Shwedagon Pagoda. This pagoda is the most sacred for the people of Myanmar, as it enshrines strands of Buddha’s hair and other holy relics. The sparkling structure has hundreds of gold plates, and the top of the stupa is covered with 4,531 diamonds, including a 72-carat diamond.

You’ll also experience Mount Popa, which is an extinct volcano that towers 4,900 feet above sea level. Along the southwest spur of the mountain is a rocky turret that rises about 3,000 feet above sea level; this is the home of 37 spirits. Inle Lake is another wonderful stop. You’ll explore this freshwater lake by boat, visit silversmiths, silk weavers and a private home — all set on fixed platforms in the middle of the lake.

If you’ve been waiting to travel to Myanmar, we assure you, the trip is worth the wait. The authentic experiences are many and we’ve only touched the tip of the iceberg here. Go ahead and cross it off your bucket list and see this magical land for yourself. Call us at 800-462-2848 7 a.m.-5 p.m. Pacific time today for more information or to book your Myanmar tour.