France & Germany Family Biking
First contested by the Romans and Celts, and later by the Germans and the French, tiny Alsace showcases a compelling blend of cultures that's certain to delight your family. Here, in the far eastern reaches of France, you'll discover medieval towns whose feudal ruins tell of battles won and lost. You'll marvel at glacier-scoured valleys and ancient volcanoes. And pedal on the famed Route des Vins as it hugs the misty foothills of the Vosges Mountains and links a string of idyllic wine villages. Adults taste world-class rieslings and gewürztraminers while the kids tour a chocolate museum. Then venture across the Rhine River and into Germany's Black Forest, a mythical area synonymous with spas, Spätburgunder and primeval pine woodlands. As for the local kid-approved highlights? Chocolate cake and cuckoo clocks, of course!
Day 1 Obernai
Meet in Strasbourg 
Bike through the Vosges Mountain foothills to Obernai, which seems right out of a storybook with its cobblestone streets and remnants of medieval fortifications.
Days 2-3 Rouffach
Pedal past vineyards and quaint villages brimming with half-timbered houses and cheery geranium gardens Visit a marquetry workshop for a demonstration of the centuries-old craft Ride La Route des Vins, perhaps stopping for wine tastings en route to Riquewihr, a town that has miraculously - and beautifully - survived five centuries of warfare Strong riders up for a challenge can conquer the Vosges vaulting peaks or tackle steep hills to Kaysersberg and Ribeauvillé for a sample of delicious white wines In lively Colmar, browse the abundant shops for that perfect souvenir Kids experience the region's sweeter side during a fun (and tasty!) visit to Le Musée du Chocolat.
Days 4-6 Badenweiler
Cross the Rhine River and enter Germany's Kaiserstuhl at the edge of the Black Forest This stunning volcanic landscape is home to some of the country's finest wines, including reds from the Spätburgunder grape The youngsters make a splash while canoeing near the Rhine Savor a slice of the region's famed Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte - chocolate cake with cherry schnapps Go totally cuckoo for the locally made clocks Ascend steeply into the heart of the forest, marveling at miles of unparalleled vistas, or relax at the hotel's spa Enjoy a final glimpse of village life as you pedal past small Black Forest hamlets.
RHINE RIVER ELEGANCE: Premiere Inns
A la Cour d'Alsace (1 night): From former baron's manor house to luxury hotel, this stunning property offers every modern amenity in the heart of medieval Obernai.
Château d'Isenbourg (2 nights): This elegant Small Hotels of the World manor is perched above the Alsace vineyards.
Hotel Romerbad (2 nights): At this stately "cultural residence," you'll find spacious guest rooms with sleek modern décor, a sauna, spa and thermal swimming pool.
Daily Mileage Options & Cumulative Elevation Gain
Day 1
- Level 1 1 Route Option Available
- 12 miles
Day 2
- Levels 1 to 4 3 Route Options Available
- 18, 42, 48 miles
Day 3
- Levels 2 to 4 3 Route Options Available
- 24, 36, 54 miles
Day 4
- Levels 2 to 4 3 Route Options Available
- 21, 45, 58 miles
Day 5
- Levels 1 to 3 3 Route Options Available
- 15, 18, 36 miles
Day 6
- Level 1 1 Route Option Available
- 12 miles
Trips For All Abilities
Every Backroads trip is designed to appeal to a wide variety of interests and fitness levels. We know your pace may vary from one day to the next-and your traveling companion's may differ somewhat from yours. So we present a range of mileage options, and each day you decide exactly what and how much you want to do.
| Activity Level | Average Time | Biking Average | Walking Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Insider Trips | Explore at a leisurely pace—on village walks, market strolls, art history excursions, hands-on cooking classes and more. |
||
| Level 1 | 2-3 hours | 10-20 mile | 2-5 miles |
| Level 2 | 2-4 hours | 21-30 miles | 5-7 miles |
| Level 3 | 3-5 hours | 31-40 miles | 7-9 miles |
| Level 4 | 4-6 hours | 41-55 miles | 9-11 miles |
| Level 5 | 5-7+ hours | 56-75+ miles | 11-13+ miles |
2010 DATES
FAMILY TRIPS
- 6/13-18Price: $4098 pp dbl. occ., (+ $1020 for sgl. occ.)
- 7/11-16Price: $3998 pp dbl. occ., (+ $1020 for sgl. occ.)
- 8/1-6Price: $3998 pp dbl. occ., (+ $1020 for sgl. occ.)
- 8/15-20Price: $3998 pp dbl. occ., (+ $1020 for sgl. occ.)
Recommended Kids Ages
Minimum Ages:
Recommended minimum age for the trip: 9 years
Minimum age restriction to ride own bike: 9 years
No burleys or piccolos available on this trip
General Info on Minimum Ages:
We strongly encourage families to join our Family Trips, designed with kid- and adult-friendly features. Please note that we have a minimum age requirement of 1 year for all Inn trips and 2 years for all Camping trips. Other than that, we do not restrict trips to a minimum age except in the rare case of a hotel age restriction. We do, however, recommend minimum ages based on the following criteria:
- 12+ cultural appreciation, difficulty of activities and route
- 9+ difficulty of activities and route
- 6+ several long adult dinners; parent may not be able to pull a Burley and/or there may be multiple activity restrictions
- 3+ riding is on bike paths, making it great for young kids; Burley and Piccolos are available; there are few or no activity restrictions; and no long dinners (or we offer alternatives)
Please note that a trip may feature an activity with an older age requirement than the minimum age recommendation for the trip. Younger kids are still welcome on the trip and while they will not be able to participate in the activity, the leaders will suggest an alternate activity. For safety reasons, children under 7 may not ride their own bikes and are required to ride on a Piccolo or in a Burley. For certain destinations, children must be 9 or older to ride their own bikes.