蔓蔓的秘密基地

圖說：Make memories on wheels. (Getty Images/The Blue Sky Press/Scholastic)

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雖然很久沒騎車了，但還是每天會關注一下 Flipboard 上的 《Bicycling Magazine》。

這天看到兩篇單車旅行的相關文章，不知道什麼時候還能有機會出國騎車，不過，機會是給準備好的人，為備不時之需，還是記錄一下供日後參考。

【5 Hotels for Cycling Vacations】（原文連結）

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“5 great hotels where bikes are part of the package.”

1. 『h2hotel』（California）。除了環境優美，附近還有許多葡萄酒莊可參觀。旅館並提供住客單車及四種不同路徑的單車地圖。
Location: Healdsburg, CA
From: $195/night

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2. 『Mansion Hill Inn』（Wisconsin）。Trek 五年前把這個旅店買下，所以現在在旅店可以看到車隊歷任著名的車手相片，同時旅客可以”免費”借用 Trek 製造的單車！
Location: Madison, WI
From: $200/night

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3. 『Sorrel River Ranch Resort & Spa』（Utah）。
Location: Near Moab, UT
From: $399/night

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4. 『Bowery House』（New York）。有 Dutch-Style 的單車可租，而且旅館位於適合騎單車的 Lower East Side（不過我私心認為 west side 更適合騎車）。重點是，在紐約可以用這樣的價格住到旅館，還有什麼好挑的！？
Location: New York City
From: $79/night

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5. 『Shore Lodge』（Idaho）。旅店提供 Trek Fuel X mountain bike 的租借，可以到 Brundage Mountain，或 Ponderosa State Park，若不想騎車，可以到 Payette Lake 划船。景致看起來相當迷人～。
Location: McCall, ID
From: $119/night

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【Guide to Family Cycling Vacations】（原文連結）

“How to plan a kid-friendly bike getaway.”

1. Do Your Homework

* 第一點我想不只是親子行程，就算是大人要在旅行中插入一段單車行程也該這麼做。

Before your trip, call a bike shop or cycling club near your destination. Specify the age and riding ability of your kids, and ask about flat, scenic, low-traffic rides with plenty of places to eat, play, and sightsee along the way. If you’ll be doing a short ride on a long trip, consider renting bikes and trailers or tag-alongs to avoid the hassle of ­wrangling and hauling your own. (If you plan to rent a trailer, make sure it has a five-point harness, a roll bar, ventilation, and a sun shade.)

2. Always Have a Plan—and a Plan B

* 首段的敘述相當有趣但是貼切，如果沒有規劃好，考慮家人的體力並帶夠充足的補給品，原本歡樂的出遊可能會變成”Tour de Meltdown”！

Schedule riding time around meals and naps. Low blood sugar coupled with fatigue can turn a family joyride into the Tour de Meltdown. Kids (and some spouses) bonk faster than experienced cyclists, so carry extra food and water. Communicate your plan to the whole family so no one has to ask, “Are we there yet?” But have a secret backup plan: If you’re riding dirt, find a trail with loops of manageable distances or multiple bail-out points close to a road. Touring a new town? Be ready to pull over if you spot something that looks fun. If all else fails, leave your spouse with the kids while you get the car.

3. Pick Bike Routes That Have Rewards

* 當然我們希望將來沛沛澐澐也能像我們一樣享受騎車的樂趣，但是人各有志，有時是勉強不來的，挑選有趣的路線會讓家人更有動力騎乘。記得以前還在上班的時候，同事S就曾說過，我和 Ando-san 騎車的路線就一點都不吸引人，好的單車路線就是應該規劃在終點有個好吃的美食（餐廳、小吃），這樣才有前進的動力。

While the ride itself might be a treat for you, your family may need goals and a more tangible payoff. It might be breathtaking views that unfold around every bend or an ice cream shop or a playground. If it’s safe, let the kids lead: They’ll set a pace that works best for them, and you’ll be able to keep an eye on their fatigue level. Provide fun checkpoints to break the ride into segments, or turn it into a scavenger hunt. Keep a few special treats in your jersey pocket to share when the group reaches its goal.

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【Four Fam-tastic Cycling Routes 】

文中推薦的四個家庭單車路線：

Golden Gate Park
The San Francisco park is home to attractions including a playground, the California­ Academy of Sciences, and a Dutch windmill. Bonus: Sections of JFK Drive are closed to traffic on Sundays. 

Great Smoky Mountains
National Park Cars aren’t allowed on the 11-mile Cades Cove loop in Tennessee until 10 a.m. on Saturdays and Wednesdays from May through October. 

Katy Trail （這條火車路改造的單車路徑聽起來還滿吸引人的！）
Rail-trails (former railways converted into bike paths) are usually flat and car-free. This one in Missouri connects charming small towns filled with shops, parks, wineries, and B&Bs. 

Zion National Park
Traffic is limited to bikes and eco-friendly buses on some park roads from April to October, leaving empty ribbons of scenic byway winding through Utah’s psychedelic canyonlands.

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【Prep for Your Trip With These Kids’ Bike Books 】

文中另推薦了幾本適合小孩閱讀的單車故事書：Duck on a Bike、Gracie Goat’s Big Bike Race、Mike and the Bike、Sally Jean, the Bicycle Queen。

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沛沛澐澐，你們快點長大學會騎腳踏車，以後跟爸比媽咪一起去騎車！

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