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Trips for Familys
 A Backroads Family Trip is about experiencing
fascinating cultures and historic treasures, exploring the great
outdoors and spending quality time together. It’s the perfect
solution to the perennial predicament of how to please kids and
adults in the same vacation.
Our Family Trips allow you to
maximize time with your children and spend time following individual
pursuits. How do we do it? Our trips are designed by Backroads
staff who have kids of their own in different age groups. Routes
are specifically developed for kids, as well as longer options
for you. You’ll be taken care of by a minimum of three Trip
Leaders, including our Kid Coordinator who orchestrates activities
for the entire family as well as events just for kids. In addition
to being knowledgeable guides, terrific chefs and enthusiastic
motivators, our leaders also serve as incredible role models.
Families have more choices with
Backroads than with any other travel company. We’ve increased
our selection of trips during summer, winter, President’s
Day Week and spring breaks in March and April. We make it easy
by taking care of all the details, allowing you to focus on what
a family vacation is for—wholesome fun, discovery and time
together.
Something
for everyone
Kid-friendly
meals
Family-friendly
pricing
Ideal ages
for children on Family Trips
Children
on non-Family Trips
Gearing
up for kids
Family
trip list
Family
FAQs
Something
for everyone
Our Kid Coordinator orchestrates activities for the entire family
as well as activities just for kids—like journal-writing
and game-playing—so that adults can relish well-deserved
time alone. The Backroads Art Contest is just one activity that’s
fun for kids. And we can provide you with the resources needed
should you require additional childcare support. Flexibility,
freedom and fun for all—that’s what Backroads Family
Trips are all about!
Our Family Trips feature routes
specially developed with kids in mind, as well as extended routes
for adults. The day’s options are all designed with ease
and flexibility so each member of the family will enjoy the perfect
amount of activity.
Kid-friendly
meals
We know that kids have special tastes, so we’ve made sure
that our meals cater to their varied appetites while still satisfying
yours. We find the most family-friendly restaurants in the area
with menus to match. We also offer freshly made, healthful preparations
on our picnics and camping trips—food that is fun, tasty
and nutritious.
Whether you and your family choose
to take one of our inn trips or prefer to sleep under the stars
on a deluxe camping trip, trust Backroads to offer menus that
please the palates.
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Family-friendly
pricing
Designated Family Trips: On camping trips and on inn trips when
children share a room with two adults, youths receive the following
discounts off the trip price:
75% off for children 2 and under
40% off for ages 3-6
20% off for ages 7-10
10% off for ages 11-16
On inn trips when a child shares a room with one adult or when
two children share a room, a 10% discount applies to children
16 and younger. The third and fourth youths in a room will receive
the tiered discounts described above. When one youth is in a
separate room, a 10% discount is applied to the trip price, but
the full single supplement applies.
Non-Family Trips: The youth rate
is 10% off for children 16 and younger on camping trips and on
inn trips when children share a room with two adults.
To find the best family trip
to fit your travel preferences, visit our Advanced Search and
check off "With Children" under preferences for a list
of all trips that have family departure dates, or see the list
at bottom of this page.
 Ideal ages
for children on trips
All minors (under 18 years) must be accompanied by at least one
adult. We strongly encourage parents traveling with children
to join trips exclusively designated for families and designed
with kid- and parent-friendly features. On some trips, hotel
age limitations and level of physical activity on the trip require
children to be a minimum age to participate; please call for
details about our non-family trips. For recommended minimum age
restrictions on Family Trips, click
here.
Please note that children under
8 must be accompanied by a parent in the van. Children 8 and
older are often avid bike riders with excellent endurance, yet
when they need a lift, they can ride in our support van without
a parent. Children under 4 years old or 40 pounds are required
to be in a child's car seat in the van though these regulations
vary by state and country. Car seats for children, 40-80 lbs.,
or 3 to 8 years of age are available upon request. Parents with
children below this age or weight are responsible for bringing
their own seats. Please contact a Trip Consultant for details.
Children on non-Family Trips
We strongly encourage families to join trips exclusively designated
for families. However, up to two children between the ages of
12-16 are permitted on non-Family Trips in most destinations.
Please contact a Trip Consultant for details. Due to hotel age
limitations, there are some trips where children must be a minimum
age to participate.
Our non-family walking inn trips
are designed for those ages 13 and older. Our non-family walking
camping trips are designed for those ages 7 and older.
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Gearing
up for kids
Children's bicycles (20" and 24") are provided on all
Family Trips. The children's 20"-wheel bicycles fit children
ages 7 to 10 with inseam measurements of 23" to 26";
the 24"-wheel bicycles fit children ages 9 to 14 with inseam
measurements of 26" to 29". (Inseam measurement is
the distance from floor to crotch when barefoot.)
 For children ages 4-6 or up to 85 pounds, we recommend
the Burley Piccolo trailercycle. This innovative attachment,
equipped with a six-speed twist-shifter, turns an adult bike
into a tandem, with your child providing some of the pedal power.
 Also
available for children 60 pounds and under is the Burley d'Lite
carrier, which easily attaches to our adult bikes.The Burley
d'Lite and Piccolo trailercycle are available on most
Family Trips.
