keith_ritter

It’s Just Like Riding A Bike

Posted on February 4, 2016 - 10:00 am by keith_ritter

The popular adage, “It’s just like riding a bike” is often used to describe a skill you can gain, that is so intuitive and natural, you don’t even think about remembering how to do it. As a kid, I can still recall the feeling I had when my parents took the training wheels off my one-speed purple Huffy bike. Balancing on two wheels while pedaling and steering at the same time was exhilarating!

Words by Beth White, Trek Travel Guide

Trek Travel guide Beth White in the California Wine Country

Throughout my life, riding a bike has served many purposes for me. My first job was delivering newspapers with that same Huffy bike. I was able to sling a canvas bag (bursting with papers) over the big banana seat, allowing my to complete my route in less than an hour. It was my introduction to responsibility and earning my own money for the first time ever! Then in my high school and college years, biking became my main mode of transportation (even through all of Wisconsin’s seasonal weather changes).

As an adult, I’ve been part of various cycling advocacy groups, working to improve commuting routes so that cars and bikes can safety share the road. I believe that these efforts help to build healthy communities, from reducing traffic congestion and improving air quality to having a culture that encourages physical activity.

But my passion for cycling grew in a recreational capacity when I was introduced to mountain biking through the Texas-based Ride Like a Girl non-profit organization, created to encourage more women to go mountain biking. The group is extremely welcoming and supportive of cyclists at all levels, from first time mountain bikers to competitive racers. Cycling not only challenged me physically and mentally outside of my day job, but also helped me create a circle of new friends.

Upon ending a 17 year relationship, I had an opportunity to really examine what I was doing with my life as well as what I wanted out of my future (I call this my “mid-life awakening”). I had spent the last twenty years of my life building successful careers in human resource management and sales while working for high-tech emerging companies. After many long hours at a desk, devoting my life to my career, I was discouraged by the frequent layoffs and lack of personal gratification for the sacrifices I was making. It took a lot of deep soul searching and a little inspiration from other risk takers in my life, but I finally decided to make my passion a way to make a living. I just had to figure out how.

Then one day, a friend gave me some advice: “With your love of travel, people and cycling, you would make an awesome cycling guide!” Honestly, being in my mid-forties, it was not a profession I had ever considered. But after speaking to friends of friends at Trek Travel, I realized that this job was a great fit for my personality and it was the perfect way for me to combine my love of cycling and travel.

Each trip I meet wonderful guests–two sisters celebrating each other’s birthdays, old friends reuniting after years apart, couples taking first vacation in years without children, parents and their daughter celebrating a college graduation, anniversaries, honeymoons and more.

Being able to guide guests through experiences of a lifetime in beautiful locations has allowed me to share my passion for cycling and travel with others. It brings out the kid in everyone. Cycling is no longer just a hobby, but now I can proudly say that it is my profession and way of life. Sometimes we all have to take personal journeys and try many things to find our true calling. But in the end, we may revert to the passions that have long been present in our lives, “Just like riding a bike.”

Why I Ride: Susie King

Posted on February 2, 2016 - 7:51 pm by keith_ritter

I remember when my son Zeb was interviewing for Trek Travel one year ago. He had just graduated from Appalachian State with a degree in Public Health Education. He had completed his student teaching at a county high school and I wondered if he would go in to Education (and follow in my footsteps).

Words by Susie King, Mom of Trek Travel guide Zeb King

I knew he had a passion for cycling as he had raced at the collegiate and professional levels, and my husband and I spent many weekends watching him race. We traveled throughout North Carolina, Virginia and South Carolina, and I spent summer vacation going to Wisconsin for the Tour of America’s Dairyland. Zeb’s excitement about cycling was contagious to say the least!

In the back of my mind, I kept thinking about how much I loved cycling when I was in college. I didn’t race or compete in any way, but almost every day for a couple of years, I jumped on my Carolina Blue Huffy 10 speed and rode. I was in Greensboro, N.C. and the city was full of bike paths that went all around town and out to the Battleground. I loved riding alone and pushing myself to maximum effort.

It wasn’t until Zeb got his job with Trek Travel that I thought about riding again myself. At 54, I knew I needed to get in shape. Sure, I walk on a fairly regular basis and do yoga once a week, but I needed something else. Zeb’s first trip that he guided was in Utah through Bryce Canyon and Zion National Park. I visited him during June and he got me back on a bike. I loved it! Compared to that Huffy 10 speed, the Trek bike he let me ride felt like a Mercedes!

