MORAL COMPASS: Great Places to Go Where the Going Does Good

Going Places @ theisland360.com/travel

travelwritersmagazine.com/TravelFeaturesSyndicate/

instagram.com/bigbackpacktraveler/

‘Like’ us on facebook.com/NewsPhotoFeatures

Twitter: @TravelFeatures

Active Travel, Adventure Travel, cruises, cycling trips

Backroads Announces New Greece & Croatia Ocean Cruise Multi-Adventure Tour Among 100 Trips for 2025

June 11, 2024 MoralCompass

Backroads introduced a new Greece & Croatia Ocean Cruise Multi-Adventure Tour from Athens to Dubrovnik for 2025 aboard Emerald which features a bike ride to the ruins of Delphi © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com

Backroads, a leading active travel company, introduced a new Greece & Croatia Ocean Cruise Multi-Adventure Tour from Athens to Dubrovnik for 2025 aboard Emerald, Condé Nast Traveler Reader’s Choice award-winner for Small Ship Cruise Line. The trip features a bike ride to the ruins of Delphi, hiking above the UNESCO Heritage Site of Kotor, Montenegro, and kayaking off the shores of the Greek island of Lefkada, among other activities. Additional stops include Itea, Greece; Corfu, Greece; and Sarandë, Albania.

The company is hosting this eight-day, seven-night trip aboard Emerald’s sleek new yachts, the Azzurra and Sakara, the newest featured small ships in Backroads’ Active Ocean & River Cruises collection. The ships’ amenities include an open-air bar, lounge areas, a pool and a gym, along with master chefs known for their gourmet dishes.

Backroads has explored waterways from Europe and Polynesia to Antarctica and the Galápagos Islands on active adventures since 2015, utilizing a selection of small luxury ships that also includes Ponant and AmaWaterways. Poised to expand its active cruise options in 2025, Backroads will also debut a River Cruise Multi-Adventure Tour on the Danube to join its popular Danube River Cruise Biking Tour from Prague to Budapest.

It’s been a decade since Backroads combined the best small ship cruise experiences with the best of active travel and redefined river and ocean cruising. The appeal of unpacking only once with the opportunity to explore multiple regions has spurred year-over-year growth in the company’s Active Ocean & River Cruises category, which includes trips specifically designed for all types of families and children. Today, Backroads remains the only company offering family trips segmented by age.

“When we pioneered the active river cruise space with AmaWaterways in 2015, I had no idea that we’d be reinventing the cruise market,” said Tom Hale, Backroads Founder, President and CEO. “But looking back, it was a winning combination from the start. Active cruising offers that seamless sense of journey, adventure, leisure and luxury that our guests are looking for—it’s truly a unique and special way to explore the world.”

Backroads Active Ocean & River Cruises are available for immediate booking for 2024 and 2025

Antarctica Ocean Cruise Multi-Adventure Tour
Chile Patagonia & Fjords Cruise Walking & Hiking Tour
Croatia Ocean Cruise Multi-Adventure Tour (NEW for 2024)
Galápagos Ocean Cruise Multi-Adventure Tour
Iceland Ocean Cruise Walking & Hiking Tour (NEW for 2025)
Greece & Croatia Ocean Cruise Multi-Adventure Tour (NEW for 2025)
Tahiti Ocean Cruise Multi-Adventure Tour

Backroads Active River Cruise Adventures

Bordeaux River Cruise Bike Tour
Danube River Cruise Bike Tour – also available for Families | Full Ship Celebration*
Danube River Cruise Multi-Adventure Tour (NEW for 2025 & Available for Booking May 2024)
Dutch & Belgium Waterways River Cruise Bike Tour
Galápagos, Andes & Amazon River Cruise Walking & Hiking Tour – also available for Families
Portugal’s Douro River Cruise Bike Tour
Rhine River Cruise Bike Tour – also available for Families | Dolce Tempo Easygoing E-Bike Tour
Seine River Cruise Bike Tour
Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos & Mekong River Cruise Bike Tour

*In 2016 Backroads was the first—and only—company to offer Full Ship Celebrations, cruises exclusively for Backroads guests. Today’s Danube Full Ship Celebration Bike Tour takes over an entire AmaWaterways luxury ship, hosting up to 150 Backroads guests for eight spectacular days of sailing and exploring five countries.

For more information on Backroads Ocean & River Cruise trips, visit our website or call 800-462-2848.

