Bonjour, cycling fans! The Tour de France is back, rolling through France’s most jaw-dropping landscapes in a whirlwind of energy, grit and glory. Since 1903, this legendary race has challenged the world’s best riders with grueling climbs, thrilling sprints and heart-pounding finishes. Each year, the route changes to spotlight new regions, adding fresh excitement and unforgettable backdrops to this century-old tradition. This year’s course features a mix of mountain stages and dramatic coastal routes, promising spectacular views and fierce competition.

Once you become acquainted with western North Carolina, you start to think of it like an old friend. Maybe it’s the sound of the afternoon rain cooling the vibrant forests; the sweet, tangy morsels of classic barbeque on your lips; the sound of the fiddle dancing through the air, traversing decades of backyard gatherings; the lush, humble beauty that immerses you the minute you step foot into the hollers; the blooming of the mountain laurel and the streams so clear you can see the color of every stone at the bottom; or the clean, pure air entering your lungs as you pedal under pristine, green canopy. Whatever the call may be, your old friend is waiting for you.

Some cities are made for love. Whether it’s the dreamy canals of Venice or the Eiffel tower twinkling against a sunset sky, certain places have that irrepressible spark. If you’re looking for the perfect backdrop for a couple's getaway, look no further. We’ve paired our favorite romantic cities with Backroads trips that begin or end nearby — ideal for a blissful, extended vacation. 

Backroads first introduced Cuba People-to-People tours in 2013. These tours follow an itinerary licensed by the United States Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) under a category called “Support for the Cuban People.” The Support for the Cuban People license allows us to travel in Cuba with a planned schedule of meaningful interactions with Cubans.

Yellowstone became the world’s first national park in 1872, when President Ulysses S. Grant set the land apart “as a public park or pleasuring ground for the benefit and enjoyment of the people.” This vast natural space of over 2 million acres has served exactly that purpose for over 150 years now.

If sipping a glass of Pinot while overlooking vineyard-draped hills is your idea of bliss, you’re not alone. But why stop at Napa or Bordeaux when the world is bursting with wine regions just waiting to be explored? Whether you're a casual enthusiast or a full-blown oenophile, these regions offer the perfect pairing: epic landscapes, rich culture and of course, outstanding wine. Pack your palate and your passport—this is your ticket to a global wine adventure, tailor-made for travelers who crave a taste of something different.

I used to call it “the end of the world,” but I was corrected by the locals who rightfully refer to it as “the beginning of the world.” After spending a few weeks in Patagonia, I now understand why. This faraway land straddling Chile and Argentina is larger than life, raw and multifaceted. Despite the long journey to get there, everyone who gets to visit this land leaves it feeling lucky, like they were made privy to a well-kept secret.

In my family, our vacations look a little different. Through my childhood and into adulthood, our family get-togethers consisted of biking through the Spanish Pyrenees, across the Croatia/Montenegro border, or hopscotching the mythical Greek isles. By the age of 22, I had been on five Backroads trips all around the world. Each adventure provided me with a challenge and memories I hold with me today. As I reflect on the formative years of my life, at every adolescent milestone, a Backroads trip has been there.

It’s been several summers since the pandemic, but it seems like Europe’s wave of “quarantine revenge travel” is still cresting. Whether it’s on Croatia’s photogenic Adriatic isles, in Prague’s fairy-tale lanes or along Venice’s canals, Europeans (and Europe-lovers) will tell you without any doubt: we’re feeling the pressure of eager tourist crowds.

Rugged, radiant and steeped in stories, the American Southwest is more than a destination—it’s a journey through layered landscapes and layered histories. From the sandstone arches of Utah to the red rock canyons of Arizona, the cliff dwellings of New Mexico to the alpine mesas of Southern Colorado, this region invites adventure travelers to explore on foot and by bike, tracing the footsteps of Ancestral Puebloans, Spanish explorers and the Indigenous communities that still call this land home. Wherever you're trekking or riding in the Southwest, each trail tells a tale—etched in stone, sun and spirit.