We've done a lot of articles on more passive vacations. Going to beaches, hanging out, and swimming a bit is awesome, but there are some people whose idea of the perfect vacation involves a little more sweat.  A bike tour is one of the best ways to see interesting parts of the country up close and personal, while getting a little exercise in the bargain. Whether you want a gentle ride through some lovely backroads scenery or a full on off road adventure, there are plenty of touring options for everyone regardless of preference or skill level.

The Maze- Canyonlands National Park

Mountain biking “The Maze” in Canyonlands National Park was recently named one of the 50 greatest tours of a lifetime by National Geographic. As it's hard to actually get to the maze itself on your own, so most people go with Las Vegas' Escape Adventures, who have made this a kind of trademark eco biking trip. Using vehicles that run on vegetable oil, bikers are driven to the Maze where they'll spend 5 days biking over challenging terrain and viewing some amazing scenery, including pictographs that are thousands of years old. 

California Winery Tours

A California Winery bike tour combines the sweeping scenery of Northern California's wine country with sweet, sweet booze. The tour is ideal for more casual cyclists, as the rolling hills provide a challenge most can overcome, while support vehicles mean you'll never have to drink and pedal and can take a break from the cycling any time you like.  Bike tours through wine country can take in the hills and valleys of vineyards, redwood forests and the Pacific Coast, giving you a varied, beautiful ride and great food and wine every night. Several tour operators offer packages, and you can check out a few here, here,  and here.

Shenandoah Skyline Tour

Virginia's Shenandoah Valley in the Blue Ridge Mountains offers some excellent biking and striking scenery. Whether you're into road biking or want an off road challenge, there's something for you here. Obviously there's excellent mountain biking in the Blue Ridge themselves, but there's also some great roads for the pavement cyclists. The mountainous terrain might seem daunting, but there are plenty of easier rides available for the less experienced cyclist. And the Shenandoah Valley is home to some amazing historic and picturesque villages, and is even a short ride from Washington D.C., making it a great vacation. The best time to go is fall, when the foliage is in full bloom. Check out some potential rides here, here, and here. 

Grand Canyon's North Rim

The Grand Canyon's North Rim has become one of the most popular mountain biking tours available. Chalk it up to the amazing view of the Canyon itself, the gentle terrain that still provides the occasional challenge, or the changing scenery as you ride through lush forests and skirt the canyon itself. Most rides take riders through some rarely visited sections of both the Grand Canyon and the adjacent Kaibab National Forest. Trips generally last a week and require camping, so a desire to be in the outdoors is both obvious and essential. See tour options here, here, and here.

The Ultimate: Coast to Coast

Though challenging and, if you elect to do the whole bit in one shot, time consuming, people who have completed a coast to coast bike tour almost always rave about the experience. Coast to coast trips take months, but many people opt to break them into state-length chunks and complete the whole thing over years, a bit like many hike the Appalachian Trail. Obviously with the size of the United States, there are a number of options for trips. Whether you want to experience the Gulf States and the Southwest or the Rockies and the Pacific Northwest, there are trips out there for you. Try these links for more information: http://www.cycleamerica.com/, http://www.adventurecycling.org/.

>> Check out "Summer Beaches: The Beautiful, the Weird, and the Most Excellent!" for more green getaways!