For more travel features, visit:

Going Places @ theisland360.com/travel

travelwritersmagazine.com/TravelFeaturesSyndicate/

instagram.com/bigbackpacktraveler/

‘Like’ us on facebook.com/NewsPhotoFeatures

Twitter: @TravelFeatures

Active Travel, Adventure Travel, camping-glamping, camping-glamping-RVs-adVANturing, cycling trips, National Parks, Nature & Wildlife

5 Montana National Parks Tours

May 17, 2024 MoralCompass

*The phenomenal Grand Prismatic in Yellowstone National Park. There are a variety of ways to experience one of America’s most popular parks © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com*

Here are a 5 exciting ways to explore Montana and its most popular National Parks.

Explore Yellowstone and Glacier by RV: Discover the natural beauty of Yellowstone, Glacier, and more with the comfort and convenience of a new Winnebago RV, you’ll have the freedom to travel at your own pace and experience the great outdoors like never before. Based in Bozeman, MT, Blacksford’s brand new, luxury RVs and camper vans are low-mileage and impeccably maintained, ensuring a safe and worry-free trip. They offer flexible pick-up and drop-off times, all the amenities you’ll need for a fantastic vacation, and support to ensure a seamless rental experience.

Saddle and Paddle Yellowstone: Flying Pig Adventures’ 3-night Yellowstone tour gives guests the opportunity to experience the park like never before. The thrill of witnessing one of nature’s most iconic environments, tackling rough terrain on horseback, and battling Class III rapids cannot be found anywhere else. From fly fishing, to horseback rides, to Yellowstone whitewater rafting, guests will be talking about their unique experiences for years to come.

Cycle Glacier National Park: The Big Sky meets six days of big smiles on Escape Adventures’ epic Glacier National Park/Going-to-the-Sun Road bike trip. Based in Montana’s 1,583-square-mile Glacier National Park, with its 375 historic properties plus six historic landmarks, riders will cycle into some of North America’s most breathtaking landscapes, including Going-to-the-Sun Road. At each stop, each slow pass, guests will learn a little more about the “Crown of the Continent” ecosystem.

Big Sky Luxury Adventure: In Big Sky, Montana, The Wilson Hotel serves as a base camp for adventure whether it’s winter or summer. Guests can ski and snowboard Big Sky Resort’s expansive 5,850 acres of terrain in winter, and hike nearby shaded forests and wildflower-filled meadows, raft or fly fish the clear waters of the Gallatin River, and experience the adrenaline rush of lift-served mountain biking in summer. At the end of the day, The Wilson offers spacious, sophisticated accommodations steps from on-site amenities and Big Sky Town Center.

Glamping Cowboy Retreat: Ranchlands is excited to formally open the 80,000-acre Paintrock Canyon Ranch in the Bighorn Mountains. Guests will immerse themselves in ranch life, explore the surrounding areas on horseback, fly fish, hike, and experience the natural world in this unique landscape. Accommodations are designed for guests to be as close to nature as possible, but with all the comforts of home. Large, safari-style tents are stylishly furnished with full-sized beds, bedside tables, dressers, and chairs. Meals are prepared by a private chef and incorporate Ranchlands beef, local produce, and dairy whenever possible. The ranch makes a great base camp for a Yellowstone National Park adventure.

For more travel features, visit:

Going Places @ theisland360.com/travel

travelwritersmagazine.com/TravelFeaturesSyndicate/

Let RTC Know You’re Participating

instagram.com/bigbackpacktraveler/

‘Like’ us on facebook.com/NewsPhotoFeatures

Twitter: @TravelFeatures

Active Travel, bike trips, cycling trips, Outdoors Travel, Uncategorized

Rails to Trails Conservancy Invites You to Celebrate Trails Day April 27 & Win Prizes!

April 20, 2024 MoralCompass

On Celebrate Trails Day, Rails to Trails Conservancy calls on America to walk, bike and be active outside to showcase the joy and impact of trails

Biking the Great Allegheny Passage trail with Rails to Trails Conservancy, which hopes to connect 150 trail networks into a Great American Trail, 3,800 miles across the continent © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com

WASHINGTON, DC—Rails to Trails Conservancy, the nation’s largest trail, walking and biking advocacy organization, is calling on people across the country to get outside on trails this spring to celebrate the many ways that trails and connected trail networks bring joy and impact to people’s lives. Central to RTC’s call to action is Celebrate Trails Day on April 27, 2024, with hundreds of events nationwide to inspire more people to make trails, walking and biking part of their everyday lives.