After that, I decided I had to get me a new bike. With Zeb’s help, I bought an awesome Trek FX 7.5 WSD and a full Bontrager kit and helmet. I am really loving getting back in to riding. Although there is not a great place for me to ride out my back door, I can easily take off a wheel, throw the bike in the car, and hit the trails close by. I hope to continue this new love, which I know will help me physically and mentally in the years to come. Thanks Trek for my new lease on life! And for Zeb’s awesome job as a Trek Travel Guide!

Saanich cyclist on the ride of his life

Posted on January 27, 2016 - 7:44 pm by keith_ritter

While most of the South Island paid little attention to the recently announced routes of the 2016 Giro d’Italia and Tour de France, Saanich cyclist Jordan Landolt did the same.

Words by Travis Paterson | January 26, 2016
Originally published in the Saanich News

The difference is that Landolt will actually be on some of those routes this summer. The 28-year-old spends the summer and fall season every year guiding “cyclist guests” through the scenic stages of all three Grand Tours (Italy, France and Spain) as a seasonal bike tour guide for Trek Travel.

“We are known as tour guides but are also luggage sherpas, language translators, shuttle drivers, wine connoisseurs, local historians, cycling partners, motivational speakers, bike mechanics, bartenders, problem solvers and just smiling faces making folks comfortable on their bike in a foreign place,” says Landolt, who just finished his fourth year as a guide.

It means ignoring the burn of his own legs and lungs and encouraging his physically exhausted guests (paying customers) to complete the final two kilometres of the gruelling summits of a Grand Tour.

Of course Landolt already loved tour cycling when he applied for the job in 2012. The former Saanich Braves junior player had moved on from hockey after a few pro seasons in Switzerland and, still in his early 20s, found long-distance cycling during a three-month trek through the U.S.

On a whim he applied to Trek Travel and beat out dozens of contestants in a survivor-type job application scheme.

“I flew to Wisconsin with 25 other hopefuls and after a rigorous full-day interview of team-building activities, public speaking, bike mechanics, picnic prep and role playing, they narrowed it down to 10 of us,” he said.

The rest of the week was spent learning and training, and by the end of the week, seven had jobs, including Landolt.

“Five days later I flew to Italy to guide my first trip in the Dolomites at the Giro D’italia. That year, Ryder Hesjedal won and I had no idea who he was.”

By 2013, Landolt was heavy into guiding – doing it 10 months of the year – and was beginning to take cycling seriously enough that he might consider racing. It happened during an impromptu ride during a day off in Mallorca, Spain in 2013.

“I was riding with another guide and through a mutual friend, we ended up meeting with Gerald Ciolek and Linus Gerdemann, then of African pro team MTN-Quebeka. Not household names here, but the German Ciolek wasn’t popular in Italy when he won the historic 2013 Milan San Remo (a race won seven times by cycling great Eddy Merckx).”

In cycling speak, Ciolek and Gerdemann were in world class form when, according to the code of cycling, Landolt jumped to the front of the group to “take some of the wind for the fellas.”

“It was a windy day and on a long flat stretch. As we turned the corner and out of the wind, [Ciolek] looked me up and down from my beat-up touring shoes to my second-hand ‘80s sunglasses and said, ‘You’ve got an engine…..lose some weight and you could probably be a strong time trials guy.’”

When he came back to Canada, Landolt sought coaching and found Houshang Amiri of the Pacific Cycling Centre and the Accent Inn/Russ Hays team. Then in 2014, Landolt won the 2014 B.C. elite time trial cycling championship.

Not bad for recreational tour guide.

“Amiri provided the necessary fine tuning and training [that led to] winning the B.C. time trial,” Landolt said.

Even if Landolt never wins another race, he can’t downplay a fateful moment like that. Later that summer Curtis Dearden of the Accent Inn/Russ Hays team won the Canadian national time trial championship. Landolt had the motivation and the service of coach and mentor Houshang Amiri (Pacific Cycling Centre).

Although tour guiding is mostly at a recreational pace, it also can provide some good impromptu training intervals, Landolt said, such as chasing down a lost guest who missed a turn or pushing a physically and mentally depleted guest the last two kilometres of Italy’s Stelvio (a climb so gruelling it’s only been in the Giro d’Italia four times).

Climbing the Stelvio, for those unaware, isn’t a Sunday ride. It’s the highest summit of all the Grand Tour.

“[Our] experience gets you so close you feel like you are part of it… cycling through the flocks of fans en route to the finish line just hours before the pro peleton.”

From there, the guests take a turn standing on the official podium before grabbing a cold beer and watching the nail-biting final kilometres on TV before the stage winners cross the line just meters away.

“Working as a guide with Trek Travel has taught me the foundations of cycling…” Landolt said. “More than anything it has taught me to challenge myself and to do things that scare me and feel the satisfaction of completing them or at least having the courage to try them. The 2014 B.C. ITT was a memorable and satisfying day for me, but first, or last, I would have been just as proud and content at the fact that I was there and gave it a shot.”

