The stories are epic. Action-packed. Exciting. Sprung from a quiet corner of France. So unassuming. Yet the scene of some of history’s most heroic acts. Think Vikings. William the Conqueror. Faithful pilgrims. Allies landing. These stories really happened. And you’ll know it. When you stand on windswept beaches by abandoned gun posts. Gaze at the spire of Mont-St-Michel’s cathedral. You may be speechless. But not the kids. Biking. Horseback riding. Glass blowing. Clearly "action-packed" is not a thing of the past.

Casual Inns

Hôtel la Villefromoy (2 nights): A Second Empire villa set in the heart of Brittany with ocean views and easy access to the region’s best sights.

Château de Sully (1 night): Not far from the landing beaches, a charming 18th-century castle-turned-hotel surrounded by sprawling formal gardens. (pool, spa, tennis)

Le Lion d'Or (2 nights): Dating from 1770, a former coaching inn located in the old city, just steps from the famous Bayeux Tapestry.

Daily Mileage Options & Cumulative Elevation Gain

Day 1

• Level 1 1 Route Option Available
• 14 miles
• 500 feet elevation gain

Day 2

• Levels 1 to 4 3 Route Options Available
• 18, 32, 54 miles
• 330 - 1480 feet elevation gain

Day 3

• Levels 2 to 3  2 Route Options Available
• 21, 35 miles
• 430 feet elevation gain

Day 4

• Levels 1 to 3  3 Route Options Available
• 9, 22, 40 miles
• 330 - 500 feet elevation gain

Day 5

• Levels 1 to 3 3 Route Options Available
• 14, 23, 39 miles
• 70 - 430 feet elevation gain

Day 6

• Conclusion of Trip

Please note: On this Family Trip, our routes follow gentle terrain with no significant gain or loss in elevation. Liberal van shuttling is incorporated into the itinerary to facilitate our activities and mileage is kept moderate to enable 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

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: 7 years
• Minimum age restriction to horseback ride: 7 years

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

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.

Guest Trip Reviews

I thoroughly enjoyed this Backroads trip. The region, leaders and mix of families on the trip were all wonderful. It was an excellent mix of physical activity, historical and cultural learning and fun. My entire family had a great experience. We're ready to do it again somewhere new!

Tina Arechiga - Long Beach, CA

Best trip I have ever been on. The balance between biking and sight seeing was excellent.

Ravan Magrath - Montclair, NJ

Our biking trip was first rate in every aspect. The shuttle buses were top of the line, the daily biking excursions were well thought out and the scenery was breath-taking, the food was authentic and delicious, the guides were knowledgeable and kind, and the activities were suited to each person's needs. I can hardly wait to book another trip with Backroads!

Carolyn Bunch - Othello, WA

Bring history to life for your children on our newest family biking trip in Brittany and Normandy! Pedal along the stunning Emerald Coast, stopping to explore famous sites such as Bayeux and Omaha Beach. Two passionate local guides share their insight and knowledge of this region, which is steeped in World War II history. And an unforgettable presentation by a French resistance fighter and a visit to the famous pilgrimage site of Mont-St-Michel are certain to be highlights of the week for both kids and adults alike.

Beverly Salguero - Trip Development Coordinator, Europe & France