Backroads Email - Europe Family Trip


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Kidding Around in Europe

Alison Iles Dear Traveler,

What will have your kids saying "oui!" to the idea of a family vacation in Europe? Why, the suggestion of a fun-filled, action-packed, gelato-fueled European adventure with Backroads, bien sûr! From our brand new trips in Iceland and Holland & Belgium to classic favorites like Tuscany and the Loire Valley, we have a wide range of vacations to choose from.

Learn to hunt for truffles in Italy. Venture onto a glacier in Iceland. Or pedal easygoing bike paths over canals, past windmills and along flower fields in Holland. Your enthusiastic and inspiring trip leaders set the stage for an array of fun firsthand experiences. (And, parents, you'll also have time to relax on your own—really!) So what are you waiting for? Come play with us in Europe on a trip that will rank as everyone's most memorable ever.

We look forward to seeing you out there!
Alison Iles Signature
Alison Iles
Family Trips Manager

P.S. To reserve your trip, give us a call at 800-462-2848. Our Trip Consultants are here seven days a week from 7-5 PT. View the full list of family trips here.

Check out some of our European adventures...

		Tuscany Family Biking Pedaling, Painting and Pizza North of Siena In Tuscany, your crew will find lots to rave about—including some of the best gelato you'll ever taste! Our cycling trip offers a fantastic intro to the Chianti region, with plenty of time to explore both on and off your bike. Pedal through a landscape that seems to have jumped out of a Renaissance painting, investigate San Gimignano, a classic medieval city crowned with stone towers, tour a historic abbey—now a private estate producing its own olive oil and honey—and enjoy a truffle hunt and tasting. View the Itinerary

		Alsace & the Black Forest Family Biking France's Wine-Rich Valley & Germany's Fabled Woodland This biking getaway leads you back in time through France's history-rich Alsace region to Germany's primeval woodlands. Ride on the famed Route du Vin through the misty foothills of the Vosges Mountains, explore storybook villages and discover a compelling blend of cultures that's certain to delight your family. Parents will love tasting world-class Rieslings and gewürztraminers while the kids go for the sweet stuff at a chocolate museum. As for other kid-approved highlights? Black Forest cake and cuckoo clocks, of course! View the Itinerary

		Brittany & Normandy Family Biking From Tranquil Farmland to Historic Coast This intriguing journey focuses on two of France's most scenic regions. Not only is it an excellent opportunity for kids to see where the stuff in history books actually took place, you'll also visit colorful villages, bike on rolling roads to scenic beaches and wander through the magical island monastery and cathedral of Mont-St-Michel. Along the way, kids can go horseback riding, get a hands-on lesson in the art of glass blowing and chat with a local historian during a private tour of the American Military Cemetery. View the Itinerary

		Loire Valley Family Biking Fun in France's Regal Touraine On this journey through one of our favorite regions in the heart of France, your kids might discover that life in olden times was actually pretty interesting after all. They'll explore fairy-tale châteaux, like Chenonceau and Villandry, and check out rustic cave dwellings where peasants once lived. They can learn the importance of foibles and fortes under the watchful eye of a world-class fencing master, visit Leonardo da Vinci's home and view models of his creations, and discover the town of Chinon and its historic ties to Joan of Arc. View the Premiere Inns Itinerary View the Casual Inns Itinerary

		Dalmatian Coast Family Multisport 101 Ways to Play in Croatia's Dalmatian Islands Your family will be amazed by the beauty of the Dalmatian Coast. Follow trails past vineyards and olive groves and down to untouched Adriatic beaches where the swimming is incredible. Go sea kayaking in protected inlets and bays. Island-hop aboard ferries and traipse through towns with ancient cobbled streets and battlements where sentries once kept watch for pirates. And savor all those unforgettable moments that Backroads helps make happen—like finding that perfect little pizzeria just off the main square. View the Itinerary

		Czech Republic & Austria Family Biking Bohemian Knights & Danube Castles If your youngster is intrigued by the idea of Renaissance castles, knights and damsels, a biking adventure in the Czech Republic and Austria promises to be a super cool experience. Kids will visit the Mitterkirchen open-air museum, featuring a re-created Celtic village, enjoy a scavenger hunt in the fortress city of Český Krumlov and view a fascinating falconry demonstration. And don't forget the theatrical sword-fighting demo performed exclusively for us! View the Itinerary

		NEW! Iceland Family Multisport History, Culture & Adventure at the Edge of the Arctic Circle Ready to let off some steam in the Land of Fire and Ice? Come enjoy a trove of fun activities, including a "super jeep" adventure past waterfalls and canyons, through rivers and across alluvial fans near simmering Hekla volcano. Trek on a glacier to view out-of-this world ice formations, water caldrons, crevasses and a breathtaking icefall. Saddle up for a ride on agile Icelandic ponies, and have a splashing good time while rafting the Hvítá River. Much of Iceland's landscape may be glacial, but the pace of this trip sure isn't! View the Itinerary

		NEW! Holland & Belgium Family Biking From the Dutch Countryside to Beautiful Bruges Your entire crew will adore what's in store while biking in Holland & Belgium with Backroads. Out here, on two wheels, it's easy to feel connected to your surroundings. Follow a mix of flat, peaceful country roads, dijk (dike) walls and scenic fietspaden (bicycling paths) past windmills, flower fields, quaint cottages and "oreo cookie" cows. Enjoy an insider's look at regional history and culture. Visit storybook villages and explore romantic Bruges, perfectly picturesque with its narrow cobblestone streets, steep-gabled brick houses, lofty spires and meandering canals. And discover that all the wonderful things you've heard about biking in Holland and Belgium are true! View the Itinerary

		Switzerland Family Multisport Alpine Exploration in the Land of Chocolate, Cheese & Cowbells With plenty of fresh air, sparkling lakes, enormous glaciers, delicious fondue and chocolate and loads of fun activities, will your family have a blast on this trip? You bet! Special highlights for kids include an authentic luge ride, a trip across Lake Thun in a paddleboat, a thrilling cog train journey to Grindelwald at the foot of the spectacular Eiger peak, and the chance to make "beautiful" music on a traditional Swiss alphorn. View the Itinerary


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