It can be a daunting consideration, sure: the thought of packing up and schlepping the family overseas to take a vacation that’s a little less familiar than the standard trek to the land of mouse ears or the over-the-river-and-through-the-woods trip to Grandmother’s house.
But the fear of the unknown will quickly subside as you find yourself immersed in an opportunity your family will remember forever.
Gone are the days of $12 amusement park waters and break-as-soon-as-you-buy-them souvenirs. In their place? More significant mementos, like cultural awareness, new foods, new languages, and a whole lot of quality family time.
A bike tour will undoubtedly be the vacation the family still talks about years from now. Here’s why:
1. Family bonding time
Each day brings a new opportunity to cycle together to your next destination. This kind of teamwork and shared experience will create a sense of achievement that will last a lifetime.
2. There’s no “I” in team
Whether it’s a climb up a long hill, or simply making it to the next stop (or the next gelato shop), the trip, and your accomplishments, are full of shared victories.
3. Memories to last a lifetime
Cycling allows you to soak in the settings while you ride. The adventures you’ll have and the people you’ll meet along the way will be the real souvenirs of the trip. Remember, it’s more about the journey than the destination.
4. A chance to reconnect
And, no, we don’t mean to the nearest WiFi. In fact, traveling by bicycle is an excellent way for families to disconnect from electronics, and connect with one another. This slowed-down experience means you can take a break from your normal fast-paced life, savor the world around you, and spend more, less-distracted time with each other.
5. Get up close and personal with new places
History books and world studies courses can only do so much. Bicycle tours help give kids an intimate feel for a country, its terrain, and its people more than any school lesson ever could. And, at a cyclist’s pace, you’ll experience places four-wheeled travelers will never know existed.
6. Expand your worldview with new people and cultures
Bicycle touring is the perfect pace to meet local people. And the more kids get to meet people from around the world, the more accepting they become of different cultures. A family bike tour shows them the world beyond their backyard.
7. Engage all your senses
On a bike, you can quite literally stop to smell the roses, listen to the wind whistle through the trees (ideally a tailwind, of course), and feel the contour of the terrain beneath you.
8. Sing for your supper
Active vacations encourage positive self-image thanks to the simple joys of self-propelled travel and earning your destination. There’s nothing more rewarding than achieving that climb or settling in after a long, successful day of riding.
9. Reap the benefits of active travel
You’ll earn more than your destination on the tour. These trips allow you to experience the beauty of being active during the day, so you can enjoy good food and relaxation in the evenings. And active days make for kids who are ready to go to bed early!
10. Build environmental awareness
Typical tourism can often include lots of excess. For parents trying to raise kids who are environmentally aware, bicycle tours are a form of sustainable tourism that has a negligible impact on the environment.
Did we pique your interest? Now decide what type of tour is best for your family, and then take a look at some great family-friendly tour options.
Be sure to check out our top tours for traveling with toddlers, tweens, teens, and toddlers & teens.
Family friendly, Holland, Danube