More On Most Popular Summer Trips

Mature active travelers love these companies, which have been delivering great bicycle journeys, walking tours and similar vfacations for many years. Here's what's on tap

Butterfield and Robinson and Backroads are platinum names in what the industry calls "soft adventure." I don't love this term, but when I think of it as soft beds combined with adventure each day, it makes sense. Sort of.

So where are Butterfield's and Backroads' enthusiasts headed for this summer? A spokeswoman tells me the top draws at Butterfield "are always our With the Kids trips, which many grandparents take their kids and extended families on." Other trips filling up quickly include: Classic Greece By Sea, Burgundy Bike, Bologna to Venice Bike, Amalfi Walk, Prague to Vienna Bike and Ireland Walk.

At Backroads, a spokeswoman says that its popular family destinations for summer include: Canadian Rockies, Yellowstone & Tetons, San Juan Islands of Washington, and Alaska. Among the most popular non-family trip destinations are Tuscany, Czech Republic & Austria, Canadian Rockies, and California Wine Country.

Neither company specializes in "senior" travel but both attract loyalists enjoying their personal prime time. From the above destination choices, it's clear that boomers (and those a bit older) take advantage of the summer months to travel with children and grandchildren, and that both central and western Europe are in their sights. When it comes to North America, to judge from my rather random discussions, a lot of folks look to the majestic mountain landscapes of the Rockies, while an interest in pedaling and sipping their way through the vineyards of California remains a favorite attraction.

Next, we'll look at newly emerging destinations from these tour operators.