BERKELEY, Calif. -- Backroads will relaunch a biking program in
Holland next year as part of its focus on developing more
family-oriented itineraries.
The firm, which specializes in bicycling, walking, hiking and
multisport tours, has featured the Netherlands in its product line
in the past but discontinued the itinerary, said Peter Mandell,
Backroads' trip development coordinator.
"It was great
riding, but many of our guests had been to Holland or were looking
for more challenging rides," he said.
An increase in family clientele prompted the firm to re-enter
the Holland market with a six-day program set to begin in June
1999.
"Holland lends itself perfectly to the family market because
almost all of the riding is on bike paths and all of the inns take
kids," Mandell said.
As part of the firm's effort to run more trips for families, the
Holland itinerary will incorporate activities for children, Mandell
said. Although the activities have not been determined, Mandell
said examples include attractions such as toy factories, parks and
museums.
The Holland program will incorporate biking in three provinces:
Utrecht, Gelderland and Zuid-Holland.
Highlights will include the town of Arnhem, which will give
participants an opportunity to bike to the Dutch Open Air Museum,
and through Hoge Veluwe National Park to the Kroller-Muller Art
Museum. Accommodations will be at Groot Warnsborn, a property
situated on a 1,600-acre estate.
Clients then will pedal along canals into the province of
Utrecht and ride through Rhenen to Bosch en Duin. Accommodations
will be at De Hoefslag, a Small Luxury Hotels of the World
property.
The last portion of the program will feature a visit to a
family-run cheese farm in Kamerik and a tour of a wooden-shoe
factory in Lekkerkerk.
Prices for the Holland bicycl-ing program have not been set.
Backroads
Phone: (800) 462-2848
E-mail: goactivebackroads.com
Web: www.backroads.com