Learn more about our guide team»

Bring On Old Man Winter

Posted on January 22, 2016 - 4:29 pm by keith_ritter

It’s that time of year when fat bikes are out in hoards. Although they have only recently become popular, fat bikes have been around for nearly 10 years and they are a ton of fun to ride.

Over the holidays my brother and I rode our Trek Farleys out in Spearfish, South Dakota on some amazing trails. We have been riding together for many years and we rode plenty of miles in the Minnesota snow long before fat bikes were around. But we had such a blast this Christmas, reminiscing about how much fun we had back then and how much more fun it is with bikes that are actually designed for snow. Even with new bikes, however, some things never change. Like the laughter that ensues after going over the bars right into a big, soft pile of snow. Did I mention we had an awesome time?

“Isn’t it so cold,” you might ask? Well, I won’t lie. It can be cold but you warm up quickly. Just like any outdoor activity, it’s all about the right layers and keeping your hands and feet warm. Having bar mitts makes a world of difference in keeping your hands toasty, and the right footwear is a must as well. I prefer to ride clipped in, though many people like to ride with a simple platform pedal. In the end, it really makes no difference so long as you have a dedicated winter boot to keep your toes warm. The Bontrager OMW Winter Shoes (yes, it does stand for old man winter) are really awesome. I bought a pair to replace my old winter boots and I absolutely love them. They are warm, keep the snow out, and are a great option for clipless or platform pedals. Pro Tip: Buy one size bigger than you typically would. Trust me.

There are more and more places that cater to fat bike riding as well. Riding on a groomed trail is really a treat, and these are popping up in many cities as more people turn to fat biking for their winter activity. I know there are plenty of ice races on frozen lakes in Minnesota, which are super fun to watch and even more fun to participate in. Pro Tip: If you are riding on ice, be sure to have a good set of studded tires. You can buy them pre-studded or you can stud them yourself, but make sure you have them. The large footprint of the tire isn’t enough for traction on the ice, and studs will make a world of difference (no promises you still won’t slide out once or twice).

On that note, traction is directly proportional to tire pressure. You will think I’m nuts when I say that I ride with 3-5psi in my tires. Yes, you read that right: 3-5psi! And the difference from 3psi to 5psi is still incredible when it comes to the amount of grip you can get when cornering. Your standard floor pump won’t be able to give you readings like that, so you’ll have to get a low pressure gauge. I actually carry my gauge with me in my seat pack in the event of a flat tire because it’s really hard to tell pressure by just squeezing these tires.

Ultimately, fat biking is just a really fun way to extend the riding season. I’m sure that if given the chance, most of you would rather be outside on a bike as opposed to riding a stationary a trainer. Am I right? Besides, why wouldn’t you want another bike in the quiver?

In case you were wondering, my personal choice (go figure) is a custom Di2 Trek Farley. I had a lot of fun building this up exactly how I wanted it and have almost as much fun riding it.

10 Best Restaurant Meals Of 2015

Posted on January 22, 2016 - 3:23 pm by keith_ritter

I write on culinary topics for many publications, and as the door closes on 2015, it is time for annual reflection on my standout restaurant meals from the past 12 months. This is a tradition I started with my “10 Most Memorable Restaurant Meals of 2011,” and continued in 2012, in 2013 and 2014. Those years are still worth checking out, as most, if not all, of the eateries are still very relevant to travelers. As part of this year end recap series I also wrote yesterday about the 10 Best Hotels of 2015.

Words by Larry Olmsted | December 31, 2015

One reason my lists are especially useful for travelers is because, unlike most publications, I don’t confuse “new” with good. If I ate someplace this year for the fifth time, that’s because the place is great (like St. Elmo in Indianapolis). If it has been open for a hundred years but I just ate there for the first time and loved it, you will find it here (Denver’s Buckhorn Exchange). Also, my picks tend to be in actual travel destinations some of you will be visiting for business or vacation anyway, so unlike most food magazines, my choices are not all in Brooklyn or the Hudson Valley. Hype or trendiness doesn’t make a restaurant better or worse – what matters to me is the food.

As the Great American Bites restaurant columnist for USAToday, the nation’s largest newspaper, I scour the country looking for the best regional and standout foods in every corner of the U.S. My other food media outlets take me all over the world, and as a result I spend a lot of time in restaurants. A rough calculus would suggest I eat out at least 250 times a year. Unfortunately, many of these meals are forgettable, or merely “fine.” The following are the coveted exceptions, my ten very best taste memories of 2015.

