Get a $100 Amazon.com gift card from Teen Treks this April

We're heading for an outstanding summer of biking, with trips all over the U.S. and through Canada and Europe! This year, if you refer a new trekker to us who signs up for a trip during April, we'll reward you with a $100 Amazon.com gift card to spend any way you like.

April is our busiest month for trip enrollment, and we want this one to be our biggest ever. Tell someone how much you loved your Teen Treks experience, and have them give us your name when they apply for one of our treks. After we process their application, we'll send you your $100 Amazon gift card, no strings attached. Spend it on that new bike helmet you've had your eye on, get a stack of books to read on the beach this summer, or do whatever else you want with it.

Parents and teenagers can both get in on this great offer.  Tell your friends, your younger brothers and sisters, your cousins, or the friendly mom you end up talking to while you're waiting in the dentist's office.  Help us share the love of biking adventures, and we'll give you a $100 thank-you!

Bike through the gorgeous Pacific Northwest with Teen Treks this summer!

Spend time in some of the world's most beautiful natural settings and check out hip northeastern cities on this unforgettable 18-day bike adventure. You'll follow the Puget Sound out of Seattle, riding alongside breathtaking views and through laid-back Washington towns, north into Canada.

A ferry will take you to the San Juan Islands, a lush, wooded archipelago where great blue herons, barred owls, harbor seals, and even orcas make their homes. 

Next, you'll head into Victoria, British Columbia's charming capital city.

Then it's back down to Washington, where you'll get 3 days to camp, bike, and hike in the almost impossibly green forest of Olympic National Park.

The weather in Washington in the summer is nothing short of idyllic, perfect for biking and camping out.

You'll visit historic Port Townsend and lovely Birch Bay, which has the warmest and safest salt water beach on the coast, then visit Vashon Island and stay at an especially fun hostel -- it has teepees and covered wagons to sleep in!

This trip ends with 2 days sightseeing in Seattle, enjoying great local restaurants and culture.

The Pacific Northwest Trek features moderate biking (30-50 miles per day). Teenagers entering grades 10-12 will have a blast on this trip. We're running two Pacific Northwest trips this summer:

• June 26 - July 13 (trip code PN-JN26)
• July 17 - August 3 (trip code PN-J17)

 Visit TeenTreks.com to apply to bike the Pacific Northwest with us, or sign up for one of our other super trips: Across America, New York City – Montreal, Pacific Northwest, California Coast, New England Shore, Amsterdam-Paris, Maine Coast -- and more!

Tour Europe by Bike with Teen Treks!

This summer, see Britain, France, Belgium and Holland the best way -- by bike!

 

On this incredible 4-country European Phantom tour, you’ll bike through major cities and quaint villages in Britain, France, Belgium, and Holland in 28 days.  If you've never been to Europe, this is a wonderful introduction, and if you're an old hand at international travel, it's still a jam-packed trip you'll never forget.

 

Spend 3 days each in London, Paris, and Amsterdam, plus visit beautiful Bruges and Ghent.

Get to know the music, history, landscape, traditions and food in each of these fantastic, bike-friendly countries.  You'll visit world-famous museums like the Louvre and monuments like Stonehenge, eat at great pubs and local restaurants, stay in hostels and hotels, and do a little camping out between the cities.

On your first day, you'll visit Windsor Castle and head out toward Stonehenge. After your first taste of the English countryside, a ferry will take you to France.

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 You'll see the Notre Dame Cathedral in Rouen, and then bike along the Seine, visiting Monet's house and gardens at Giverny, touring the spectacular Palace of Versailles, and continuing on into Paris.

The Eiffel Tower is only the beginning of your adventures in Paris!  You'll also see the Arc de Triomphe and the rest of the Champs-Elysees, breathtaking architecture at Montmartre, and much, much more.  You'll dine in charming sidewalk cafes and immerse yourself in Paris' one-of-a-kind culture.

A train will carry you to Belgium, where you’ll bike between the beautiful cities of Bruges and Ghent, seeing more stunning medieval architecture, enjoying more delicious food -- including Belgian chocolate! -- and traveling alongside the canals that run through these cities. 

Then it’s on to the Netherlands to bike through Amsterdam, a city with centuries of history and culture, plenty of quirk, and, believe it or not, the occasional bicycle traffic jam. You’ll visit the Rijksmuseum, the Van Gogh Museum, and the Anne Frank House here. 

