Active Vacations

[mightyh]

My husband and I enjoy semi-active vacations--we spent a week hiking near Asheville, NC a year ago and had such a great time.

We're thinking about doing a biking vacation with a bike tour company. I've ordered some catalogs/brochures over the web, but would love to hear some firsthand experience... Has anyone gone on one of these? They're offered all over the states, Canada, and Europe. Where'd you go? Did you like your tour company? Was it harder/easier than you thought? What would you look for the next time?

I'd also love to hear about other options you think we should consider. We both are moderate exercisers, so it's not like we're going to scale tall mountains, but we can take a vacation that pushes us a little.

[emilycat]

Mightyh,
Sorry, this isn't a review, but I do have a little input http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif I've looked a lot into Backroads, and they have one of the best reputations for bike vacations--they go all over the world, and you can choose between various packages based on your athletic ability (or preferences). They treat you really well, but you pay for it; then again, if money isn't an option...
You might also want to think about tailoring your own bike trip. If you want to go inn to inn, then a tour company might be better, because you'd have the transport of your stuff all taken care of. Then again, if you'd like to really explore one area, like say Acadia National Park in Maine (which is absolutely gorgeous) you can rent bikes and opt for the trails that are better suited to your tastes.
Going with a pre-packaged deal would definitely be less effort, and you'd be more pampered; I tend to love the satisfaction of working everything out myself, but if you want a guarantee, I'd go with a tour company. I'm not sure how much help this all is, but I love active vacations, so I'd love to know what you end up deciding to do. You'll have so much fun!

[Peggy]

mightyh,

I haven't done a biking vacation but my husband and I are into active vacations also. We are avid scuba divers, skiers and golfers so our vacations usually revolve around these activities.

This year we took two active vacations. In June we did a Grand Canyon River Rafting trip. The biggest challenge was the 9.5 mile hike into the canyon with our 30 pound packs. The rest of the trip was much easier! When we weren't on the river we were going on hikes inside the canyon to some of the most beautiful sites I have ever seen. I highly recommend this trip, though it was definately wilderness camping and there were not a lot of comforts.

In July, my husband and I went on an ocean kayaking/wilderness camping trip in British Columbia (sans children). We kayaked daily out of two separate camp sites. This was my maiden ocean kayaking voyage and I had no problem keeping up. Again, the scenery was magnificent and we were in the water with the whales and seals. Wonderful. I highly recommend the company we went with and they also do walking and biking tours all over the world. Their name is Butterfield and Robinson: Phone # 800-678-1147 or www.butterfield.com. (http://www.butterfield.com.) I am told they are a little more expensive than some, but they excel in customer service. There was a real chef on the trip and he stayed in camp all day and cooked the most incredible meals from scratch in his outdoor kitchen. Amazing...

Would love to hear other vacations ideas...

Peggy

[This message has been edited by Peggy (edited 11-07-2000).]

[emilycat]

Peggy,
Your trips sound amazing! I may tag along as a stow away sometime! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/wink.gif
I've actually also hiked the Grand Canyon, but minus the rafting. We hiked to the bottom via the Kaibab trail, and spent the night at Phantom Ranch in cabins, then woke up the next morning (around 4:00 a.m.) and hiked back up on the Bright Angel Trail. It was truly exhilarating, and I would do it again in a second.
My parents are avid divers, as well...I'm terrified of being under water that far away from the surface, so snorkeling is my sport of choice...but they love it! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

[BeckyM]

What a great topic! I don't have any advice to give, because I've never (YET) been on a guided vacation, but my husband and I love to spend our vacations hiking/backpacking -- mostly in the Rockies.

But now we're thinking about going to Ireland/Scotland/Wales for a vacation, and I was thinking it would be neat to do it as a sort of biking/hiking adventure tour. So I'll be looking for advice on biking tour companies too. A friend of mine did one in Italy last year (though I don't know what company she used), and she loved it! My biggest hesitation though is that I like to be free to choose my own activities, and I don't want to be too tied into something where I have a set schedule every day and no time to explore on my own. But I'm thinking maybe I'll check out that Butterfield website Peggy mentioned. I wonder if they have trips in Ireland???

[iqueen]

Hi everybody. There is a company called Experience Plus that does walking and biking vacations. They are great. We did a Walk Into the Heart of Italy tour last year and are doing Switzerland next year. Great trips and lots of fun.

[greta]

ok, i know this isn't an answer to the original post, but i had to chime in!
2 years ago i was looking for a vacation destination in europe that would provide some beautiful hikes...well, i found it! i went to cinque terre, italy. aka "the italian riviera."
there are 5 little towns nestled in the coast--hiking trails connecting each town. i stayed in one of the towns--vernazza. i went in november to avoid the crowds. it was amazing!! the sights, the food, the people. just amazing!

[emilycat]

Oh my gosh, Greta, I did the very same thing you did! I loved Cinque Terre so much; it was one of the most beautiful places I've ever been in my life. We stayed in Vernazza too...you're right, it's so incredible. Was the gelato not to die for?
Em

[This message has been edited by emilycat (edited 11-07-2000).]

[kwormann]

They all sound great, but I have a problem...I LOVE to hike, but my husband has MD and hiking hurts him. ANy other ideas????(As far as scuba, I have a shark phobia--no funy remarks!

kim http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

[mommywannabe]

Kim - you'll hear no jokes from me; I'm not a shark fan either. Ever since I saw Jaws when I was 7, I freak out a bit if I can't see what's in the water below me. I did manage to go on a sea kayaking trip in Kona, Hawaii a couple of years ago...it was fabulous! The hardest part of that was getting my husband to paddle at my speed http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

My dad and stepmom were pretty active scuba and kayak folks. They loved Beliz for both. They planned their own trips though, so I can't help out on the organized tour side of things.

[karen w]

My husband and I are also scuba divers so our vacations always revolve around diving.
We do primarily warm water diving(mostly Carribean), and like to alternate between staying on an island one year, and then a live-a-board dive boat the next. Unfortunately, building a house and having 3 children in 3 1/2 years has interrupted "taking vacations" quite a bit. Our last trip was 2 years ago-Bonaire. It's a beautiful island and the diving is awesome.
Meanwhile, our equipment is collecting dust, but I think now that I have stopped nursing the baby (15 months now)& the shock of the new house mortgage has passed, we will plan a trip soon. Now we just have to bribe one set of grandparents to stay with the three kids!