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, amid glacier-scoured valleys and lush farmland, you'll discover ancient towns whose feudal ruins tell of battles won and lost. Pedal through a string of idyllic wine villages along the famed Route des Vins, which hugs the misty foothills of the Vosges Mountains. Adults taste world-class rieslings and gewürztraminers while the kids visit a medieval castle. 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? Canoeing and, of course, chocolate cake!
Day 1 Illhaeusern, France
Meet in Strasbourg 
Shuttle to Illhaeusern, a riverside hamlet set at the foothills of the Vosges Mountains 
Bike into the verdant countryside, where rolling wine land meets rural plain, and a splendidly restored castle stands watch.
Days 2-3 Rouffach, France
Pedal past vineyards and quaint villages brimming with half-timbered houses and cheery geranium gardens Ride the 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 Ribeauvillé for a sample of delicious white wines Savor a gourmet picnic at Benedictine Murbach Abbey, founded in 727 Kids discover a Middle Age castle set high in the dense Vosges forest, while adults bike through alpine meadows or return to Rouffach for some R&R.
Days 4-6 Badenweiler, Germany
Cross the Rhine River and enter Germany's Markgräflerland wine region at the edge of the Black Forest This stunning landscape is home to some of the country's finest wines, including reds from the Spätburgunder grape Youngsters make a splash while canoeing on the gently flowing Altrhein (Old Rhine) Grown-ups ride a hilly route to Badenweiler, known for its mineral springs Indulge in a slice of the region's famed Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte - chocolate cake with cherry schnapps See how people lived in the olden days at 17th-century Bauerhaussmuseum Enjoy a final glimpse of village life on a spin past vineyards and small Black Forest hamlets.
RHINE RIVER ELEGANCE: Premiere Inns
Hôtel des Berges (1 night): This stylishly renovated 18th-century farmhouse is beautifully situated on the Ill River and features individually decorated rooms.
Château d'Isenbourg (2 nights): Set among Alsatian wine-route vineyards, this refined château offers spectacular views of the Vosges foothills, Rhine Valley and Black Forest.
Hotel Römerbad (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
- 18 miles
- 230 feet elevation gain
Day 2
- Levels 1 to 4 3 Route Options Available
- 19, 27, 50 miles
- 220 - 2680 feet elevation gain
Day 3
- Levels 2 to 4 3 Route Options Available
- 22, 33, 54 miles
- 770 - 2730 feet elevation gain
Day 4
- Levels 2 to 5 4 Route Options Available
- 22, 39, 47, 58 miles
- 330 - 3140 feet elevation gain
Day 5
- Levels 1 to 3 2 Route Options Available
- 20, 37 miles
- 2860 - 3360 feet elevation gain
Day 6
- Level 1 1 Route Option Available
- 14 miles
- 840 feet elevation gain
On this Family Trip, liberal van shuttling is incorporated to facilitate our activities, and the mileage is kept moderate to allow you to spend more time exploring on your own.
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 |
2010 DATES
FAMILY TRIPS
- 6/13-18Price: $4098 pp dbl. occ., (+ $1020 for sgl. occ.)
- 8/1-6Price: $4098 pp dbl. occ., (+ $1020 for sgl. occ.)
- 8/15-20Price: $4098 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/restrictions of activities and route
- 9+ several long adult dinners; difficulty/restrictions 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
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.