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Bike Tour: Brixen and its villages - E-MTB tour for nature lovers

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Mountain biking trails in Brixen

South Tyrol,Italy

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The 10 most beautiful mountain biking trails in Brixen

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Forecast for Brixen

Find mountain biking trails in neighboring regions

Similar activities in brixen.

Bike routes

Our highlights

Open slopes

Toboggan runs

Winter hiking

Mount Plose Bressanone

Leisure bike routes.

Our mountains can also be wonderfully experienced by e-bike or mountain bike. Wide trails with moderate ascents lead to the loveliest panoramic lodges: Plosehütte, Pfannspitzhütte and Rossalm. And the way back is easy peasy.

Panorama map

Wide & safe trails

to the most beautiful alpine huts

Smooth slopes

keep pedalling

100% Panorama

of the Dolomites

Bike rental

In the valley and on the mountains

Info Leisure Bike Routes

Length: 8.6 km | Altitude difference: 410 m | Difficulty: easy

The path to the lodges Plosehütte and the Pfannspitzhütte largely follows the same route. The final, somewhat steeper ascent to the lodge Pfannspitzhütte rewards you with a fantastic panoramic view.

Your cable car ticket

Info & PloseShop

For the Pleasure tours you need a go and return ticket for the cable car Plose. Free transport of mountain bikes.

Go to the ticket shop ., your lodges.

Your destination

Your lodges along the route

Leisure bike routes.

Pfannspitzhütte

Details & Webseite

Since 2012, Bressanone hosts the  MOUNTAINBIKE TESTIVAL . While the exhibition centre in Bressanone is all about discovering new trends and products, the latest material is put through its paces in the Brixen BikePark.

The bike guides from  Plose Bike  are happy to show you what mountain biking is all about. Together with them you may experience tours, bike camps, workshops, whether with freeride, enduro, MTB, eMTB… and always with great passion, professionalism, and fun.

Plose Bressanone Dolomites

This might also interest you, brixen bikepark, plose looping, mountaincarts, plose events.

Small and fine events

2. December 2023

NEW PLOSEBOB

26. October 2023

Summer 2024

15. February 2024

Mountain bike tours in Brixen/Bressanone

MOUNTAINBIKE TESTIVAL 2024:  19. – 22. SEPTEMBER I N BRIXEN

MOUNTAINBIKE TESTIVAL 2024: 19. – 22. SEPTEMBER I N BRIXEN

This is Brixen in South Tyrol

About Brixen

Lonesome singletrails, perfectly shaped lines at the Brixen Bikepark on the plose mountain  and a cheerful gathering in and around the alleys and squares of the historic old town: that’s Brixen in Brixen.

Celebrate the end of the season at the MOUNTAINBIKE TESTIVAL in the center of South Tyrol. Test the hottest brands in the bike industry with like-minded people, experience the best tours and spots in the region and let the day come to an end with an Aperitivo in the bars and cafés of Brixen’s old town.

Experience Brixen

City, Country, Flow: As part of the MOUNTAINBIKE TESTIVAL, you can explore Brixen in South Tyrol and its trails in a wonderful way.

Accommodation

Chic urban hotel, farm vacation, wellness oasis in the mountains. Brixen’s hosts are as diverse as the region’s trails.

Booking via Brixen’s Accommodations or get an offer sent to you

Don’t miss out:  The  BrixenCard is included in a large number of accommodation establishments. Among other things, the guest card offers you a free ride on one of the Plose lifts, a discounted ticket for the bike park and much more. 

The best vacation is far away? Fortunately not! Brixen is located in the geographical center of South Tyrol and is easily accessible by bus and train. If you have more stuff and are traveling by car, join up with your buddies to form a carpool. It’s more ecological and much more fun to carpool.

For more information on the journey to the MOUNTAINBIKE TESTIVAL in Brixen please click here .

Sustainability

Brixen is embedded in a unique natural landscape. To protect this, you can fill a reusable bottle with precious drinking water throughout Brixen, in surrounding villages and on the mountain. “Refill your bottle” and avoid unnecessary plastic.

Fair Trail is not an empty phrase, but an attitude! Living together on the trails in and around Brixen is our heartfelt concerns. Trail users should treat each other in a friendly manner. A quick “Hoi, griasti” sweetens the day for hikers and mountain bikers. It’s so much nicer together!