Meal of the Year – Assirto, Moneglia, Italy: This one is a bit of an exception to my rule above, because it is off the beaten path and in a seaside town very few American tourists are likely to find themselves. But I included it here because it was simply the most unbelievable, fantastic and memorable meal of my entire year, with one of the best dishes I have ever tasted, and well worth a several hour long trip from almost anywhere in the region, which basically means Rome, Florence, Milan, Genoa, Bologna, Turin or even over the border in Nice. Moneglia is a small beach town on the Ligurian Coast just north of the much more visited Cinque Terre, for which it serves as a lower cost bedroom community, a short train ride away. I have found that the best restaurants are run by passionate visionaries, and Luca, the omnipresent proprietor, fits the bill. He has caused a bit of local controversy, though no international publication I have seen has ever taken note of the place, through his researched focus on historical Mediterranean cuisine. For this he goes way back to the region’s roots, and thus puts a big emphasis on things like salt cod that was received in trade with Portugal and Scandinavia, as well as the famous anchovies swimming just outside his door, a geographically protected IGP product.

But perhaps his boldest move is his insistence that the famed cured hams of Spain, jamon serrano, pata negra and jamon Iberico de bellota, are more authentically Mediterranean than the locally beloved Italian hams, prosciutto di Parma or di San Danielle, which he calls “mountain hams.” His belief that Spain’s rival hams and pigs are tied more to the local geography and coastal climate than Italy’s is akin to being an outspoken Dallas Cowboys fan in Green Bay. But the result of all this is his signature dish, a sort of braised/grilled combo of the secreto cut of the finest acorn fed Spanish pigs. Secreto, as you might guess, means secret, and refers to a “butcher’s cut” in Spain, meaning cuts customers don’t know about that butchers love and keep to themselves, like hanger or flat iron steaks. Steven Raichlen is the world’s leading authority on cooked meat, and his BarbecueBible.com site calls secreto the “Best Kept Secret in Barbecue.” On a full grown pig it amounts to just a one and a quarter pound strip adjacent to the belly, where bacon comes from. Pork belly has become a very trendy dish because of its delicious fattiness, but imagine if you could turn the flavor and succulence of pork belly into a meatier steak, then source it from the finest pigs in the world, then cook it perfectly using a time consuming combination of styles that include a professional steam oven. The result would be what they serve at Assirto, which might be the best meat dish I have ever tasted.

I don’t usually put a lot of stock in sites like TripAdvisor, but since there is so little on this hole in the wall restaurant, that is where it has been covered the most, and a quick glance shows that it is numero uno in town, with near uniform 5-star ratings, and lots of them. Almost all fawning reviews detail the unexpected food that is hyper local and very different from preconceived notions of “Italian,” the friendly staff, the hands-on owner helping to choose dishes, the value, and Luca’s intimate knowledge of obscure Ligurian wines. All in all, this causal enoteca set in a historic building in a small alley is a winner on every front, but it is the pork the rocked my world, simply the best “other white meat” I have ever tasted, and as a barbecue nut, I have tasted a lot. As a visitor from Sweden wrote, “the grilled iberico, forever in our minds as the best meat we ever ate. Today in cold Sweden I still dream of this culinary experience and think that another visit to Liguria would be worth it just if we could come back to this jewel.” Amen. Assirto reminds me a lot of my visit to Massimo Bottura’s Osteria Francescana in Modena before Bottura became as much of a household foodie name as the top chef in Italy. Admittedly his restaurant was already acclaimed, but Assirto shares that same sense of discovering something really special and different, a more passionate, more historically informed take on Italian culinary tradition. Unforgettable.

Experience Assirto on Trek Travel’s Cinque Terre Bike Tour»

Benefits of Using a Travel Agent

Posted on January 18, 2016 - 5:42 pm by keith_ritter

I was a travel agent for six years prior to working for Trek Travel, so I am undeniably biased when it comes to discussing the advantages of booking through a travel agent. Though not every trip requires the guidance of a travel professional, your two week European excursion to numerous cities using multiple forms of transportation will run much more smoothly with the knowledge and support of a travel agent. Below are my picks for the top five benefits of using a travel agent when planning your next vacation, whether it be domestic or abroad:

1. Cut Through the Noise
When researching your next vacation, the internet can be both wonderful and overwhelming. An experienced travel agent will weed out the mediocrity and focus your attention on top personal recommendations.

2. Completely Customized
Travel agents have all the tools to seamlessly piece together the exact trip you are looking for, which can be challenging and time consuming to do on your own. They have an ever-expanding list of trusted contacts and suppliers, from private drivers to luxury VIP experiences.

3. Feel Like a Celebrity
Some travel professionals have connections with top tourist destinations due to their high volume of sales. On occasion, travel agents can organize VIP experiences such as private after-hours tours of normally crowded exhibits, exclusive access to areas closed to the public, or highly-sought after event tickets that sell out quickly.

