“Did you ever think,” I said to my son, halfway through a Backroads trip to Argentina’s Lake District, “that one day you’d be sipping champagne on a private boat in the middle of a lake in Patagonia?” “This is epic,” came his response. It wasn’t the only epic moment on that trip. There was the snowcapped Andes, the Southern Cross in the night sky, the wine tasting. How many 22-year-olds, I mused, could speak intelligently about the regions and varieties of Argentinian wines? This is just part of what growing up traveling gave my son.

Whether you’ve decided to get a head start on summer, find yourself with unexpected time off or are just a little behind on planning, here is a selection of trips departing

Think you know your 30s & 40s Backroads adventures? From volcanic islands to alpine ridgelines, bluegrass country to glacier-carved wilderness, each itinerary has its own signature setting and style. Read the clues and see if you can spot what sets them apart. Some may seem similar at first glance, but the details make all the difference.

When people hear that you work for Backroads, the first question they ask is “Do you get to go on trips?” The answer is an enthusiastic “Yes!” Travel perks are just one of the special things about working here and deciding where to go is half the fun. So we asked: with literally hundreds of trips to choose from, where did Backroads employees go in 2025? Here’s what they said.

Enthusiastic, genuine, endlessly resourceful—just a few words to capture the spirit of Backroads Trip Leaders.

Set sail on an unforgettable European journey where adventure flows as effortlessly as the river itself. By day, cycle or hike past vineyards and castles, explore medieval villages and experience history up-close. By night, unwind in comfort aboard our intimate river ships.

Family vacations are a chance to disconnect from the everyday and reconnect with one another in incredible places. Backroads designed these outdoor adventures with families in mind, offering active, enriching experiences that bring generations together.

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.