Brixen gives biking its roots. A cheerful welcoming culture is intended to welcome bikers from near and far. The MOUNTAINBIKE TESTIVAL in Brixen creates many points of contact with the local community. The MOUNTAINBIKE YOUNGSTERS children’s program or one or two program highlights from local bike clubs.

Delicious food is just as much a part of a mountain bike vacation in South Tyrol as the perfect trail. Taste the Eisack White Wines , book a table at the traditional herbstlichen Törggelen in one of the rustic wine taverns or stroll through the delicious Brixner Bauernmarkt (farmer’s market) on the Saturday of the Testival.

Brixen has achieved GSTC certification and the South Tyrol sustainability label. This is just the beginning, because there is still a lot to do. For Brixen and for our planet. And you can also help by traveling eco-friendly, avoiding waste and simply having a good time with like-minded people.

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... the Mountainbike-Event in Brixen im Thale

Even though the KitzAlpBike Festival is a thing of the past, the biker's heart in Brixental Valley continues to beat with the HillClimb in Brixen im Thale. We present the 16th HillClimb 2024 in a new format that offers an event for everyone. This year there is not only a professional classification, but also a backpack class in which everyone can participate. Whether hobby biker, beginner, e-bike, mountain bike or gravel bike - everything is allowed here. For the first time, the event will not take place on Wednesday evening, but on Saturday 22 June from 13:00. This year's event will focus on the fun factor and the day will be rounded off with an exciting, varied supporting programme.

check 6 kilometres

check 500 metres elevation gain

check Start: Village centre Brixen im Thale

check Finish: Hochbrixen

Further cycling events

Erlebnis e-bike touren.

Guided bike tours

Panorama E-Bike tour to the Möslalm

Bookable online

Guided E-Biketour individuel

technical training with the bike | St. Ulrich a.P.

Guided E-Mountainbike tour

eldoRADo Bike Festival

Trail Basics – The Taste of Freeride

Signatur- Trailtour - Suntrail

Kids Bike Camp with Bikeacademy

To the locations of the Bergdoktor

Alps E-Bike Gourmet Tour

KitzAlps Super-Trail Tour

In the Kitzbühel Alps

Get ready for your best holiday in Austria! Find your hotel, apartment, holiday apartment, holiday home, farmhouse, private room, guest house, inn or B&B.

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• Kandleralm - Brixenbachalm

Meadow Hike Kandleralm - Brixenbachalm

This hike rated easy to intermediate measures eight kilometres in length and can be completed in anywhere between 2 and 4 hours, making it suitable for families with children. It starts in the village of Brixen im Thale and leads past the Kandleralm hut (1,120 metres) with its fine views of the Kitzbühel Alps. Hikers with energy left to burn can continue on to the Brixenbachalm hut.

Starting point  

Tourist information centre, Brixen im Thale

Finishing point

Mountain chain

Kitzbühel Alps

Total hiking time

• Wheelchair-accessible Hiking Route
• Circular hike

Difficulty rating

intermediate (red mountain trails)

Elevation uphill 350m Vertical metres downhill 350m

Fitness level

Best time of year

* These are approximate values and recommendations. Please take your personal fitness level, technical ability and the current weather conditions into account. Tirol Werbung cannot guarantee that the information provided is correct and accepts no liability.

Public transport

• Accessible using public transport

Bus route 4051, get off at stop Brixen i. T. Gemeindeamt . Railay station: Brixen i. T.

Parking next to the administration building in Brixen im Thale ("Gemeindeamt Brixen")

Places serving food & drink

• Kandleralm (11 June until mid-September; Thursday - Sunday, 8:00 - 15:00)
• Various locations in Brixen im Thale
• GPS data: Hike Kandleralm - Brixenbachalm (gpx)

Trail description

The hike starts at the tourist information office in Brixen im Thale. Turn left towards Lake Erlensee, before which you have to cross under the railway line. After the lake, continue southwards over a bridge under which the main road runs. Now walk uphill on a hiking trail in the forest and turn left at the second forest road. It leads in several hairpin bends up to the Kandleralm (1,120 metres) hut. After a refreshment stop, head back eastwards. Now either descend directly via the hamlet of Zöpfl and walk along the Brixentaler Ache river back to the starting point or take a detour to the Rechentalalm and Brixenbachalm (food served) further south in the valley. From the latter, a hiking trail leads back above the Brixentaler Ache river to the starting point in Brixen im Thale.