Held on the fourth Saturday of April, Celebrate Trails Day was started by Rails to Trails Conservancy in 2013, to encourage people across the country to get outside and enjoy the nation’s exceptional trails and trail systems.

Celebrate Trails Day is more than a day outside, it is an opportunity to experience and share the joy and impact of trails. The nation’s 41,000+ miles of multi-use trails bring incredible value to our everyday lives, contributing to the well-being of people, places and the planet. It is RTC’s ultimate goal to link the 150+ trail networks that currently exist into a Great American Trail, spanning 3,800 miles across the continent.

Around the country, Rails to Trails’ partners are planning group rides, nature walks, family-friendly festivals, volunteer cleanups and other community events for Celebrate Trails Day. Explore these events and find more inspiration for your day on the trail, including ideas to help you design your own trail adventure and our virtual event series where we host conversations with partners about the ways trails contribute to big issues in our lives.

So far, more than 150 events are planned along trails, but you can also create your own celebration.

“There is unmatched potential in trail networks to make walking and biking part of our everyday lives, unlocking all of the good that happens when we are active outside, in the places where we live,” said Brandi Horton, RTC’s vice president of communications. “That’s why RTC is uniting everyone in a common appreciation for trails—and the impact of connecting trails in our communities. Our time on the trail is so much more than a day outside.”

Biking the Wallkill Valley RailTrail over the Rosendale Trestle, part of New York’s 750-mile long Empire State Trail that connects Battery Park to the Canadian Border, and Buffalo to Albany on the Erie Canalway © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com

Here are five reasons to get outside on trails, says RTC:

It’s one of the best seasons for outside adventures with milder weather across the country—perfect for time on the trail. People can find their perfect trail using RTC’s free trail-finder app, TrailLink.
It’s good for our bodies and the planet. Having spaces to walk and bike near where you live makes it more likely that you will be physically active, which is important for our bodies and our minds. And, when we swap out short car trips for walking and biking trips, we burn calories instead of carbon!
It can be a safe way to get around without a car. Currently, people who walk and bike are increasingly likely to be seriously injured or killed in crashes with cars and trucks. Connected trail networks separate people from vehicles, making it a safer transportation option for more people.
It’s the right time to let elected officials know that trails matter to you. On Celebrate Trails Day and every day, our time on the trail is an act of advocacy sending a message that trails are important to people across the country. As Congress and local officials make decisions about ways to invest infrastructure resources, getting outside on the trail is an important way to build support.
There are more places to walk, bike and be active outside than ever! With more than 41,000 miles of multiuse trails—where you can walk, run, ride, skate and more—and over 150 trail networks emerging, there are safe places to walk, bike and be active outside in every single state and hundreds of communities across the country.

Participate for a chance to win a prize pack

Let Rails to Trails Conservancy know you’re planning to participate in Celebrate Trails Day on April 27, 2024, and you’ll be automatically entered to win a prize pack, featuring:

A MHS Uno 2-Bike Kit courtesy of Saris
A $400 gift card courtesy of Burley
A Cabezon set courtesy of Deuter
A bike bell courtesy of Mirrycle
A Dagger OSMO™ 3P Lightweight Backpacking tent courtesy of NEMO Equipment
A Black Hole® Pack 25L and an Ultralight Black Hole® Mini Hip Pack 1L courtesy of Patagonia Old Town
A trike courtesy of Catrike
And more great gear!

Find creative ideas for getting outside, visit RTC’s Celebrate Trails Day website and follow #CelebrateTrails on social media.

Explore the nation’s 41,000+ miles of multi-use trails using TrailLink™, RTC’s free trail-guide website and app.

Celebrate Trails Day is the annual celebration of the spring trail season, recognized on the fourth Saturday in April. The national day of celebration is organized by Rails to Trails Conservancy, the country’s largest trails, walking and biking organization—with a grassroots community more than 1 million strong. RTC is dedicated to building a nation connected by trails, reimagining public spaces to create safe ways for everyone to walk, bike and be active outdoors.

