This trip is like Black Forest cake. Rich. Delicious. Layer upon layer of incredible ingredients that combine to make the whole family grin. From ohr to oreille (that's "ear" in German, then in French). Like châteaux from the Middle Ages. Stunning bike rides. Half-timbered houses. A delightful canoe trip. Idyllic wine villages. And feudal ruins. All smoothly mixed into a landscape of vineyards, mountains and living history. And infused with Grand Cru tastings and mineral-spring soaking. You’ll savor what makes these areas so distinct. So beautiful. So sought after. Like a piece of Black Forest cake.
Day 1 The spa town of Badenweiler, a Roman settlement back in A.D. 75
- care for a soak? 
Pedal through thick woods, along soothing streams and past typical Black Forest hamlets with miles of unparalleled vistas The Bauerhausmuseum, an authentic regional abode built in 1696, reveals how people lived and worked more than a century ago.
Days 2-3 Cross into France and experience Neuf-Brisach, d'Alsace,
the fortified French town that is now a World Heritage siteRide through the Rhine River Valley and through ancient towns like Soultz-Haut-Rhin and Guebwiller Youngsters experience local culture and traditions at the Ecomusée, a village right out of the past where artisans ply trades practiced at the turn of the 20th century.
Days 4-5 Pedal the famous Route des Vins,
aglow with rolling vineyards and quaint villages Dig into a gourmet picnic at Benedictine Murbach Abbey, founded in 727 Adults up for a challenge can conquer the Vosges' vaulting peaks, while kids wrap their heads - and flour-covered fingers - around pretzel-making at a bread museum Sample world-class rieslings and gewürtztraminers at a family-run winery with a gorgeous Rhine River Valley setting Kids shove off for an easygoing canoe trip while grown-ups bike into rugged forested hills.
Day 6 A heavenly final spin
through the verdant countryside, where rolling wine land meets rural plain Pedal through a sea of neatly tended vineyards and quintessential Alsatian villages as they come to life.
Trip Highlights
- The spa town of Badenweiler, a Roman settlement back in A.D. 75
- Sample world-class rieslings and gewürtztraminers
- Kids canoe and make pretzels
- Storybook villages with fascinating nooks and crannies to explore
- Bike from Germany into France across the Rhine
Premiere Inns
Grandhötel Romerbad (1 night): A stately "cultural residence" built in 1825, with sleek and modern décor. (pool, spa)
Château d'Isenbourg (2 nights): Described by Hideaway Report as a "hilltop medieval château-hotel overlooking vineyards and the ancient village of Rouffach in a charming corner of the Alsatian wine district." (pool, spa)
Hôtel des Berges (2 nights): A stylishly renovated 18th-century farmhouse beautifully situated on the Ill River.
Daily Mileage Options & Cumulative Elevation Gain
Day 1
- Levels 2 to 3 2 Route Options Available
- 18, 25 miles
- 1550 - 2240 feet elevation gain
Day 2
- Levels 2 to 5 4 Route Options Available
- 23, 36, 46, 57 miles
- 50 - 2100 feet elevation gain
- Pétanque (Kids) 1 hour
Day 3
- Levels 2 to 5 4 Route Options Available
- 23, 35, 45, 56 miles
- 770 - 2730 feet elevation gain
- Eco-Museum Visit (Kids) 2 hours
Day 4
- Levels 2 to 4 5 Route Options Available
- 18, 26, 33, 41, 55 miles
- 500 - 1400 feet elevation gain
- Pretzel-Making (Kids) 2 hours
Day 5
- Levels 2 to 4 5 Route Options Available
- 16, 23, 31, 41, 55 miles
- 200 - 1600 feet elevation gain
- Canoeing (Kids) 2 hours
Day 6
- Level 2 1 Route Option Available
- 13 miles
- 230 feet elevation gain
Routes 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
2012 Dates & Pricing*
FAMILY TRIPS
*Prices may change. Once you book your trip, your price is guaranteed.
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+ amount of cultural appreciation, difficulty of activities, routes
- 9+ difficulty of activities/activity age restrictions, routes
- 6+ several longer dinners; routes are difficult for pulling a Burley and therefore not appropriate for younger children; difficulty of activities/activity age restrictions
Guest Trip Reviews
Your leaders were perfect, route maps flawless, routes beautiful. Hotels and locations very well chosen. I especially appreciated the leaders' invitations to the guests to go on kids' outings and change schedules as desired.- San Antonio, TX