Information on place

Big skies and a warm welcome: Visitors to Brixen im Thale will find none of the towering summits and craggy peaks commonly associated with Tirol. Instead, this quiet village is surrounded by the…

Arrival date

How to get here by plane, train, bus or car.

Ihr Ziel: Kandleralm - Brixenbachalm (47.45019,12.24943)

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Tourismusverband Kitzbüheler Alpen - Brixental Dorfstraße 11 6365 Kirchberg t     +43.5357.2000.100 e     [email protected] w     www.kitzbueheler-alpen.com

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NYC 5 Boro Bike Tour 2024: Everything you need to know about parking on Staten Island

• Updated: Apr. 29, 2024, 3:42 p.m. |
• Published: Apr. 27, 2024, 1:00 p.m.

More than 32,000 participants in the NYC Five Boro Bike Tour will descend upon New York City on May 5, and they’ll finish their 40-mile journey in Fort Wadsworth. (Staten Island Advance/Derek Alvez).

• Ann Marie Barron | [email protected]

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — More than 32,000 participants in the TD NYC Five Boro Bike Tour will descend upon New York City on Sunday, May 5, and they’ll finish their 40-mile journey in Fort Wadsworth.

The event is billed as the largest charity bike ride in the world, with participants riding through all five boroughs of the city.

They’ll cross five major bridges, including the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge, which will signal to riders that the Ford Wadsworth finish, and the Finish Festival, is near.

Streets throughout the city will be closed that day along the route, and parking will be difficult for participants and spectators, who are advised to park their car on Staten Island for easy access by ferry to the Bowling Green start in Manhattan.

It’ll also be convenient for cyclists, who won’t have to travel far to their car at the end of the race.

Paid parking in lots at the Staten Island Ferry in St. George are limited, due to ongoing construction, but there are several municipal lots nearby.

Another option would be to park near a Staten Island Railway station a few stops from the Staten Island Ferry. This is a good way to find free parking. Simply hop on the Staten Island Railway, head to the ferry, and off you go to the race start. Bikes are permitted on the train.

Paid Parking

• Empire Outlets Parking

Hours: 24/7

Cost: $25/day

Note: The Empire Outlets garage will be accessible for parking only until 8:30 a.m. on Tour day.

• Saint George Courthouse Garage and Parking Lot

Hours: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Cost: $12/day (Subject to change)

Pay with cash or credit card (no debit card)

• 25 Wall Street

Cost: $15/day (Subject to change)

Pay with cash, credit, or debit card.

Cars that park without checking in with an attendant are subject to being booted. Riders must comply with all posted rules and regulations.

• 325 St. Marks Place
• South Beach Field #4, 446 Father Capodanno Blvd

Parking is on a first-come, first-served basis. Participants parking at South Beach can cycle to the Staten Island Ferry in order to get to the Start Area in lower Manhattan.

MTA Staten Island Railway

Cyclists may find luck parking on local streets near any stop, or in a free Staten Island Railway Park-and-Ride at Dongan Hills, Great Kills, Annadale, Prince’s Bay, or Huguenot stations. Municipal parking lots are also available at Great Kills and Stapleton stations.

From there, participants and fans can easily then hop on a train to the Staten Island Ferry.

Bicycles will be allowed on the trains, and you can board at any Staten Island Railway station.

MetroCard fares are collected as you enter and exit at the St. George and Tompkinsville stations. Visit www.mta.info or dial 511 for more information.

NYC Five Boro Bike Tour 2024

• NYC Five Boro Bike Tour 2024: Are e-bikes allowed on the route?

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Trail joy with ALPINA – MTB Testival Rides in Brixen

© Florian Breitenberger

From September 21-24, the Mountain Bike Testival will take place in Brixen, South Tyrol. We will, of course, be there. Just pay us a visit at the ALPINA stand. We have a wide range of products so that you can easily try out several models or sizes at our stand. So you don't have to spend time looking for a bike route around the test festival grounds, we’ve put together six mountain bike Tours for you in this Collection – two short, two medium and two long. These routes are sometimes flowing and fast, but also rough and challenging. Perfectly fitting helmets and comfortable protectors are worth their weight in gold on this terrain and increase your safety enormously. Our protectors and helmets fit perfectly, even when it gets bumpy. The best thing is to see for yourself. Just pick a suitable Tour, come to our stand and enjoy the trails around Brixen true to the motto ‘better safe than sorry’.

