Choose a wine country location to visit. California is a popular wine country destination in the U.S., with regions throughout the state, such as Napa and Sonoma Valley in Northern California; Paso Robles in Central California and Temecula in Southern California.
If you want to travel abroad, there are numerous regions throughout France, such as Bordeaux and Bourgogne, as well as in other countries, including Australia and Argentina.
Plan your trip. If you are visiting wine country close to home, cycling through it is as easy as bringing your own bicycle along for the journey. Maps of your destination are available at www.winecountry.com, which has maps for several of the Northern California wine regions. Information packets and maps are available through sites for the local chamber of commerce, such as www.napachamber.org and www.sonomachamber.org.
If you are traveling further away, don't have a bike of your own or would prefer a more organized group experience, there are a number of Web sites and guidebooks that can provide you with wine country bicycle tours and bike rentals in your chosen location. Most companies offer a wide range of cycling options, for everyone from novice to advanced cyclists, including self-guided tours, group tours, single and multiday excursions.
Napa Valley Bike Tours offers everything from independent bike rentals to multiday guided trips. In France, Discover France offers self-guided bicycle tours, while French Cycling Holidays has several multiday options.
Book your accommodations. If you decide to participate in a guided, multiday tour, your lodging is likely to be pre-selected and included in your travel package. French Cycling Holidays makes every effort to select only three or four star accommodations, while Napa Valley Bike Tours offers different package levels for each of their trips so that you can choose the quality and price of your hotel to suit your needs and budget. Both companies will transport your luggage to each new destination, so you can forget about the details and just enjoy your adventure.
If you are planning your own self-guided, multiday trip, the local chamber of commerce or a travel website, such as www.travelocity.com or www.orbitz.com, will have information about the location and availability of accommodations in the area.
Embark on your journey! Remember to bring sunscreen, water, bicycle appropriate clothing, including comfortable pants or shorts that move well and closed-toe shoes. If you are traveling without a group, you'll also want a map of the area, a bicycle pump and a spare tire.