Backroads
Family Trips and Recommended Minimum Ages
We do not restrict trips to a minimum age (except in the case
of a hotel age restriction) but we do recommend minimum ages
based on the following criteria:
Difficult activities (9+)
Traffic on several biking routes (9+)
Several long adult dinners, limited younger kid options and no
childcare (6+)
Our age recommendations for the
trip and age restrictions for an activity are listed below beside
each trip. For safety reasons, children under 7 may not ride
their own bikes and are required to ride on a Piccolo or in a
Burley; for certain destinations children must be 9 or older
to ride their own bikes. Please contact a Trip Consultant for
more information.
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Europe and the Mediterranean
Brittany & Normandy Biking recommended minimum age for trip:
9
Czech Republic/Austria Multisport recommended minimum age for
trip: 5
Denmark Multisport recommended minimum age for trip: 3
Dordogne Multisport recommended minimum age for trip: 9, minimum
age restriction to ride own bike: 9
Dolomites Multisport recommended minimum age for trip: 5
Holland Biking recommended minimum age for trip: 3
Ireland Multisport (casual available) recommended minimum age
for trip: 5, minimum age restriction to ride own bike: 9 (no
burley trailers are available for this trip)
Loire Valley Biking recommended minimum age for trip: 9 (casual
available; recommended minimum age for trip: 3)
Morocco Multisport recommended minimum age for trip: 9, minimum
age restriction to ride own bike: 9 (no burley trailers are available
for this trip)
Sicily Biking & Walking recommended minimum age for trip:
9 (no burley trailers are available for this trip)
Swiss Alps Multisport recommended minimum age for trip: 5
Tuscany Biking (casual available) recommended minimum age for
trip: 9, minimum age restriction to ride own bike: 9
Asia & the Pacific
Australia Multisport recommended minimum age for trip: 6 (no
burley trailers are available for this trip), minimum age restriction
for hotel: 6, minimum age restriction for rafting: 13
Bali Multisport recommended minimum age for trip: 9, minimum
age restriction to ride own bike: 9 (no burley trailers are available
for this trip)
Hawaii's Big Island Multisport recommended minimum age for trip:
5, minimum age restriction for kayaking: 5, minimum age restriction
to ride on own bike: 9
Hawaii's Kauai Multisport recommended minimum age for trip: 3
New Zealand Multisport recommended minimum age for trip: 5, minimum
age restriction to bungee jump: 11, minimum age restriction to
ride own bike: 9 (no burley trailers are available for this trip.)
Thailand Multisport recommended minimum age for trip: 9, minimum
age restriction for kayaking: 5, minimum age restriction for
snorkeling: 8, minimum age restriction to ride own bike: 9 (no
burley trailers are available for this trip)
Latin America
Baja Multisport recommended minimum age for trip: 8, minimum
age restriction for hotel: 8, minimum age restriction to ride
own bike: 8 (no burley trailers are available for this trip)
Belize Multisport recommended minimum age for trip: 9, minimum
age restriction for snorkeling: 8, minimum age restriction to
ride own bike: 9 (no burley trailers or tandem attachments are
available for this trip)
Costa Rica Walking recommended minimum age for trip: 6
Costa Rica Multisport (casual available) recommended minimum
age for trip: 5, minimum age restriction for rafting: 8, minimum
age restriction to ride own bike: 9 (no burley trailers are available
for this trip)
Ecuador & Galapagos Multisport recommended minimum age for
trip: 9, minimum age restriction to ride own bike: 9 (no burley
trailers or tandem attachments are available for this trip)
Peru Multisport recommended minimum age for trip: 9, minimum
age restriction to ride own bike: 9 (no burley trailers or tandem
attachments are available for this trip)
Yucatan Multisport recommended minimum age for trip: 5, minimum
age restriction to ride own bike: 9
North America West
Alaska Multisport (camping available) recommended minimum age
for trip: 5, minimum age restriction for rafting and kayaking:
Please ask your Trip Consultant
Bryce/Zion/Grand Canyon Multisport (camping available) recommended
minimum age for trip: 6, minimum age restriction for canyoneering:
6, minimum age restriction for mule rides: 7
Death Valley Multisport Camping recommended minimum age for trip:
5
San Juan Islands Multisport (camping available) recommended minimum
age for trip: 3, minimum age restriction for kayaking: 6, minimum
age restriction to ride own bike: 9
Santa Barbara recommended minimum age for trip: 3, minimum age
restriction for kayaking: 8
Yosemite Multisport (camping available) recommended minimum age
for trip: 5, minimum age restriction for canyoneering: 6
North America Rockies
Canadian Rockies Multisport (casual available, camping available)
recommended minimum age for trip: 6, minimum age restriction
for rafting, climbing, icewalk: 6, minimum age restriction to
ride own bike: 9
Glacier Multisport (camping available) recommended minimum age
for trip: 6, minimum age restriction for rafting: 8, minimum
age restriction for horseback riding: 6, (no burleys or piccolos
available on day of mountain biking,) minimum age restriction
to ride own bike (camping): 9
Idaho Multisport recommended minimum age for trip: Please ask
you Trip Consultant
Yellowstone/Tetons Multisport (camping available) recommended
minimum age for trip: 6, minimum age restriction for kayaking:
6, minimum age restriction for rafting: 6
North America East
Maine Multisport (camping available) recommended minimum age
for trip: 3, minimum age restriction for kayaking: 5
Prince Edward Island Multisport (camping available) recommended
minimum age for trip: 3, minimum age restriction for kayaking:
5
Quebec recommended minimum age for trip: 6, minimum age restriction
for kayaking and whale watching: 6, minimum age restriction to
ride own bike: 9
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