Another ferry will bring you back to Great Britain to cycle through green, rolling East Anglia, with a stop in Cambridge, and finally you’ll spend 3 days exploring cosmopolitan London before your flight home. 

Our European Phantom Trek features moderate biking (30-50 miles per day) and camping as well as stays in hostels and hotels.  Teenagers entering grades 10-12 can enjoy this amazing tour, which is loaded beginning to end with things to see and do.  We’re running two European Phantom treks this summer:

• June 25 - July 24 (trip code EP-JN25)
• July 2 - July 31 (trip code EP-J2)

Slots are filling quickly on these popular trips, so reserve your spot now!

Visit TeenTreks.com to apply to bike the European Phantom with us, or sign up for one of our other super trips: Across America, New York City – Montreal, Pacific Northwest, California Coast, New England Shore, Amsterdam-Paris, Maine Coast -- and more!

Meet Our Leaders: Rachel Samaniego

My name is Rachel Samaniego, and I was born and raised in the city of Chicago. I currently work in the Chicago Public School system as an art teacher! I love my job and seeing how creative children really are. I’ve taught K-8 grade art and find the older kids very creative and skilled. I’ve experienced the joys of teaching kids art, and now I can’t wait to teach kids about my other passion: bicycle touring.

In college, I rode across the country in an effort to raise money and awareness for cancer research. This was when I really experienced the beauty of our country for the first time and the joys of cycling. Ever since then, I have been inspired to ride my bike long distances. I have completed a one-month tour from Portland, OR to West Glacier, MT, and a 2-week tour from San Francisco to L.A. I am currently planning a trip from Pittsburgh to Washington D.C. for Spring Break. Cycling allows me to be free and see beautiful scenery from a different perspective. Camping and hostelling are a part of my ideal vacation. No stress, no pressure, just simple living.

Riding with me will be very fun because I am light-hearted and relaxed, but also know how to manage the needs and safety of others. I am energetic and have endless stories to tell about growing up and teaching in Chicago. My goal is to have my teens thrive and challenge themselves this summer while creating unforgettable memories.

Meet Our Leaders: Carrie Bukowski

 

"Hi, Teen Trekkers! I'm Carrie Bukowski and I'm a Buffalonian, born and raised. I've lived in Montana for 4 years, where I'm an elementary school teacher. I'm really looking forward to getting out on the road with some great people this summer! Bike touring is one of my favorite things, and I've done a few self-guided tours, including through the Outer Banks, the Erie Canal Trail, along the Oregon Coast and across the country from NY to UT. I've had some amazing experiences on 2 wheels and I can't wait to share more great times with all of you! Some of my favorite pastimes include running, traveling, reading maps, cooking, skiing, taking photos, singing the wrong words in songs, camping and hiking with my dog, Tana. I'm so excited to meet you! It's going to be an awesome summer!"

Apply now to join a bike trip with Carrie or one of our other great leaders!

Bike from New York City to Montreal with Teen Treks

Spend an amazing 16 days this summer traveling through the U.S. and Canada with Teen Treks!  Join a great group of high schoolers on our popular New York City – Montreal bike trek for some of the best cycling and most fun stops on the continent.

Head out from NYC early in the morning, following the Hudson River.

Enjoy the gorgeous countryside of upstate New York and go through smaller towns and Albany, the state capitol.

Stop off for the beach and water fun at Lake George.

Dig into Ben & Jerry’s famous (and enormous) Vermonster, a 20-scoop sundae served in, yes, pretty much a giant bucket. 

Come back up through NY state to head into Quebec, Canada. 

Spend 3 days exploring Montreal, hearing Quebec French, eating poutine (Canada’s favorite junk food – fries with fresh cheese and gravy), and seeing some of the world’s most beautiful architecture.

Like all Teen Treks, this trip gives the group flexibility on the daily details of the route.  If everyone wants to bike hard to get to the lake faster so you have more time on the beach, or if everyone wants to take it easy at a park, stop to appreciate a view, or make an extra ice cream stop, you can do that.

 

This trek ends with a bus ride back to NYC, where you’ll spend a day in Manhattan before heading home.