4. Service from Start to Finish
Just like at Trek Travel, travel agents see your trip through from your first consultation until the time you land back home. Agencies will typically offer a 24-hour emergency line in case you run into any unexpected delays or issues while traveling. They can even quickly assist you in the case of widespread delays such as airline strikes or major storms. Long hold times with airlines can mean all the good alternative flights are taken by the time you speak to a representative. One quick call to your travel agent, on the other hand, can provide peace of mind while they take care of getting you on the best possible flight.

5. More Money For Souvenirs
Travel agents not only save you time, but they can also save you money. Agencies who belong to larger networks, such as Virtuoso, can land you deals like special pricing on hotels and airfare that you can’t access on your own. They are also sometimes able to offer special bonuses like complimentary room upgrades, spa discounts and more. Most travel professionals will charge a nominal fee for their services and expertise, but it often pays for itself with these extra perks.

10 Trip Club: The Dingwalls

Posted on January 15, 2016 - 3:40 pm by keith_ritter

In October 2006, Deb and I hopped on a series of flights from Kalamazoo, Michigan to Florence, Italy. Deb was a seasoned world traveler but this was to be my first international trip. It was our first Trek Travel trip to ride the roads of Tuscany, but it ended up being so much more. That trip became the first of what, to date, are ten Trek Travel trips with many more planned for the future. We have been lucky enough to cycle through Italy, France, Vermont, the Pacific Northwest and various parts of California with Trek Travel.

Words by Adam Dingwall, Trek Travel Guest

When I got the email from Jenny at Trek Travel asking if we could contribute to the blog by picking our three favorite trips, my first thought was, “How could I choose?” Each trip has been beyond compare in certain ways. The Tour de France trip was amazing in getting to stand on the road side and watch the cyclists go by so close you can feel their motion. The descent off Mount Bachelor into Bend on the Crater Lake and Oregon Cascades trip is 20 miles of perfectly smooth pavement where you hardly have to touch a pedal. The former California Coast trip provided the bucket list experience of cycling over the Golden Gate Bridge. Choosing our three favorite Trek Travel trips would be a little like picking our three favorite kids. But seeing that we don’t have kids, we’ll give it a shot in no particular order.

Tuscany

We’ve done the Tuscany trip twice, first in 2006 and again in 2014. Tuscany is the one place in the world I’ve been where, for me, the reality transcends the hype. The food, the wine, the people, the coffee, and the cycling are all sublime. Every moment of those trips seems to fuse into this memory of the best of my travels, it’s like one big Tuscan fresco. It’s also the trip that, in 2014, provided my all time favorite Trek Travel moment. The second day’s ride traverses the Val d’Orcia, riding up and down the beautiful Tuscan landscape and eventually rolling into Montalcino for lunch. When we arrived in town, we discovered our friends Tom and Andrea Meadows had already grabbed an outdoor table at Le Potazzine. The waiter came to take our order, starting with drinks. Tom, Andrea and Deb all ordered a glass of Brunello d’Montalcino while I ordered a coke; after all, it had been a long hot ride already and I was thirsty. The waiter sternly said, “No. Brunello” and walked away. Lunch proceeded through various courses and many glasses, or maybe bottles, of Brunello and me taking constant good natured gruff about ordering a coke. When it came time for the check, it was delivered to me along with a small, ice cold bottle of Coca Cola. Tom asked for the check to be split, but the waiter simply stated, “No. He ordered coke, he pays.” I loved it, happily paid the check, and then sought out the waiter to get our picture together, which I regularly use as my Facebook profile.

California Wine Country

This is another trip that we’ve done twice, in 2012 and 2013. Deb is a big wine lover so riding amongst the vineyards of Napa and Sonoma is special for her. To be able to cycle past a winery that you are familiar with, or to discover a one that becomes a new favorite, is part of this trip. Plus, these places have wine clubs that ship straight to your house, which Deb thinks is perhaps the greatest example of commerce around. Like any Trek Travel trip, the cycling is wonderful–on lightly travelled roads and amongst traffic that is very respectable towards riders. But there are two things that set this trip apart for us. First, our favorite hotel in the world–Hotel Healdsburg–is part of the luxury trip. Second, on the 2013 trip we met three other couples that were to become our Trek Travel companions. We’ve now done Wine Country, Tuscany and Santa Barbara with Tom and Andrea Meadows, Rick and Gail Venner, and Darryl and Susan Forintos. We couldn’t ask for more fun than we get travelling with these folks. If we hadn’t signed up for Wine Country in 2013, we never would’ve met them.

