Rachel Carson's little-known love affair with the rocky Maine coastline kicked off her career and, ultimately, helped save the majestic Peregrine Falcon from extinction.

The first time I saw Italy was by bike. As it turned out, taking it slow, savoring the details, connecting more personally with the destination is all deeply embedded in the very nature of traveling by bike.

The Southwest is one of the world's great outdoor adventure playgrounds. Here are five reasons why this region should be at the top of any travel bucket list.

It's the most important question you'll be asked in New Mexico: red or green? A classic New Mexican cuisine, the state's red and green chile peppers are legendary—and spicy!

My name is Rue Mapp. I’m the founder and CEO of Outdoor Afro, and this was my first-ever experience with Backroads. I experienced so much during my Backroads trip that I just can’t stop talking about!

What is it about Death Valley that gets such a hold on people and inspires them to live in what might be called the most inhospitable place in our nation?

Here’s a riddle: three people go out on a bike ride. One of them is me, a lifelong runner and fairly avid cyclist. The other two are my daughter Avery and her boyfriend Matt, both casual bike-riders. Avery and I ride side-by-side, chatting for most of the climb, while Matt zips ahead. Somehow we’re…

As you travel through Ireland, one given is that even the tiniest of towns will boast at least one Irish pub—and more likely, they’ll each have a few. A pub in Ireland is many things, but first of all it’s a meeting place. It is considered the heart of Irish culture. Here is where generations mingle…

In the 1920s Coco Chanel ushered in the era of the deep dark tan. With her blessing, the tan became a symbol of languorous luxury, rather than a sign of peasant toil under the Tuscan sun. Isolated and rocky beaches along the French and Italian coasts became magnets for the sun-seeking glitterati and…

Backroads was honored to have Rue Mapp, founder of Outdoor Afro, join us last fall on a multi-adventure tour through South Carolina & Georgia. We asked Rue to take a moment to share with us her reflections, impressions and highlights of her time spent exploring some of the most historic corners of t…