The New York – Montreal trek features moderate biking (30-50 miles per day) and camping as well as stays in hostels and hotels.  Teenagers entering grades 9-12 can enjoy this short trip, which is packed with things to see and do.  We’re running several New York – Montreal treks this summer:

• June 23 - July 8 (trip code JN-23)
• June 30 - July 15 (trip code JN-30)
• July 7 - July 22  (trip code J-7)
• July 28 - August 12 (trip code J-28)
• August 4 - August 19 (trip code A-4)

Visit TeenTreks.com to apply to bike New York City – Montreal with us, or sign up for one of our other super trips: Across America, Pacific Northwest, European Phantom, California Coast, New England Shore, Amsterdam-Paris, Maine Coast -- and more!

Bike Trips for First-Time Explorers

Kids as young as 11 can get in on their first cross-country bike adventure with Teen Treks, on our First-Time Explorers and Easy routes.   These trips stick to quiet trails, tow paths, and little-used roads, and require as little as 15 miles biking per day. 

Some of these popular trips are already filling up!  Reserve your spot now, so you don't have to face the dreaded "SOLD OUT" label on that trip you had your heart set on.

First-Time Explorers trips (15-25 miles/day):

• D & R Canal Trek for students entering grades 6-8
• Connecticut-Rhode Island Trek for students entering grades 7-9
• Niagara-Toronto Trek for students entering grades 7-9

The D & R Canal Trek follows the historic D & R Canal Trail through Pennsylvania and New Jersey.  Ride across the Delaware River where George Washington made his crossing, see 18th century farmhouses, and tour picturesque downtown districts and the Princeton campus on this great six-day introduction to bicycle touring.

The sandy beaches, charming New England towns, and winding back roads along the Connecticut-Rhode Island Trek are a biker's paradise.  This ten-day ride starts in NYC and goes through New Haven, Guilford, Hammonasset State Park, Block Island, Newport, and Providence before coming back to NYC by bus.

Our Niagara-Toronto Trek follows awesome bike trails around Lake Ontario.  We start in Buffalo, NY and cross into Canada on the first day to visit Niagara Falls and Goat Island, then see the lake freighters at on the Welland Canal, spend a day at Confederation Water Park, and head to Toronto for two days to explore Kensington Market, major museums, Chinatown, and the Toronto Islands.  This ten-day trek ends with a bus ride back to Buffalo for wings and last goodbyes.

Easy trips (20-35 miles/day):

• Cape Cod Trek for students entering grades 7-9
• C&O Canal Trek for students entering grades 7-9
• New England Shore Trek for students entering grades 7-9

The Cape Cod Trek heads south out of Boston past Plymouth Rock, to Cape Cod and Martha's Vineyard.  Over 14 days, you'll tour fishing and resort towns and enjoy cabin camping as you make your way up to Provincetown, then come back to Boston for two days visiting sites like Fanueil Hall and Harvard Square, seeing Shakespeare in the Park, and checking out trendy eateries and shops.

Bike the New England Shore with Teen Treks for 14 days, and see beautiful coastal towns and all the beaches you can handle.  We meet up in NYC, then take a train out of the city to start cycling up the coast through New Haven, Mystic, Groton, Block Island, Newport and Cape Cod, ending up with two days in lively, historic Boston.  A bus brings you back to NYC for a day, taking the trek full circle.

On the C & O Canal Trek, you'll bike for 16 days from Pittsburgh to Washington, DC, taking the Great Allegheny Passage (Rail to Trail) and the C&O Canal Tow Path -- no cars or traffic.  You'll get to go whitewater rafting, see Frank Lloyd Wright's Falling Water house, ride a 19th century canal boat, and visit Civil War-era sites at Harper's Ferry.  The last two days, we spend sightseeing in our nation's capital.

  

Our leaders get extensive training in first aid, mechanics, and leadership techniques, and they're all at least 21 years old. Many of them have taken trips just like the ones they're now leading, and many have led for Teen Treks before!

We love to help trekkers of all ages discover how much they can accomplish.  We camp out some, and we stay in clean, friendly hotels and hotels; we make oatmeal around the fire, and we eat out everywhere we go so you get to know places' local cuisine.  You'll make lifelong friends and come away with memories you'll treasure.

For more information on all our treks, including route maps, dates, and costs, visit Teen Treks' website.  Email or call us (716-566-7908) any time with questions.  We'd love to help you choose the best trip for a fantastic, unforgettable summer!