The Family Trips Issue, March 2008

Dear Traveler,

Do you love the idea of active travel but wonder how you can please everyone with the same vacation? Travel with Backroads and treat your family to fun, stimulating adventures designed for the whole gang. Whether you're biking to castles or spotting wildlife from a kayak, we take care of everything while you enjoy quality family time together.

Three of my top picks for families, and guaranteed to be a hit with yours, include the Loire Valley, Tuscany and the incredible national parks—Bryce, Zion and Grand Canyon—of Utah and Arizona.

With their rich culture, history and natural wonders, it's no surprise that these locales are true standouts when it comes to offering all the ingredients for an extraordinary family vacation. They feature lots of kid-oriented diversions, from rock climbing, canyoneering and mule rides, to stopping for treats at patisseries, visiting castles and painting pottery.

You'll also appreciate easygoing routes specifically developed to suit kids' abilities and attention spans (as well as more mileage for the adults), an ideal blend of family time together and time for yourself, stays at welcoming hotels or campgrounds, and a whole range of food experiences, from casual picnics and campfire cookouts in Utah and Arizona to a Michelin-starred dinner in France. And at every turn, you'll enjoy the satisfaction of seeing your kids broaden their horizons while having the time of their lives.

For detailed itineraries and other trip options, please view our Backroads Family Trips online or give us a call—our Trip Consultants are available daily from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Pacific Time at 800-GO-ACTIVE (462-2848). Our summer trips are filling up fast so call us today.

Happy trails,

Tom Hale
Founder and President

Three Great Choices for Family Fun

Let's Go Loire!

Long ago, in the wooded countryside around the meandering Loire River, the French ruling class played out their rivalries and love affairs, and built some of the most beautiful châteaux in Europe. Today the Loire Valley is an ideal place to show your kids where the stuff in the history books actually happened—and have a ton of fun in the process. Bike on quiet rural roads once traversed by gilded carriages. Explore grand salons and maze-like gardens where royal children used to play. The routes are gentle and short, the restaurants welcoming and every hotel has a swimming pool. Loire Valley Biking: Fun in the Regal Touraine

Awesome Adventures in Tuscany

In Tuscany, we've got three tantalizing choices for families. Our family biking trip north of Siena offers a taste of the Chianti region, with wine for adults and gelato for the youngsters (and the young at heart of course!). Bike through a landscape that seems to have jumped out of a Renaissance painting, among rolling hills overlooked by villas with cypress-lined drives. Take a walking tour of San Gimignano, a fascinating city crowned with medieval towers. Or, if you'd prefer to bike from the vineyards to the sea, try our family biking trip from the Tuscan hills to the Maremma coast for a taste of both the Italian countryside and the Tyrrhenian waters. If you prefer less activity and more cultural immersion, check out our Insider trip in Tuscany and Umbria, which offers your family the most in-depth Italian experience possible.
Tuscany Biking: A Taste of Tuscany North of Siena
Tuscany & Maremma Biking: From Tuscan Fields to the Tyrrhenian Sea
Tuscany Insider: From Classic Tuscany to the Green Heart of Italy

Big Fun in Bryce, Zion and Grand Canyon

Come play with us in the spectacular canyonlands of Utah and Arizona! Bike, hike and explore to your heart's content as you discover weird and wonderful rock formations, unusual high-desert plants and critters, and beautiful vistas in three of the nation's most colorful national parks. Hike past bright red rock spires and pinnacles in Bryce. Pedal to the Grand Canyon for scenic walks and maybe even a mule ride. Go for an unforgettable hike in the river on one of Zion's most memorable routes, the Narrows. Lots of convenient departure dates, the choice of Casual Inns or Deluxe Camping, plenty of activity options and free time to explore at your leisure make this a fantastic journey for the whole family.
Bryce, Zion & Grand Canyon Multisport: Bike & Walk a National Park "Triple Crown"