Top Travel Days of 2021, Biking Atlanta

Martin Luther King Jr. BikingSince we celebrate the great Martin Luther King Jr. today, it’s a good time to dive into my top travel days of last year, which includes MLK’s hometown of Atlanta. We arrived in Atlanta for 3 nights after a weeklong trip along the South Carolina and Georgia coast in early November. Any one of those days could have made this list, especially strolling through the centuries-old live oaks at Charleston’s Magnolia Plantation, dripping with Spanish moss, and a majestic walk on the beach of Hunting Island State Park. But we really enjoyed our time in Atlanta, which started with a splash at the Holiday Lights show at the Atlanta Botanical Gardens. The city has a lot to offer, including a world-class aquarium, the High Art Museum, which featured an intriguing exhibition on the outsider art of Grandma Moses and Horace Pippen, and upscale shopping at Ponce City Market. The highlight was a 3-hour bike tour with Bicycle Tours of Atlanta that started at MLK’s boyhood home just down the block from Ebenezer Baptist Church, and ended with the cottages in Cabbagetown, with stops at Inman Park and the house used for the television show, Lovecraft Country. We also were introduced to the wonderful Atlanta Beltline, which transformed 33 miles of old railroad track into a biking and walking path that surrounds the city. Afterwards, our excellent guide, Robyn Elliot, led us to many walls and bridges covered with graffiti art. A perfect introduction to the city.

Fall Trips to Try for Foodies, Dolomites and Lake Garda with DuVine

Bike Lake GardaThere’s no better way to jumpstart the post-pandemic body than to entice the senses with a tantalizing venue of local food and drink. Many tour operators are upping the ante this autumn by not only bringing you to scenic locales like the Dolomites and the Douro River, but adding to the excitement by adding hosts like a Michelin-starred chef or wine expert.

The first trip that has us salivating is the Dolomites and Lake Garda Chef on Wheels Bike Tour with DuVine. Andy Levine’s love of topnotch restaurants, the finest wine, and memorable bike routes spurred him on to create DuVine Cycling decades ago. After all, his motto is “Bike, Eat, Drink, Sleep.” This is certainly true of this September 6-day jaunt in northern Italy with Michelin-starred chef Stefano Righetti. Raised in the mountains above Lake Garda, Righetti rose to prominence at Lake Garda’s acclaimed Vecchia Malcesine. Bike on a traffic-free network of local bike paths, crossing three regions from the Italian Alps to Lake Garda, and stop at Righetti’s favorite local wineries, farms, and food suppliers along the way. Actually, you’ll go one step further by foraging for wild ingredients and then preparing a sunset dinner in an alpine chalet with Righetti. If you want to start traveling again with gusto, this is certainly worthy of a bucket list trip! Please contact ActiveTravels and we’ll check availability.

Backroads Announces New 2022 Trips Available for Booking

Backroads New Trips in 2022Hiking from Italy’s Gran Paradiso to the Matterhorn, a multisport African safari in Namibia, Rhine River Cruise bike tour, and hiking in Oman are just a few of the trips Backroads will debut in 2022. The travel company also announced that they are expanding their Dolce Tempo segment with more than 100 new trips. These easygoing trips are becoming quite popular. New destinations will include the Canadian Rockies, England’s Cotswolds, as well as a Danube River Cruise E-bike tour. Please let ActiveTravels know your dates and level of activity and we’ll find the ideal trip for you!

The World is Your Oyster Volume 3: Andy Levine and Tom Coppock of DuVine Cycling

The World is Your OysterOur third episode of The World is Your Oyster brings us closer to home as we speak with Andy Levine and Tom Coppock of DuVine Cycling + Adventure Co. about their new trips in Hudson Valley, Shenandoah Valley, and New Mexico.

Andy Levine started his company decades ago creating bike trips in and around the vineyards of France. Since then, DuVine has offered small group trips (only up to 14 people per trip) with fantastic guides, farm-to-table experiences and carefully curated scenic rides designed to see the world slowly and intimately. Their motto is “Bike Eat Drink Sleep” and on their trips, you’ll do each of these in style!

