I love Minnesota. I spent four years in the Twin Cities and very much appreciate the Midwestern charm and practicality. I have kayaked on Lake Superior, camped in the prairies of Blue Mounds State Park, and bicycled or skated hundreds of miles of the many paved trails in the state. Still, we recognize Minnesota and Continue Reading →
Tag: Biking
Are you a Ferdinand or a Heather?
On our active trips – whether it be hiking, biking, kayaking, skiing or skating – we generally like to have one guide toward the front of the pack to help steer the group, and a “sweep” guide toward the back that makes sure nobody gets left behind. This summer on our Beartooth Hiking Adventure in Continue Reading →
My 22-Year History With the Danube Bike Path
On April 4, 1997, I quit my desk job to start what is now Zephyr Adventures. My first task was to fly to Europe to find the very first location for our only tour that year, with two possibilities in mind: the northern area of Friesland in The Netherlands or the Danube bike path in Continue Reading →
Don’t be a couch potato: Bike across Idaho with us!
Before I moved to Idaho when someone mentioned Idaho I thought of this… I was vaguely aware Idaho had more to offer than acres of potato fields, but even coming from the state next door (Montana) I didn’t really know what to expect. Now, having lived in the West Central Mountains of Idaho for 10 Continue Reading →
It’s Not About the Bike – Or the Name
When we were deciding on 2019 U.S. biking destinations our team here at Zephyr was in agreement that we had to add a tour that included the 72-mile Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes and the spectacular Route of the Hiawatha, both located in the panhandle of Idaho. What we couldn’t agree on was what to call this Continue Reading →
The Best Less-Visited European Bike Tour Locations
Taking a bicycle tour in Europe is perhaps the most famous and beloved type of “adventure” or active travel. For good reason – biking through Europe often offers wonderful scenery, interesting culture, outstanding food and wine, and healthy exercise. We believe Europe offers the best bicycle tour locations in the world and have run many Continue Reading →
Biking in Idaho on Fantastic Trails
I set up and have several times run our Idaho Skating Adventure, which is absolutely beautiful. But each time I have been there, I have looked at the map and drooled over the Route of the Hiawatha, a rails-to-trails project on what was once one of the most scenic railroad lines in the country. Following Continue Reading →
The Pros & Cons of E-Bikes
On our recent Sicily Biking Adventure (which we rated as Moderate/Difficult, due to the hills), nearly half the group of 22 bikers elected to use an e-bike. What is an e-bike, you ask? The “e” stands for electric. You might imagine a scooter or electric motorcycle, but e-bikes are like regular bikes with the addition Continue Reading →
5 Interesting Facts About the Island of Sicily
As you may be aware, this year is Zephyr Adventures’ 20th Anniversary and to celebrate we added five new adventures to our schedule, including the Sicily Bike Adventure coming up this fall. As we gear up for our inaugural tour of this iconic island, we thought it would be fun to share a few fascinating facts about Sicily: Continue Reading →
The Easiest Bike Tour Location in the World? Try the Mosel Valley
We have been running inline skating tours in the Mosel Valley since 2007. That alone should tell you the location is flat with well-maintained pavement. The beautiful thing about the Mosel Valley as a bike tour location is the Germany government has created paved paths on both sides of the river for hundreds of kilometers. That means Continue Reading →