San Juan Islands and Santa Barbara

I have to put these two together. These were our latest trips in 2015, so they are fresh in my memory. But the main reason is because these trips contained the two biggest climbs I’ve done: Mount Constitution and Gibraltar Road. If you ever meet me, you’ll quickly notice that I’m built a bit more like a linebacker than a cyclist. Climbing has never come easy and here in southwest Michigan the terrain on which to train for climbing doesn’t really exist. Standing at the top of Mount Constitution on Orcas Island looking across the water to Mount Baker on the mainland is an accomplishment I’ll forever hold dear. And the climb up Gibraltar taxed me in ways I never had anticipated.

It’s been an amazing ten years and ten trips with Trek Travel. We’ve made life-long friendships with fellow guests and guides. We’ve seen the world from the seat of a bike, a perspective that can’t be matched in any other way. A few years ago the president of Trek Travel, Tania Burke, along with her husband John, were in Battle Creek for Team Active Cycling and Fitness’ End of Winter Party. Deb and I were fortunate enough to have dinner with them. Tania asked us how our experiences with Trek Travel had been. “Tania,” I answered, “I still can’t think about our first trip to Tuscany in 2006 without getting goose bumps. If you told me that we could repeat any of our trips but we would have to pay twice as much, I’d write the check in a heart beat.”

There is nothing quite like Trek Travel for us.

52 Places to Go in 2016

Posted on January 11, 2016 - 8:56 pm by keith_ritter

Each January, the editors of the New York Times Travel section publish a Places to Go issue. And although the editors themselves admit that it is by no means a comprehensive list (here’s how they narrow it down)–because “there is an almost endless number of great destinations”–the locations chosen are always particularly compelling in the coming year. This year’s 11th annual Places to Go list features a few of our favorite destinations, and we can’t wait for you to experience everything they have to offer.

2. Bordeaux, France
An ancient wine region gets a stunning update.
Words by Charly Wilder

Next year will see the opening of La Cité du Vin, an ambitious institution along the coast of the river Garonne dedicated to the history of French viticulture. The undulating wooden structure, designed by XTU architects, is part of a huge greening and revitalization effort along Bordeaux’s waterways, which also includes the 2013 opening of the Pont Jacques Chaban-Delmas, Europe’s largest lift bridge, and the transformation of over 7,500,000 square feet of former docklands into more than 5,000 new apartments and public waterside attractions. In 2007, half of the restored neoclassical city was Unesco-listed, making it the largest urban World Heritage site. And all the effort has been paying off: A 2013 survey ranked Bordeaux France’s second-favorite city, after Paris. More recently, a restaurant boom has welcomed enticing openings by the likes of Joël Robuchon, whose namesake restaurant opened at the end of 2014 within the city’s palatial Grande Maison hotel. Gordon Ramsay recently took the helm at Le Pressoir d’Argent, the restaurant within the InterContinental Bordeaux — Le Grand Hotel, while the French celebrity chef Philippe Etchebest, has taken over the Café Opera in Bordeaux’s Grand Théâtre. Other appetizing new entries include Franco-Chinese restaurant Dan, high-end minimalist Garopapilles and locavore Belle Campagne, in a rustic-chic townhouse in Bordeaux’s picturesque Old Town.
Experience our Bordeaux Cycling Vacation»

15. Road to Seven Lakes, Argentina
A newly paved road to beautiful vistas.
Words by Nell McShane Wulfhart

It’s no longer necessary to rent a four-wheel-drive vehicle to explore the Patagonian Lake District. With the long-delayed paving of the Road of the Seven Lakes completed last summer, it is now possible to drive, cycle or motorbike (new rental companies like Seven Lakes Rides are already setting up shop) down this 66-mile route that takes in some of Argentina’s most compelling scenery. Connecting San Martín de Los Andes to the mountain village of Villa La Angostura, an hour’s drive from the skiing and snowboarding mecca of Bariloche, the route is stunningly scenic, winding its way through forested valleys and around the namesake azure lakes, taking in national parks, snow-capped mountains and abundant waterfalls along the way. The trip can now be completed in a few hours, although it’s worth stretching out the journey to take advantage of the campgrounds (or boutique hotels) and excellent restaurants along the way.
Experience the Road to Seven Lakes on our Chile Cycling Vacation»

17. Korcula Island, Croatia
Experience authentic life on the Dalmatian Coast.
Words by Katie Engelhart

Beyoncé and Jay Z called this one. The couple’s 2011 visit to Hvar Island seemed to open the tourist floodgates to Croatia’s Dalmatian Coast. Korcula is Hvar’s more modest neighbor. Much of the island is still untouched: dotted with blue-collar fishing villages and little pebble beaches. Instead of sticking to the Old Town, which claims to be the birthplace of Marco Polo, rent a moped and head west. Travel through olive groves and thick woodlands, and drive off-road to sample Korcula’s signature white wine, Grk, at any number of hopelessly charming family wineries. It’s bitter and earthy — and true to the region’s less fashionable days.
Experience Korcula Island on our Craotia Cycling Vacation»