We were lucky enough to pin Andy down long enough to find out what’s new this year. Tom Coppock, trip designer extraordinaire, joined us as well and tells us how he planned tours in the US with the same attention to detail as their trips in Tuscany and France. He discovered that you don’t need to look beyond our borders to find the distinct character, culture, and history of different regions of the US, not to mention, exquisite culinary experiences and magnificent scenery.

Thank you so much Andy and Tom for participating in this episode of The World is Your Oyster and for sharing your passion for what you do with our valued members. If anyone is interested in DuVine’s summer or fall trips, please let ActiveTravels know and we’ll check availability.

DuVine’s Long Weekend to the Smoky Mountains

Biking Smoky Mountains with DuVineDuVine, the Massachusetts-based biking tour operator who brought Lisa and I on a fantastic trip to Puglia, Italy, introduced shorter 4-day trips around America last year, including itineraries to Santa Barbara and Tucson. But it’s hard to top their newly revealed trip to Tennessee’s Smoky Mountains, where you can bike to your heart’s content on the rolling backcountry roads and then dine and lodge each night at one of the most decorated restaurants in the country, the Relais & Chateaux property, Blackberry Farm. You’ll squeeze in 4 day of riding, averaging 25 to 30 miles per day, before rewarding yourself with a feast of southern specialties like barbecued ribs and catfish, washed down with local microbrews and Tennessee whiskey. First trip out is May 24-27, 2021. Please let ActiveTravels know which itinerary looks the best and we’ll check availability. Also be on the lookout for the next The World Is Your Oyster segment, where we interview DuVine founder, Andy Levine, and discuss his new partnership with Lindblad.

Bike Bourbon Country with Backroads

Biking Bourbon Country Having visited the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, stopping and touring historic distilleries, after rolling up and down bucolic horse country, I can easily say I can’t wait to get back. Sampling bourbon, dining on exceptional Southern food, and viewing the seemingly endless green hillsides of the Bluegrass State, it’s hard not to be hooked. We were excited to see that Backroads introduced a 5-day itinerary to this region of the country last year and it’s already immensely popular. The first trip leaves April 11-15 and if you’re a little leery of drinking high-proof liquor while biking, realize that most of the drinking is at Happy Hour and you can always grab an e-bike for those challenging hills. Please let ActiveTravels know which dates look good and we’ll check availability.

Book Your Backroads Trip Now

Backroads Grand TetonsFor those of you who have credit or interest in booking a trip with the biking and hiking outfitter, Backroads, please note that many of their late summer and fall trips in 2021 are already selling out. This is especially true for North American destinations. We recently checked on trips to both the Grand Tetons and Newfoundland and were surprised to find that they were sold out. There is a possibility that more trips will open up due to demand, but it would be wise to book sooner rather than later. Realistically, this is how it’s going to be for many scheduled trips with outfitters in 2021, selling out early due to pent-up demand. Like most travel companies, Backroads is providing new, more flexible booking policies. Deposits are fully refundable for new reservations on 2021 trips if canceled before 4/1/21 or when final payment is due (whichever comes first).

Please let ActiveTravels know your interest and we’ll be happy to discuss our clients favorite Backroads itineraries around the globe.

Top Travel Days of 2020, Biking to the Missions in San Antonio

Biking to the Missions in San AntonioBefore heading to a wedding in Austin this past March, Lisa and I returned to San Antonio. Every time I visit this city I think about renting an apartment here in winter, especially in February and March, when the temperature often reaches 70 degrees. The city offers two world class art museums, San Antonio Museum of Art and the McNay, sublime dining at the Pearl, great neighborhoods to roam like King William, and, of course, all the restaurants and bars that line the renowned River Walk. But the reason I really love San Antonio is that it’s one of the best biking cities in America.