Tours & Highlights

Alpina – MTB Testival Brixen – 21. bis 24. September 2023

Mountain Biking Highlight

If you want to test our latest helmets and protectors, just visit us at the Mountain Bike Testival in Brixen. We have a wide range of all products with us, so you can easily try on several models or sizes on site. With the brand new knee and elbow protectors and our stylish helmets, you are well protected on any terrain. Just try it out: you'll be amazed at how comfortable the new protectors are and how comfortable our helmets fit, we promise!

Sankt Andrä – ALPINA Testival Rides in Brixen

This short loop has everything you need to properly test your bike and gear. On the nearly eleven-kilometer tour, you will overcome around 500 meters in altitude on paved roads, wide gravel roads and great natural trails.

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Schabs – ALPINA Testival Rides in Brixen

This short test round is perfect for rolling in and gives you a first impression of the condition of the paths around Brixen. The varied route takes you across lush meadows, along vineyards and through shady forests. There is a lot of flow on the narrow paths and occasionally it gets a bit more demanding … read more

Tinnetal – ALPINA Testival Rides in Brixen

A pretty side valley, a wild mountain stream and fun single trails - these are the main ingredients of this varied trail tour that takes you to the tranquil Tinne Valley.

On the first 13 kilometers you can warm up comfortably along the Eisack. When you have arrived in Klausen, the paved ascent through … read more

Spinges – ALPINA Testival Rides in Brixen

This test round takes you from Brixen to the high plateau of Spinges and back again. The route leads along beautiful cycle paths along the Eisack and through vineyards to Schabs. Then it goes on a forest path and through a few asphalt hairpin bends to Spinges.

After about 14 kilometers you have managed … read more

Plose – ALPINA Testival Rides in Brixen

For many bikers, the Plose is the ultimate mountain bike hotspot in South Tyrol. With a great mix of natural paths and built trails of different levels of difficulty, Brixen's local mountain scores with both mountain bike novices and experts.

On this tour we will show you some of these gems. Also included … read more

Brixner Höhenweg – ALPINA Testival Rides in Brixen

Attention single trail fans! This round takes you to the Plose, Brixen's local mountain. You cycle from Brixen to Sankt Andrä, covering around nine kilometers and 500 meters in altitude. Then it's more relaxed, because you can comfortably shuttle the next 900 meters in altitude with the Plose cable car … read more

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Collection stats.

• Highlights 1
• Distance 97.1 mi
• Duration 14:08 h
• Elevation 18,450 ft

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2024 Tour of the Gila Stage Three Report

Stephens Increases Overall Lead, Stites Blasts Into Victory

Stephens Increases Overall Tour of the Gila Lead, Winning Tyrone Time Trial

Cynisca Cycling’s Lauren Stephens raced to victory in Tyrone for Stage 3 of the Tour of the Gila 2024. Having won on the same course in 2015, she improved her previous best time by 23 seconds. Her victory at the Tyrone Individual Time Trial also increased her lead on the General Classification by 2:01, ahead of Nadia Gontova on GC. The DNA Pro Cycling rider was fourth on the stage. Alia Shafi finished 51 seconds behind Stephens, clocking a time of 39:03; 23 seconds ahead of Cécile Lejeune, racing for the Steve Tilford Foundation, finishing with 33:26 in third.

“It was quite windy out there,” Stephens said after the finish. “It was a great ride; I couldn’t have asked for anything more.”

Emily Ehrlich had been the heavy favorite coming into the time trial, after winning the TT at the Redlands Bicycle Classic and two gold medals at the Pan American Track Championships. Speaking ahead of her

start, Ehrlich said, “I honestly feel it’s the best TT we have in the country. I’ve only done it once, obviously, but it’s my favorite. I really love it!”

Ehrlich started her TT strong, with her head down in the tight position she is accustomed to.

Unfortunately, the Virginia’s Blue Ridge Twenty24 rider crashed coming down the descent of the Little Burro on the way out. She was then forced to abandon the race due to injury. The team later confirmed Ehrlich suffered a broken collarbone and possibly other fractures and is “absolutely covered in road rash.” Ehrlich had been expected to win the stage; with Stephens admitting that once she had seen that Ehrlich had crashed, she had backed off her speed.

“I hope Emily is okay,” Stephens added. “I saw her when I came over the top of the climb, which reminded me to focus on safety first.”