29. Barcelona, Spain
Celebrating a beloved architect all year.
Words by Lindsey Tramuta

This year, Barcelona prepares for an influx of architecture aficionados as it marks the 90th anniversary of the death of Antoni Gaudí, whose work famously peppers the city. The Gaudi Exhibition Center at the Museu Diocesà de Barcelona will continue to offer an interactive deep dive with its “Walking With Gaudi” exhibition — a perfect primer for what is poised to be an important decade in Gaudian history: by year’s end, the Unesco World Heritage Site Casa Vicens — Gaudi’s first major work — will open as a public museum, and the completion of the Sagrada Família cathedral, his most ambitious work, is finally scheduled for 2026. Guests of the nearby Majestic Hotel & Spa will be offered private tours of both structures once they open.
Experience our Barcelona Villa Cycling Vacation»

31. Turin, Italy
Renewal in a former industrial capital.
Words by Robyn Eckhardt

A reopened Egyptian Museum isn’t the only draw in Turin, where projects like the warehouse district Docks Dora, home to galleries, ateliers and underground clubs; the street art initiative Arte in Barriera; and Lavazza’s new headquarters in Aurora near Porta Palazzo, Europe’s largest open-air market, are softening an industrial face. Fresh exhibition spaces and museums complement Contemporary Art Week, comprising Artissima, Paratissima and Luci d’Artista. The concurrent Club to Club is one of many music festivals (Torino Jazz, Kappa Futur, TODAYS, Movement Torino). The city, which is home to Slow Food’s annual Salone del Gusto, is also a jumping-off point for the Unesco world heritage-designated wine regions Langhe-Roero and Monferrato.
Experience Turin on our Piedmont Cycling Vacation»

43. Málaga, Spain
Beauty, but now a cultural capital, too.
Words by Shivani Vora

As home to touristy seaside cities like Marbella, the province of Málaga, part of the Andalusia region, is a popular beach destination. The eponymous capital city, however, is now a center of culture. The birthplace of Picasso and home to a namesake museum full of works donated by his family, Málaga has recently seen three major museums open. The most significant is a five-year pop-up of the Centre Pompidou, costing upward of $8 million, housed in a futuristic building on the waterfront and displaying a changing selection of 20th- and 21st-century paintings by artists like Frida Kahlo and Marc Chagall. There’s also a new branch of the St. Petersburg State Russian Museum with a collection of works by some of Russia’s most notable artists and the Carmen Thyssen Museum, featuring around 250 works from Baroness Thyssen-Bornemisza’s collection of past and present art world masters, including Jeff Koons. Getting to Málaga to explore this new side of the city is easier than ever: Delta now has seasonal flights into the local airport from New York City, and there are new high-speed train routes linking it to Madrid and Barcelona.
Experience Málaga on our Andalucia Cycling Vacation»

SEE THE NEW YORK TIMES FULL LIST OF 52 PLACES TO GO»

The Off Season: Why We Travel

Posted on January 8, 2016 - 11:09 pm by keith_ritter

What’s that you say? You don’t like anchovies? Well then, you have never been to the tiny restaurant of Assirto on the Ligurian Coast of Italy. I can’t promise you will walk away loving these tiny fish, but I can promise your opinion will be forever changed.

Words by Amy Davison, Trek Travel Guide

I knew Assirto was special the moment I laid eyes on it. I had to lean in closely and peer through the dusty window pane just to determine that it was indeed a restaurant. As we took a seat, Luca, the owner and chef, pulled up a chair at our table to tell us about the menu.

I grinned inside knowing that this was going to be special. He explained that the primo antipasto was a local specialty, anchovies, caught the night before and bought at the dock this morning. My grin faded. I do not care for anchovies, unless they are mashed into oblivion and used in a way that makes them all but imperceptible to me. But I knew I had to try them.

Luca went on about how these tiny fish were prepared: roasted then dusted with salt and crushed pistachios. He added that we should also try the Serrano ham and fresh roasted almonds.

Not only am I now dreading the anchovies, but I am also thoroughly confused. Why would you serve Serrano ham in an Italian restaurant? Spain is over 1,000 km away. Our chef explained that his menu is Mediterranean, not exclusively Italian. For Luca, Serrano ham was true to the Mediterranean diet, so that is what he serves. This is not something you typically hear from the owner of a restaurant in the heart of the Italian Riviera.