We rented bikes from the Blue Star Bike Shop near the boutique shops and galleries of the Blue Star Contemporary Art Center (great for checking out after the bike ride) and pedaled on the 10-mile long bike trail called the Mission Reach. It’s not uncommon to find herons, egrets, families of ducks, and turtles lounging in the waters, and colorful wildflowers in full bloom. At Mission Road, we turned right and visited the first of two Spanish colonial missions, Concepción. These early 18th-century Spanish colonial missions are now a UNESCO World Heritage Site and part of a national historic park. I always bring my camera to poke around these impressive buildings and get great shots of the light and shadows reflecting off the walls. We continued on Mission Road another 3 miles to reach the largest mission, San José, known for its popular Mariachi Mass each Sunday. Inside the stone walls, overlooking the green and the church, the setting is serene. When we had our fill, we simply retraced our steps back to the Mission Reach and headed to Rosario’s in Southtown for authentic Mexican fare.

Backroads Launches New Dolce Tempo Journeys

Backroads 2021Backroads just announced the launch of its new Dolce Tempo segment, offering 29 easygoing itineraries, easier than Backroads other trips, but still wonderfully active and perfect for first-timers. These active adventures were created to provide options for guests who may be new to active travel and looking for an alternative to large resort hotels, all-inclusive resorts and even cruises. Dolce Tempo journeys are for travelers who want to escape the crowds and have an authentic one-of-a-kind vacation, immersed in a place and culture, and fully supported by experienced leaders.

Additionally, Backroads is also further expanding its popular Active Weekend Getaways for guests looking for a shorter getaway. They include trips in Saguaro National Park & Tucson, Arizona; California’s Sonoma Wine Country; Bend, Oregon; Charleston, South Carolina; Northern Vermont; Whistler, British Columbia; and Texas Hill Country.

Backroads also just announced its new 2021 trips, including new adventures in Europe, North America and the Southern Hemisphere. The company has also greatly expanded its 20s & Beyond segment – trips for families with young adults in their 20s and early 30s – with more tours to accommodate guest demand. This fast-growing segment is expected to take more than 1,000 guests on departures next year.

A Sampling of Backroads New 2021 Itineraries Include:
• Berlin to Prague Bike Tour
• Chile Patagonia & Fjords Cruise Walking & Hiking Tour
• Italy’s Gran Paradiso to Matterhorn Walking & Hiking Tour
• Israel & Jordan Walking & Hiking Tour
• Netherlands & Belgium Walking & Hiking Tour
• New Zealand South Island Multi-Adventure Tour
• Northern Portugal & Douro Valley Bike Tour
• Scotland Bike Tour
• Sicily Multi-Adventure Tour
• Quebec Walking & Hiking Tour
• Umbria to the Adriatic Bike Tour
• Vancouver & Gulf Islands Bike Tour

Dolce Tempo, Active Weekend Getaways, and all new 2021 trips are available for booking now. Please let ActiveTravels know your dates and we’ll check pricing and availability.

Bike Southern New Hampshire with Ciclismo Classico

Bike New HampshireIt’s not too late to plan a long weekend getaway to Southern New Hampshire with biking outfitter, Ciclismo Classico. Hop on your car on a Thursday morning and in a few hours you’ll arrive in Keene. Their team has taken many precautions to keep you safe while on tour, and carefully planned many iconic and beautiful cycling loops from Keene that include historic architecture, art galleries, covered bridges, abundant lakes, cool forests, zigzagging rivers, farmland and fall foliage galore and daily views of the region’s crowned granite jewel, Mt Monadnock, the second most climbed mountain in the world. Read all about the top cycling loops on their blog, “The Best Bike Rides in Southern New Hampshire.” Tour Dates are October 1-5 and October 8-12 (Women’s Only). If you can’t make those dates, private tours are available through November.

Ciclismo Classico is also still offering their one-day private Story Rides across Massachusetts, with your choice of a guided ride in Boston, Newburyport, or Lexington. Please let ActiveTravels know your date and number of people and we’ll help arrange.