Follow #CelebrateTrails on social media for updates and connect with RTC at railstotrails.org and @railstotrails on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

For more travel features, visit:

Going Places @ theisland360.com/travel

travelwritersmagazine.com/TravelFeaturesSyndicate/

instagram.com/bigbackpacktraveler/

‘Like’ us on facebook.com/NewsPhotoFeatures

Twitter: @TravelFeatures

bike trips, cycling trips, Historic Places

Registration Opens for Parks & Trails NY’s Inaugural Cycle the Hudson Valley Bike Tour

January 13, 2023 MoralCompass

The Freedom Tower on the Hudson River Greenway, near the endpoint of Parks & Trails NY’s inaugural 200-mile Hudson Valley Bike Tour on the Hudson River Greenway, part of the Empire State Trail © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com

Parks & Trails NY is hosting its inaugural Cycle The Hudson Valley bike tour, taking advantage of the new Empire State Trail that traverses the entire north-south length of the state, from Canada down to the tip of Manhattan. This trip starts midway, in Troy, on July 29 and follows the Empire State Trail 200 miles south, ending in the Big Apple a week later. This seven-day fully-supported tour is limited to the first 300 cyclists who sign up.

Daily routes average 30-50 miles/day with additional mileage options for riders wanting more. The route is 63% paved and 13% crushed stone dust trail, with 24% on road, and will take bicyclists through the cities, villages, countryside and parklands of the picturesque Hudson River Valley.

On the second night of Cycle the Hudson Valley, the tour rolls into the village of Hudson, which has become quite a mecca for art galleries and boutique shops. The group spends the next two nights in Kingston, the first capital of New York State, where George Clinton was sworn in as the first Governor almost 246 years ago to the day that the group will be in town. On the lay-over day cyclists can explore by biking an optional loop or strolling through the Kingston Stockade District (on the National Register of Historic Places) or visiting the Hudson River Maritime Museum.

On Day Four, cyclists ride over the incredibly popular Walkway Over the Hudson, an elevated multi-use park that spans 1.28 miles, and soars 212 feet above the Hudson River into Poughkeepsie on the eastern shore. Shuttles will be available to take cyclists to visit the FDR Home and Library and the renowned Culinary Institute of America. The next day’s countryside ride ends in the charming hamlet of Carmel.

The last overnight brings the tour close to NYC. Riding along the Hudson River Greenway offers river views most of the way. The tour ends at Battery Park with a stunning view of the Statue of Liberty. Cyclists can visit the 9/11 Memorial Pools, or book a trip to Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty. There’s also a superb National Museum of the American Indian, part of the Smithsonian, located in the historic Alexander Hamilton US Custom House at One Bowling Green, across from Battery Park.

Registration opens January 18. Visit Cycle The Hudson Valley for more information, or email [email protected].

If you’d like to explore further, combine this trip with Parks & Trails’ fully supported Cycle the Erie Canal trip, taking place July 9-16, which features the east-west leg of the Empire State Trail and travels 400 miles from Buffalo to Albany. Cycle the Erie Canal registration is open. (See: https://moralcompasstravel.info/2023/01/parks-trails-ny-opens-registration-for-25th-anniversary-cycle-the-erie-canal-adventure/)

For more travel features, visit:

Going Places @ theisland360.com

travelwritersmagazine.com/TravelFeaturesSyndicate/

Cycle the Erie: 400 Miles & 400 Years of History Flow By on Canalway Bike Tour Across New York State

instagram.com/bigbackpacktraveler/

‘Like’ us on facebook.com/NewsPhotoFeatures

Twitter: @TravelFeatures

Active Travel, bike trips, cycling trips, Historic Places

Parks & Trails NY Opens Registration for 25^th Anniversary Cycle the Erie Canal Adventure

January 6, 2023 MoralCompass 1 Comment

Parks & Trails NY’s eight-day, 400-mile Cycle the Erie bike adventure from Buffalo to Albany is back to full strength, 650 riders, for its 25^th anniversary year. Registration has just opened © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com

Parks & Trails NY has opened registration for the 25th Anniversary Cycle the Erie Canal 2023. The eight-day, 400-mile adventure from Buffalo to Albany takes place July 9-16.

This year, the ride – a supported camping trip – returns to its full complement of 650 riders.

There are two options: an 8-day tour from Buffalo to Albany and a 4-day option from Buffalo to Syracuse (4-day capped at 100 riders).

The route follows the legendary Erie Canal passing locks and aqueducts and winding through historic villages and rural farmlands.