Ehrlich was also expected to be a top contender at the Olympic trials in two weeks’ time. She has managed to send a message to the race organization, stating she is in good spirits, and doesn’t want people to worry about her. “She will be okay,” her team reassured.

At the end of the day, the GC saw a shake-up in the standings under Stephens and Nadia Gontova, who continue to sit in the top two spots. Alia Shafi moved into the top ten on GC, following her second-place finish for Fount Cycling Guild. Her teammate, Eleanor Wiseman, also moved up to fourth from tenth place as she heads into Saturday’s crit. PAS/Steve Tilford Foundation Racing’s Marcela Prieto slid down to fifth after finishing nineteenth on the stage. Cynisca Cycling’s Ashley Frye finished fourth, moving her into a podium position in third ahead of Saturday.

The UCI women race 27 laps at the Downtown Criterium presented by the Town of Silver City on Saturday starting at 1:30 MDT.

Stites Blasts Into Victory, Taking the Overall Lead at Tour of the Gila

At Tour of the Gila on Friday, Project Echelon’s Tyler Stites blasted through the finish, seizing the win with a time of 33:07 at the Tyrone Individual Time Trial presented by Freeport McMoran. He came close to the course record of 32:59 that was set by Levi Leipheimer in 2009. The current Pan Am Time Trial Champion, Walter Vargas, was second for Team Medellín, clocking a time of 33:18. Jonas Walton rounded the podium in third, finishing in 33:45 and moving into the lead of the Best Young Rider Classification.

Stites’s win marks the second stage win for the team at Tour of the Gila 2024, after winning four out of five stages at Redlands earlier this month. Stites takes over the GC with his victory with two stages

remaining. Team Medellín’s Wilmar Paredes had a tough day, finishing in 36:33 and sliding down to fourth on GC.

“It’s a tough course, the main goal was to win the stage and take the red which I accomplished,” Stites said. “I’m really happy about that. I definitely had my eye on the course record but came up short; it was a tough day out there. I was chasing Walter, which was my minute-man, so that was a good carrot to be chasing. I had him in sight so I had a good day.”

The 16.15-mile Individual Time Trial out-and-back course in Tyrone featured 1,188 feet (362 meters) of climbing. Straight out of the start house, the road pitches up for a Category 4 Little Burro climb, rapidly shifts into a fast descent passing the Freeport-McMoran Tyrone mine, the end of which signals the turn around to head back to the finish. Five miles before the finish, the Little Burro greets the riders again, this time descending at a gradient of 6-7% before streaming down into the finishing shoot.

Owen Wright of CS Velo Racing sat in the hot seat for most of the day, starting within the first 20 riders out of the start house. Wright clocked in at 34:02, enough to finish fifth. His teammate, Joshua Lebo, crossed the finish with his CS Velo team cheering him on, becoming the first rider to clock in under 34 minutes with 33:59 and ending up fourth on the stage.

The hot seat began to change rapidly once the final ten riders were coming in to the finish. Disappointment showed through the smile Vargas displayed as he talked about his performance. He had won the stage last year, and was hoping to defend his win, but still gave respect to Stites as he outshone him in Tyrone.

“This was a pretty demanding time trial, and the wind here is strong,” Vargas said. “I felt good and had good legs but Tyler [Stites] is also in very good form. I knew that he had won another race before Gila here in the United States, so he’s going very strong.”

Despite his loss on Friday, Vargas and Team Medellín look ahead to the final two stages, ready to battle for the GC.

“I’m sitting second on GC with two demanding stages to go, including the final that is a very, very hard stage,” Vargas said. “We hope to give everything and make it a good race on Sunday. Tomorrow, we have the crit, which is a fast and explosive one, so we will give it our all in these last two days.”

Stites won the Downtown Silver City Criterium in 2022, and expects the team to contest the sprint on Saturday before the final showdown Sunday. Important time bonuses will be available at the finish Saturday for the top three finishers, earning ten, six and four seconds respectively.

The pro men take the stage at 3:10 p.m. after a full day of amateur racing and following the pro women.

Photo: Velo Images

This Article Updated April 27, 2024 @ 10:20 AM

For more information contact: [email protected]

2024 Tour of the Gila Stage Two Report

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USA TODAY 10Best

Best adventure tours in the Untied States? Vote now

April 30, 2024 // By 10Best Editors

By 10Best Editors April 30, 2024

With summer around the corner, you might be ready to get out and enjoy the great outdoors. We're looking for the best outdoor excursions — boat tours, helicopter tours, aerial adventure parks, fishing charters, rafting trips, kayaking excursions, bike tours, and hot air balloon rides — to help our readers plan their greatest adventure yet.

