Alaska’s vibrant frontier spirit and overwhelming natural grandeur have the power to consume the senses. And the Kenai Peninsula is often said to encapsulate the best of Alaska. Here colossal mountains, sparkling glaciers, abundant wildlife, expansive tundra and wildflower-filled meadows all challenge your sense of scale. Hike through the Chugach National Forest, pedal beneath glacier-carved peaks, paddle in the sheltered coves and lagoons off picturesque Yukon Island, and stare down at an enormous ice field. At night, relax at wilderness retreats that reflect the hearty character of this great land.

After three decades of finding more rewarding alternatives to traditional vacations, my passion for active travel is stronger than ever. Of course I have a pretty obvious bias. At Backroads I'm fortunate to work with a team of people who share my passion and devote their days to creating the best possible biking, walking and multisport trips around the globe - and who will be working again tomorrow to make them even better. But the desire to keep earning our place as the world's number one active travel company arises out of something more fundamental.

I simply can't imagine a better way to immerse yourself in the life of a region, to explore hidden corners and appreciate nuances while enjoying the benefits and enormous satisfaction of traveling under your own power. These are experiences you cannot have behind the wheel of a car, or on a train or a tour bus, or in a few excursions from a cruise ship or a secluded resort. Active travel is, at its heart, a way of connecting more authentically with the world. Sure, Backroads provides amazing leaders, superb accommodations and meals, and opportunities you could never arrange on your own. But all of our comprehensive planning and support is aimed at something far simpler: bringing you the immediate, highly personal satisfaction of discovering a new world on your own terms.

When I think about all the places I still have left to explore, and those I want to revisit and enjoy again, I'm constantly reminded what a gift it is to be able to explore the world actively. Backroads trips are about embracing what life has to offer, living the experience as it unfolds and at the same time creating memories that will last forever. As you browse through the amazing array of choices, I'm confident you'll find a trip that does all of that and more.