The 400-mile journey along the legendary Erie Canal ends in Albany eight days later. Along the way, cyclists enjoy some of the finest scenery, most interesting history, and unparalleled cycling in the United States. Covering between 40 and 60 miles per day, cyclists travel along the Erie Canalway Trail, which is now the east-west axis of the statewide 750-mile Empire State Trail.

Designed as a camping trip, accommodations are provided with showers, toilet facilities, some with pools or lakes for swimming; eight breakfasts and six dinners; two daily refreshment stops along the route; evening entertainment including music and historical presentations; guided tours of the Canal, historic sites, museums and other attractions including the Women’s Rights National Historic Park, Erie Canal Museum and Village, Fort Stanwix National Monument and a boat tour through the Lockport locks; kick-off reception and end-of-tour celebration; Cycle the Erie Canal t-shirt; baggage transport; SAG wagon and mobile mechanical support; daily maps and cue sheets; painted and arrowed routes; pre-departure info packet including training trips.

Other amenities available (at additional fee) include fresh daily towels, gourmet morning coffee, tent and air mattress rental and set up (for those who don’t want to pitch their own tent or prefer to rent).

Shuttle transportation from Albany to the start in Buffalo (you arrive the night before the bike trip starts and have an extra night camping), or from Albany back to Buffalo is available. Arrangements are made for parking.

Safety protocols are place (see 2023 COVID Policy).

Find the answers to questions at the Cycle the Erie Canal FAQ page.

The registration fee for the full tour is $1,075 for adults and $580 for youths ages 6-17, and $750 for non-cycling participants.

To register, visit https://www.ptny.org/cycle-the-erie-canal/annual-bike-tour/register

See:

Cycle the Erie, Day 1: In Lockport, See Erie Canal Engineering Marvel, ‘Flight of Five’, Cruise Thru Double Locks, and Go Underground to Fathom Rise of Industrial Revolution

Cycle the Erie, Day 2-3: A Sequence of Charming Canaltowns, Pastoral Landscapes, Punctuated by City Birthed by ‘Mother of Cities’

Cycle the Erie, Day 4: Seneca Falls to Syracuse, Crossing Halfway Mark of 400-Mile Biketour

Cycle the Erie, Day 5: Deep Dive into The Erie Canal: ‘Mother of Cities’, Empire Builder, Wonder of the World

Cycle the Erie: At Fort Stanwix, Rome, Time Travel Back to America’s Colonial, Native American Past

Cycle the Erie, Days 6-7: Erie Canal Spurs Rise of America as Global Industrial Power

Cycle the Erie, Days 7-8: Schoharie Crossing, Mabee Farm, Cohoes Falls to Finish Line in Albany of 400-Mile Biketour

For more travel features, visit:

Going Places @ theisland360.com

travelwritersmagazine.com/TravelFeaturesSyndicate/

instagram.com/bigbackpacktraveler/

‘Like’ us on facebook.com/NewsPhotoFeatures

Twitter: @TravelFeatures

bike trips, cycling trips, Uncategorized

New Adventure Cycling Short Routes Make Bike Travel More Accessible

October 3, 2022 MoralCompass

Two- to Five-Day Itineraries from Major Metro Areas Available for Free in Digital Format

Biking the Shining Sea trail on Cape Cod. Among the new Short Routes for bike touring and bikepacking introduced by Adventure Cycling Association is 140.66 miles Boston-Cape Cod. The routes can be downloaded for free © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com

MISSOULA, Mont. – Adventure Cycling Association is broadening its offerings and making them more accessible to all, releasing 12 new Short Routes from major metro areas across the United States. Known for its epic long-distance routes like the TransAmerica Trail and Great Divide Mountain Bike Route, the organization produced its Short Routes for those new to bike travel or those with less time. And the Short Routes are available for free in digital formats that can be loaded onto smartphones and GPS devices, or printed as paper maps and cue sheets.

“Since the release of the TransAmerica Trail in 1976, we’ve mapped more than 50,000 miles of bike routes across the U.S. and into Canada – but recognizing that they aren’t for everyone, we’ve produced these new Short Routes,” said Nathan Taylor, Cartographer for Adventure Cycling. “While many of our epic routes can take weeks to ride in full, Short Routes are two- to five-day itineraries from cities like Los Angeles, Seattle, Minneapolis, Austin, Atlanta and Philadelphia. There are loops that start and end at the same point, out-and-back options and routes that can be combined with public transit like ferries, trains and buses. They’re a fun, accessible way to get out and explore at the pace of a pedal stroke. And, best of all, they’re free.”

