Choosing the river cruise that aligns with your interests can be both exciting and overwhelming. Do you dream of exploring fairytale castles, charming towns, lush vineyards or famous cities? Are you bringing the kids? Teenagers? Adult children? Do you want to cross multiple borders and see many countries in one trip or prefer a more immersive experience in one? To make your decision easier, let us give you a rundown of the incredible views and vibes you can expect on some of our most scenic European river cruises!

The Rhine, the Danube, the Seine: steeped in history, the names of these major rivers evoke images of fairy-tale castles, small towns with red-tiled roofs and some of the most significant cultural centers in Europe. Taking a Backroads Active River Cruise along one of Europe’s iconic waterways is a wonderful way to discover the Continent’s rich cultures, fascinating history and scenic landscapes.

When your whole family loves being active outdoors, sometimes it’s difficult to find an adventure travel vacation that caters to everyone’s needs, especially if you want to combine multiple types of activities in one trip. Want to not just hike, but bike, kayak and zip-line too? Maybe a little horseback riding or snorkeling? Managing the logistics of organizing with multiple individual tour providers can be challenging if you plan it on your own.

A friend tells me that her mother still refers to a mother-daughter vacation they took years ago as “the torture trip.” What was intended to be a sweet week of pampering and bonding degraded into petty annoyances, nit-picking and constant bickering in that oh-so-special way that only mothers and daughters have. While they can laugh about it now, and they have successfully vacationed together since then, hearing her experience makes me think carefully when planning special girls trip getaways for my young adult daughter and me.

Hike atop seaside cliffs in France, walk through historic Spartan battlegrounds in Greece or trek among the world-famous Dolomites in Italy. For outdoor enthusiasts, Europe beckons. Lace up your boots and get ready for some of the world’s most iconic trails.

Planning a family trip to Europe can be both exciting and daunting at the same time. With so many incredible destinations to visit and exciting things to discover, it can be hard to know where to start. And when planning a family-friendly European adventure, considering both the kids’ and the adults’ wants and needs will ensure that everyone has a great vacation!

When you were a teenager, did you want to go on vacation with your parents?  I certainly didn't! In fact, once I reached the age where I didn't have to go on vacation with my parents... I simply refused to go! You see, when I reached my twenties, my parents visited me and I visited them for holidays and special events but we never considered taking a vacation together as adults. There simply wasn't a vacation option out there that equally appealed to every one of us.

We’ve been leading Backroads guided bike tours in France for nearly four decades. From historic routes in Normandy to the sunny villages of Provence, here are what we think are the best cycling destinations in France.

Nothing comes as close to time travel as cruising. Fall asleep in one location and—abracadabra!—wake up in a new destination. Not just convenient, but it actually does feel a little like magic.

Debra Hurt never saw herself as the adventure-travel type. Between raising two kids and managing the demands of everyday life, an active vacation seemed reserved for those with more time and more interest in sleeping in a sleeping bag. Until one day when she wandered through the immaculate grounds of a five-star hotel and unexpectedly crossed paths with a Backroads group. Suddenly, her perception of adventure travel shifted.