This menu discussion went on for quite awhile, then finally we made our decisions. When the anchovies arrived, I went for it. And they were delicious! Anchovy season only lasts for a few weeks, but we hit it just right. My feelings for those tiny fish are forever changed, and I am not alone. Of course we wanted all of our guests to share in this eye opening experience, so we added anchovies to the set menu. I watched with much delight as many of our guests walked in the door with the same distaste for anchovies and walked out with a more refined palate.

This is only the first dish in the tasting menu we developed with Luca, and I could go on about the rest of the experience, but I don’t want to give away all of the surprises. Instead I will just encourage you to come on our Cinque Terre trip so you may sit in this quirky, rustic ristorante, try Luca’s delectable creations, and listen the stories of how his food connects you to Mediterranean sailors of old.

Just be careful when you rave about this restaurant. He’s not winning any popularity contests amongst the locals.

I mentioned that he serves Spanish ham, right?

Buon appetito!

EXPERIENCE BIKE TOURS IN ITALY WITH TREK TRAVEL»

Industry Insider: Gary Fisher

Posted on January 4, 2016 - 10:42 pm by keith_ritter

A pinstripe suit, fedora hat and handlebar mustache are not what most people expect when they first meet one of the founding fathers of mountain biking. But for Gary Fisher, this bold style is matched by his larger-than-life personality, and it is his unwavering passion for bikes, not his attire, that catches our eye.

Briefly, tell us your story. What inspired your passion for bikes?

I started riding and racing when I was just 12 years old. I found the sport on my own. I met some 16 year olds who road raced at the bike shop where my father bought me a 10-speed, and they told me I was too young and too little (89 lbs.). This only furthered my resolve and I refused to turn around. That first ride was better than 20 miles. I was accepted! I soon fell in love with the endless roads, the strategy of racing, and the science and art of the world’s most efficient transport.

From the time you and your partners founded the company “MountainBikes” in 1979 until today, what do you believe has been the single most important development in the bicycle industry?

Bikes in the ’70s were like a regulation piece of sporting equipment. They were essentially the same from year to year. The old steel bikes were works of art, but the new technology in bikes is the way to go if you want a fast, comfortable ride. In one word, it is: carbon. What you want is a carbon designer and maker with a lot of experience. I am happy to work with that group, and it has been all about creating real bikes we only dreamt of, and making a lot of people very happy.

You once said, “Anyone who rides a bike is a friend of mine.” In your opinion, what are the three keys to getting more people on bikes?

1. Education: How to ride a bike, starting young. How to drive a car around a bike. How riding a bike can be key to solving your health issues. How riding a bike can make you happier. Why it makes sense for cities to invest in biking and walking.

2. Law: Protecting venerable users. Those that control the massive power rolling down the street have a greater responsibility. Many countries have or are adopting these laws. More of these laws need to come to the United States.

3. Infrastructure: Bike routes are sort of a new thing. But they have proven to work really well and be really good for cities financially. We have built them and the people have come. Next up will be making real investment. Making bike routes that are really fast, safe and even fun. Creating places that invite people to walk, ride a bike and interact with each other. The “five-minute community”, where you can walk or ride to do most (or all) of your daily errands in five minutes or less, have shown lower health costs. Cities are changing fast and the younger generation wants to move back. 100 years ago, families of wealth and power would raise their children in the city, where culture was. Raise your kids in the city? Yes, that’s just where city leaders want to go. Exciting times.

You have seen much of the world from the seat of a bicycle. What is your favorite travel destination and why?

I think Italy has to be my favorite place to go ride a bike because there are so many different roads, paths and trails. You get to be in the postcard. The bike riders are not only fun to ride with, but they are also properly emotional and never boring. The events are classic but verging on insane. And you know about the food. Need I say more?

What is the influence behind your very distinct style?

My family.

My grandfather worked for Warner Bros in Hollywood for 50 years. He created the job “Script Director” and would bring home big actors. He also took me out on the set. He taught me how to speak, and how to hold myself in front of a camera.

My father had a very successful architecture firm in Downtown San Francisco, right on top of Tadich Grill. We always had art in the house. When he started his new firm, he made the furniture in our little apartment in the Sunset district of San Francisco. He later bought many classic iconic pieces for the house. I sit in an Eames chair he bought me when I was 14 years old. My father also did Abstract Impressionism, and one of his paintings from the ’50s is on our wall. We even had a darkroom. He did some remarkable black and white photos of the very best road racing in the USA in the mid-sixties.

Ultimately, my mother taught me how dress and be social. She went to Beverly Hills High School.

Tell us about your most memorable day on a bike.

I have spent so many great days on a bike! I did more than 300 rides in 2015! I could never narrow it down to any one day. I continue to be pleasantly surprised that I still have many great places to go and great people to share these times with. I am completely grateful that I can ride a bike.

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