The new Short Routes for bike touring and bikepacking include:

Los Angeles: Carpinteria to Refugio (37.28 miles)
Los Angeles: LA to Catalina Island (42.66 miles)
Los Angeles: Santa Monica Overnight (34.94 miles)
Seattle: Seattle to Fort Flagler (58.73 miles)
Seattle: Seattle to Kanasket-Palmer (77.89 miles)
Seattle: Seattle to Lopez Island (121.62 miles)
Minneapolis: Willow River Overnight (39.39 miles)
Austin: Central Texas Parks Loop (120.02 miles)
Atlanta: Panola Outing (19.47 miles)
Washington, DC: C&O and W&OD Loop (84.75 miles)
Philadelphia: Schuylkill and Wissahickon Trails (62.6 miles)
Boston: Cape Cod Weekend (140.66 miles)

Short Routes are available for free in digital formats from the Adventure Cycling website. They’re compatible with the RideWithGPS app for iPhone and Android, and can be exported for use in other apps and GPS devices. Maps and cue sheets can also be saved as PDF files or printed on paper.

As with all Adventure Cycling routes, Short Routes are more than lines on a map and turn-by-turn directions. Waypoints along each route include information on accommodations, grocery stores and restaurants, water sources, scenic stops and recreation sites, bike shops, public transit, and more.

And each route was produced with help from local cyclists familiar with the areas where they are located.

“The new Short Routes were developed in a slightly different way than our long-distance routes are – each was community submitted, and we worked in partnership with BIPOC, LGBTQ, women, and intersex bicyclists to gain a new perspective on these areas,” said Katie Harris, Adventure Cycling’s Director of Community Impact. “We are grateful to them for sharing, so that others can experience the joy of bike travel.”

To find out more about Adventure Cycling’s Short Routes, read their full descriptions, load them onto a device, or print them out, visit https://www.adventurecycling.org/routes-and-maps/short-routes/.

Adventure Cycling Association inspires, empowers, and connects people to travel by bike. It is the largest cycling membership organization in North America with more than 50,000 members. Adventure Cycling has produced over 50,000 miles of meticulously mapped bicycle routes for North America, organizes more than 100 tours annually, and publishes bike travel information including Adventure Cyclist magazine. Adventure Cycling Association has also provided dedicated staff support to the U.S. Bicycle Route System since 2005, including research support, meeting coordination and technical guidance for states developing routes.

More information at 800-755-BIKE (2453), https://www.adventurecycling.org/.

For more travel features, visit:

Going Places @ theisland360.com

travelwritersmagazine.com/TravelFeaturesSyndicate/

instagram.com/bigbackpacktraveler/

‘Like’ us on facebook.com/NewsPhotoFeatures

Twitter: @TravelFeatures

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn

Active Travel, bike trips, cycling trips

Ride & Seek Adventures Introduces 36-Day Bike Across Europe Tour: France to Estonia

February 11, 2022 MoralCompass

*Ride & Seek Adventures, has announced an epic, 36-day, 3,693 km “Bike Across Europe” tour from Paris, France to Tallinn, Estonia.*

(Provence, France) — Ride & Seek Adventures, the adventure travel company known for its Hannibal Expedition cycling tour from Barcelona to Rome, has announced an even more audacious excursion taking riders on an epic 36-day, 3,693 km “Bike Across Europe” tour from Paris, France to Tallinn, Estonia.

The epic adventure crosses eight countries and two continents following in the footsteps of Napoleon’s Grande Armée. It begins in Paris with a spin down the Champs-Élysées, followed by aperitifs under the shadow of the Arc de Triomphe before departing for Germany, Luxembourg, Czech Republic, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia—through rolling vineyards, deep forests, medieval villages, and historic cities. The tour is slated for July 2 – August 6, 2022 and starts at $17,208 USD. There is an option to ride 8-day or 15-day stages of the tour starting at $4,006 USD. For more information, download the tour itinerary.

“This is our most epic of epic tours through eight countries as we cycle in the footsteps of Napoleon from Paris to the Russian border,” said Dylan Reynolds, Founder and Director of Ride & Seek. “It is our very own Ride Across Europe tour that seeks out the road less traveled as we embrace the cultural and culinary highlights along the way”

Guests will ride across the Champagne region of France into the picturesque, castle-clad green hills of southern Germany. The route then heads through UNESCO-protected medieval villages in Poland to the North Sea. From here, it moves east via the great lakes of Poland and The Baltics. Riders will eventually arrive in Tallinn, Estonia, the country’s cultural hub and capital on the Baltic Sea.

