Walking or Cycling Through Europe

How many of you dream of taking a European vacation, but settle for a trip to the family room to watch the Griswold's pass Big Ben again and again? Don't get me wrong, I love "National Lampoon's European Vacation," but I would much rather visit Europe with my own family than be forced to live vicariously through Clark Griswold. My reluctance in scheduling a European vacation is the lingering concern that my toddler is a bit too young to truly appreciate all that the country has to offer.

But, in my travel research I found a tour company that specializes in tailoring European holidays to families with young children. Breakaway Adventures offers more than 200 different tour packages designed to make your holiday a "fun adventure the whole family will never forget."

The ones that caught my eye were the walking and cycling tours:

Walking Tours
The company says, "parents can carry babies and young children in a backpack on walking tours." To walk unassisted tour guides recommend children be at least 10-years-old. All of the tours are rated by fitness level, which means if you are bringing a young child you would want to choose the easiest tour.

Amboise to Chenonceau Walk in the Loire Valley of France
This 7-day, 6-night tour is described as a "relaxed holiday with very low key and kid-friendly hotels." The family-friendly walk takes you past castles, chateaux and interesting villages.

Dordogne Gastronomic Walk in Dordogne, France
This region of the country is described as being virtually untouched by modern society. Which is to say you can experience a true trip back in time. The tour package includes walking or cycling tours through quaint villages and on the rolling hills that surround the area. In addition, the 9-day, 8-night tour provides canoeing opportunities and trips to visit prehistoric paintings in the Lascaux caves and a mechanical toy museum in Souillac.

Cycling Tours
With the cycling tours, you can either ride with your child (age 4 and younger) on a rear seat carrier, or children ages 10 and older can ride their very own mountain bike. For children between the ages of 4 and 10, the company provides "tag-a-longs" that attach to an adult's bicycle.

Tuscany Cycling
This is a good choice for older children and teens, as the ride difficulty is rated as "moderate" due to the hilly terrain. The 8-day, 7-night trip doesn't put you in the Tour de France league, but you'll get a great workout while taking in historic sites.

For more information about the company, detailed tour itineraries and a complete breakdown of prices visit www.breakaway-adventures.com.