Sitka’s Cross Trail is so named because it runs across the bulk of the city, but you won’t know that you are just a few steps out of civilization. One of the best sprawling muskeg and mountain views of Sitka is at the trail’s Yaw Junction (which also spills nicely into Indian River trail), and there is a particularly beautiful...

Park at Herring Cove/Beaver Lake parking lot and continue past the traffic gate, down the gravel road for about an hour until you reach Medvejie Hatchery. This part of the trail is relatively uninteresting and can also be easily biked to cut down on travel time. From the hatchery, turn left by a creek and continue into the forest—the trail...

The guides for this dynamic tour company offers such compelling info that locals ride as frequently as visitors. Perhaps its the themed tours—to breweries, wine tasting rooms, chile stops, and best-of-Burque locales, to name a few. One of its most popular tours—Biking Bad—pedals to top filming spots from Breaking Bad. Seasonal tours head to the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta and...

Bike the vineyard trails and Route des Vins villages to really discover the sights, sounds, and smells of the Alsatian countryside. Rent a regular or motor-assist bike and get out into the hillside villages and vineyards. You can rent bikes in child-adult sizes by the hour, half day or full day, and the outfitter will plan a multi-day tour for...

Strasbourg, Colmar, and Mulhouse are ideal towns for touring by bike. Pedestrian areas, bike routes, and secure parking stands make this a safe and fun method of exploring the area. Pick up maps and information at the offices of tourism or bike rental locations. In Strasbourg, Vélhop operates a self-service bike rental system with dozens of stations around town. Get...

The most outstanding site in the southern Vosges Mountains is Le Grand Ballon. “The Big Ball” is the tallest peak in the mountain range and reaches a height of 4,672 ft/1,424 m at its summit. Even at this relatively low altitude, the mountain offers views across Alsace. On clear days, you may be able to see parts of Germany and Austria. In summer, follow La Route...

Once destined for the developer’s bulldozer, Dagny Johnson Key Largo Hammock Preserve State Park is an incomparable botanical treasure. From the moment you start through the archway following the pavement that was to lead to the condo complex, you’re immersed in the dark shade of a thicket of tropical trees. Surrounding you is the highest concentration of champion trees in...

Calling the isle of Arran “Scotland in miniature” has become something of a cliche, but there’s truth to the observation that craggy upland landscapes and tidy coastal strips lie side by side here. The need to take a ferry (5–9 daily; 50mins) here – most commonly from Ardrossan to the island’s main settlement Brodick – keeps things a little quieter...

Aviemore vies with Fort William as Scotland’s outdoor’s capital. The attractions are similar: here Cairngorm National Park rises all around and walking and mountain biking trails radiate in every direction. There’s good climbing and rafting too. Cairngorm Mountain with its mountain railway is the centerpiece and great for summer sightseeing, while in winter it provides access to reasonable downhill skiing...

Shipping magnate Sir William Burrell (1861–1958) was rich beyond most people’s wildest dreams and far keener on collecting fine art than most too. The result was one of the world’s largest solo collections – around 9,000 items from a truly eclectic range of eras and cultures: from stained glass and medieval tapestries; to Middle Eastern antiquities; to Chinese ceramics; and...

Over the past decade or so Glentress Forest has put a huge amount of effort into developing its mountain biking potential. It’s the largest and most successful of seven forests in the Borders region to do so, and they market themselves collectively as the 7stains. It’s fair to say that the Glentress selection of mountain bike routes (graded like ski...

This custom-built mountain biking centre has 35km of trails that are rideable year-round and with something for everyone. There’s a good beginner trail; a bike park with sizeable jumps; an advanced (red) trail with extended section that flows through the woods on boardwalks; and a rocky black-graded (expert) trail that’s among Scotland’s toughest. And all provide good views of the...

Since 1900 the steamship SS Sir Walter Scott has been ferrying trippers around tranquil Loch Katrine for fine views of the surrounding wild mountains of the Trossachs National Park. More recently another small pleasure cruiser has been added to help out. Between the two they sail up to six times per day. Most trips are just an hour-long, but the...

The Nevis Range resort spreads over the northern side of Aonach Mòr (1221m/4006ft), some 6 miles from Fort William and centres on a gondola that leads to downhill skiing in winter and hiking and mountain biking in summer. Also at the gondola’s summit is a restaurant and visitor centre, while other activities detailed on the resort website (but not here)...

The Old Man of Hoy is a finger of sandstone that rises some 150m from the sea and is hugely photogenic thanks to the way in which the rock reflects differences in sunlight. Though the Scrabster–Stromness ferry veers towards the rock to give passengers a view, the best angle is probably from land and an hour’s hike from Rackwick. To...

Cost: USD83 per person Downhill mountain cycling is another popular activity in Bali, providing a closer look at the daily lives of local villagers. There are a number of operators offering cycling tours, most begin the volcano, Mt Batur, and wind through Balinese villages and scenic countryside, with stops at points of interest along the way. The 5 hour tour includes...

Alternate Ph: +62 81 338 669 322 Cost: Adult Rp400,000 Child (6-12yrs): Rp300,000 Child (1-5yrs) Rp175,000 A cycling trip is one of the best ways to experience and embrace rural Bali. The downhill route is not challenging, as it winds its way along roads fringed by palm trees and verdant rice terraces. If it is a holy day (and it often...

This might just be the best possible hour of expert-level mountain biking. However, be warned that the initial climb is extremely rooty and near-impossible to completely ride. But the long descent is a gem: a lovely flowing single-track trail with some tricky rocky sections back to the Norquay ski area. En route are some great views of the Bow Valley...

Koh Kret is a hidden gem. Actually an island located in the Chao Phraya River just north of Bangkok in Nonthaburi, it is noted for its pottery, made by the ethnic Mons, who are the original inhabitants of the islet. On weekends, lots of Bangkok Thais come here to check out the ceramics, as well as enjoy the homemade Thai...

Cycle Bonaire shares space with Bonaire Dive and Adventure, located next to Sand Dollar Resort. This is the place to pick up a 24-speed Trek mountain bike or street bike and a trail map. Your rental will come with a water bottle, lock, helmet and kits for making repairs or treating minor injuries.