“We will visit expert champagne makers eat wonderful regional cuisine, explore UNESCO recognized sites, and ride through beautiful forests, remote territory and bustling cities, all in the footsteps of Napoleon.” said Reynolds.

For more information, download the tour itinerary.

For more travel features, visit:

www.huffingtonpost.com/author/karen-rubin

travelwritersmagazine.com/TravelFeaturesSyndicate/

instagram.com/going_places_far_and_near/

‘Like’ us on facebook.com/NewsPhotoFeatures

Twitter: @TravelFeatures

Active Travel, bike trips, Cultural Travel, cycling trips, food-and-wine travel, Uncategorized

Tourissimo Unveils NEW Cycling Tour Exploring Prosecco Wine Region of Italy

December 29, 2021 MoralCompass

Veneto, Italy: the landscape vineyards in “Duca Di Dolle” farmstead. Tourissimo, is introducing a NEW 7-day “Grappa and Prosecco” cycling tour of the Conegliano-Valdobbiadene Superiore Prosecco wine making area of Italy.

(Bridgewater, MA) — Tourissimo, a leader in active travel to Italy, is introducing a NEW 7-day “Grappa and Prosecco” cycling tour of the Conegliano-Valdobbiadene Superiore Prosecco wine making area of Italy. Guests will learn about the ancient origins of wine making and how the reputation and qualities of the wine have evolved throughout the centuries. The cycling is just as varied and dramatic as the Vento region’s history, ranging from a challenging climb up Mount Grappa to the hilly terrain of Prosecco.

The tour includes multiple wine tastings, dining at a MICHELIN-starred restaurant, exploring UNESCO World Heritage Sites, overnighting at 4 and 5-star hotels, and cycling one of Italy’s most beautiful regions. Prices start at $4,695 per person double. Venice is only one hour away and makes for a great add-on to the tour.

“For the Prosecco wine lover, this is an absolute dream vacation,” said Tourissimo Co-Founder and Managing Director, Beppe Salerno. “The tour is rich in history, and the scenery is nothing short of spectacular with panoramic vistas and patchwork landscape of steep terraced hills, woodlands, and meadows. The cycling is absolutely amazing, and the food, wine, and accommodations are as good as it gets.”

The Prosecco area is wedged between mountains and the plain before the Adriatic Sea. It is extremely hilly, with grapes growing at 150 to 1,600 ft above sea level. A route between the towns of Conegliano and Valdobbiadene has been named the Strada del Prosecco (“Prosecco Wine Route”), and it’s the perfect riding playground for wine lovers.

The landscape is characterized by ‘hogback’ hills, ciglioni – small plots of vines on narrow grassy terraces – forests, small villages and farmland. Since the 17th century, the use of ciglioni has created a particular chequerboard landscape consisting of rows of vines parallel and vertical to the slopes.

“One goal with this tour, in addition to cycling some of the most beautiful terrain in Italy, is to educate guests about why a Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG is a superior product, why it is worth spending more for a quality sparkling wine,” said Salerno. “Because DOCG producers—with the limited growing area, lower yields and extremely high cost of production—can not compete with DOC on price, more and more of them are seeking to explore the particularities of their diverse growing area and long viticultural tradition, and find new ways of expressing them in their wines.”

Tour Highlights:

Walking the walls of medieval Cittadella
Exploring the hills of Prosecco, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
Having coffee in Piazza degli Scacchi in Marostica
Cycling along rolling roads surrounded by vineyards
Experiencing a Grappa tasting at a famous grappa produce
Soaking up the village of Asolo
Enjoying multiple wine tastings at Prosecco Superiore DOCG producers
Picnicing at mulino della Croda
Learning Monte Grappa WWI history and visiting the memorial-museum

What’s Included:

Two professional tour guides throughout the program
All accommodations in 4-star hotels (one 5-star)
All breakfasts, all lunches, and all dinners
Wine and beer with meals, coffee, cappuccino, and gelato stops
Two wine tastings
Logistical support during the tour and luggage transfer
Guided tour of Bassano and grappa tasting
Shuttle at the beginning and at the end of the tour
Bianchi bike rental
GPS navigation and maps

For more information, visit https://www.tourissimo.travel/bike-tour-prosecco.

