11 Sep Four Unforgettable Bike Trips for Families
When it comes to traveling, kids go through a handful of distinct stages. As babies, they’re in the purse stage, because they’re so darned portable. When they hit the toddler years, they enter the Sherpa stage (so named for the staggering amount of gear they require). The longest of the stages is the Goldilocks stage, when kids are potty trained, nap-free, and reasonable. Enjoy it – it doesn’t last forever.
At 11 and 13, my kids are in the “So what?” www. To say they’re not interested in architecture, history, and sightseeing is a colossal understatement. Looking at things just doesn’t cut it anymore; they actually need to be doing something to have fun. I officially discovered this last summer in Thailand when we took a 1-day bike tour. One minute they were sleepwalking through our trip – the next they were laughing, chatting, and pedaling.
Thinking of a family biking trip of your own? Here are four unforgettable trips from the active vacation experts at Backroads.
1. Turkey Biking: A Cultural Odyssey along the Mediterranean Coast
7 days/6 nights
With all due respect to Italy and Greece, if you want to see Roman and Greek ruins, go to Turkey! You’ll see many highlights of classical antiquity and more, as you pedal your bike through the warm pine forests and sleepy villages of Turkey’s Mediterranean coast. Halfway through the trip, you’ll board a traditional Turkish sailing gulet so you can explore remote coves, kayak, and glimpse underwater ruins.
Just for kids: While parents are gazing at the partially submerged Greek monastery at Cleopatra’s Bay, kids can swan dive off the back of the boat into the crystal clear water.
2. Tuscany Biking: Pedaling &Pizza from Cortona to Chianti
6 days/5 nights
Even if your kids don’t warm to Renaissance art on your Tuscan adventure, they’ll definitely fall in love with Italy. You’ll explore ancient hill towns, climb a medieval tower, and pedal through miles of iconic Italian scenery (and it’s a good thing too, with all the gelato you’ll be eating).
Just for kids: While adults sample truffle oil, cheese and pasta, kids accompany a truffle-sniffing dog on a hunt!
3. Maine Biking: From Woods to Seashore in Acadia National Park & Penobscot Bay
5 days/4 nights
Tucked up in the corner of the country as it is, Maine isn’t a place you pass through – you’ll have to go there on purpose. The rolling terrain of this trip will take you by crashing surf and towering trees to granite peaks and historic lighthouses. If you like rock climbing, picking wild blueberries, and eating lobster by the pound, you’re going to love it here.
Just for kids: Grownups enjoy a leisurely ride through the undulating hills around Camden while kids visit a farm and meet the resident Belted Galloway cows, which look a lot like bovine Oreos.
4. Death Valley Biking: California’s Mojave Desert
4 days/3 nights
If you like your vacations peaceful and your landscapes dramatic, spend some time relaxing at 200 feet below sea level. You’ll stay at the Inn at Furnace Creek and take daily excursions by bike, horse, and foot to giant sand dunes, salt flats, and a viewpoint so otherworldly, it was a filming location for Star Wars IV: A New Hope.
Just for kids: Halfway through this 4-day trip, kids saddle up for a horseback ride and cookout at Furnace Creek Ranch. Yeehaw!
Latest posts by Jamie Pearson (see all)
- The Seven Best European Attractions for Kids - June 7, 2015
- How to Pack Cables, Cords, and Chargers - March 3, 2015
- Do You Need a Chip and PIN Card in Europe? - September 11, 2014
No Comments