Ever Considered a Cycling Holiday?

Full disclosure: I have never done a multi-day bike ride. But I still love the idea, and squirrel away interesting long-distance bike path information for the day I plan my first big cycling adventure.

So when I heard about the Iron Curtain trail, a proposed 4,350-mile-long trail extending from the Barents Sea to the Black Sea, I was intrigued. The goal is to turn the former “death strip” into a “living space,” and though it looks like only parts of it are complete, you can read about the entire route—which wends through national parks, historic villages, and more—on the Iron Curtain Trail website.

Another bike trail that caught my fancy recently was Le P’tit Train de Nord path, which starts in the town of St. Jerome, about 35 minutes by car outside of Montreal. This old train line turned bike path (and in winter, cross-country ski and snowmobiling trail) is referred to as a linear park, and stretches 143 miles past villages, lakes, and forests. The tourism board provides a booking service that includes bike rentals, baggage transportation, and accommodations.

Last year, I also talked to someone who had joined a group that cycled between Prague and Vienna and had enjoyed stops along the way at castles and wineries.

In the U.S., there are dozens of multi-day (and multi-week) bike routes on paths and shared roadways.

Have you taken a cycling vacation before? Where did you go? Where would you like to go? Do you have any tips about making the most of a trip?