For more travel features, visit:

travelwritersmagazine.com/TravelFeaturesSyndicate/

‘Like’ us on facebook.com/NewsPhotoFeatures

Twitter: @TravelFeatures

Active Travel, Adventure Travel, bike trips, camping-glamping-RVs-adVANturing, cycling trips, Fall travel, family-friendly adventures, Hotels & Resorts, Outdoor travel experiences, Outdoors Travel, Uncategorized

8 Fall Vacations for Foliage, Fewer Crowds & Stunning Scenery

October 11, 2021 MoralCompass

*Ziplining at the Red Reflet Ranch, Ten Sleep, Wyoming, just one of the activities at the all-inclusive guest ranch (c) Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com*

Cool weather, brightly colored foliage, and destinations largely free from crowds make fall the perfect time to travel. Here are eight vacation ideas for the months ahead, ranging from the mountains of Montana to the Natchez Trace and even the Galapagos Islands

1. Pacific Coast Cycling: The Pacific Coast Route is one of America’s premier cycling routes and autumn is an optimal time to avoid heavy tourist traffic. Pedal south through the lush forests of western Washington before following the Columbia River to the Oregon coast, then enter California and encounter massive redwoods coastal headlands and sandy beaches with bike paths. Ride the route on your own with maps from Adventure Cycling Association, or join other on a tour.

2. Fall Under the Big Sky: A visit to Big Sky, Montana, and stay at The Wilson Hotel offers the opportunity for fall adventures in Yellowstone country, as elk bugle and pockets of aspen trees turn golden against the backdrop of the green forest. Hike and mountain bike trails surrounding town, fish the famed Gallatin River or take one last tour of Yellowstone National Park’s natural wonders and wildlife before roads close for the season.

3. Traffic-Free Natchez Trace: The Natchez Trace is a historic travel corridor through Tennessee, Alabama and Mississippi used by American Indians, settlers, soldiers and future presidents. And with no commercial traffic, the Natchez Trace Parkway is a cyclist’s dream come true. Join Cycle of Life Adventures for a fall tour to enjoy the changing colors of maple, hickory, oak and other hardwood trees, milder temperatures and overnight accommodations in small towns along the parkway.

4. National Parks RV Trip: National parks saw record crowds over the summer, but now that fall is here it’s a great time to visit for fewer crowds, less traffic and pleasant temperatures. Blacksford rents fully stocked Mercedes-Benz Sprinter overland adventure vehicles from Winnebago with an all-inclusive pricing model that includes unlimited miles, no generator fees, bedding, kitchen and bath supplies, free Wi-Fi, a free annual pass to the national parks and 24-hour roadside assistance.

5. Arizona + Black Canyon Mountain Biking: Explore all the Sonoran Desert has to offer with the Best of Phoenix and Black Canyon Trail Mountain Biking Tour from Escape Adventures. This trip is ideal for close groups of biking friends looking for a warm fall or winter excursion. Highlights include exploring the 21,099-acre McDowell Mountain regional park, riding conservancy lands and ripping more than 40-miles of fast and flowy singletrack.

6. Jackson Hole Glamping: Wyoming’s Fireside Resort offers 25 pint-sized, luxuriously outfitted tiny house rental units designed by Wheelhaus. The resort is located a short distance from Grand Teton National Park and the Jackson Hole ski slopes, making it the perfect place to post up for a fall getaway or winter ski trip.

7. Play Cowboy at a Dude Ranch: Red Reflet Ranch is a 28,000-acre luxury resort and working ranch on the west slope of the Bighorn Mountains, just three hours from Yellowstone National Park. Guests stay in private chalets and enjoy family-friendly activities like horseback riding, ATVing, ziplining, swimming, hiking, fishing, shooting and feasting on farm-to-table cuisine.

8. Autumn Galapagos Adventure: Fall is one of the best times of year to visit Ecuador’s Galapagos Islands, particularly when it comes to wildlife and weather. The Finch Bay Galapagos Hotel has joined forces with Scalesia Galapagos Lodge to offer a new weeklong program that includes day trips aboard Yacht Sea Lion, glamping in luxury tents on Isabela Island and visits to remote and mysterious places that illustrate the incredible diversity of the archipelago.

For more travel features, visit:

travelwritersmagazine.com/TravelFeaturesSyndicate/