A panel of experts has selected our groups of illustrious nominees across each of nine categories, and now it's your turn to vote for your favorites.

Voting ends on Monday, May 27 at noon ET, and you can vote once per day, per category.

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Click on each category below to vote:

Best Adventure Tour Operator

These 20 adventure tour operators — nominated by an expert panel — cater to travelers who crave excitement, challenge, and fun in their vacations. Whether you're looking for an individualized journey or group tour, they'll have something for you, with activities ranging from hiking and biking to rafting and kayaking.

Which adventure tour operator would you most like to book with?

Vote: Best Adventure Tour Operator »

Best Aerial Adventure Park

Zip lining and treetop tours have exploded in popularity as a way to experience the forest canopy in a safe and thrilling environment. These 20 aerial adventure parks — nominated as the best in the U.S. by an expert panel — beckon with their zip lines, rope bridges, and climbing elements, each promising an unforgettable experience high above the ground.

Which aerial adventure park would you most like to visit?

Vote: Best Aerial Adventure Park »

Best Bike Tour

One of the best and greenest ways to experience the beauty of the world is by bike. Just start pedaling and the journey becomes as important as the destination. These top companies have been nominated by an expert panel for their fantastic guided and self-guided tours that take you around the globe on two wheels.

Which bike tour company would you most like to tour with?

Vote: Best Bike Tour »

Best Boat Tour

From whale watching excursions and sunset sails to scenic cruises past waterfalls and cliff-backed shores, there are so many water-based tours to choose from across the United States. An expert panel has nominated these 20 companies for offering the best boat tours in the country.

Which boat tour company would you most enjoy a trip with?

Vote: Best Boat Tour »

Best Fishing Charter

Whether you’re looking to polish your angling skills on America’s rivers or head offshore in search of your next big catch, these 20 fishing charters and outfitters — nominated by an expert panel as the best in the U.S. and U.S. territories — are sure to increase your chances of success.

Which fishing charter would you most like to set out with?

Vote: Best Fishing Charter »

Best Helicopter Tour

Whether it’s the majestic layers of the Grand Canyon, flashing neon lights of the Las Vegas Strip, or beautiful rainforests and beaches of Hawaii, top destinations across the United States often look even better from the air. An expert panel has nominated these 20 companies for offering the best helicopter tours in the Untied States.

Which helicopter tour company would you most like to take flight with?

Vote: Best Helicopter Tour »

Best Hot Air Balloon Ride

Hot air balloons take the act of travel to new heights, offering a fresh perspective while floating in the sky in a woven wicker basket. There’s no other experience quite like it, and these 20 companies have been nominated by an expert panel for offering the best hot air balloon rides in the United States.

Which hot air balloon company would you most like to float into the air with?

Vote: Best Hot Air Balloon Ride »

Best Kayak Tour

Kayak tours combine aerobic fitness with the chance to immerse yourself in nature on guided outings, and the diverse waterways of the United States present some of the most breathtaking paddling adventures in the world. These 20 companies — nominated by an expert panel — lead some of the best kayaking tours in the U.S. and U.S. territories.

Which kayak tour company would you most like to paddle with?

Vote: Best Kayak Tour »

Best White Water Rafting Tour

The rivers of the United States offer some of the world’s best white-water rafting opportunities, with thrills for experienced rafters and newbies alike. From white-knuckle rapids to more relaxed family floats, rafting is a great way to add a dash of adventure to a trip, and these 20 companies have been nominated by an expert panel for offering the best white-water rafting tours in the country.

Which white-water rafting tour company would you most like to traverse the river with?

Vote: Best White Water Rafting Tour »

Remember, you can vote once per day in each category. The 10 nominees with the most votes in each category will be announced on Wednesday, June 5.

Texas MS 150 Bike Tour Returns To Aggieland

Texas A&M University will once again serve as the finish line for thousands of cyclists riding in the Texas MS 150 when the 40th annual charity bike tour concludes Sunday on Houston Street between Kyle Field and Aggie Park.

The two-day event benefiting people with multiple sclerosis — a condition that damages the body’s nervous system by eroding the protective coating of nerves — will run April 27-28, with a variety of routes beginning in Houston and Austin before converging in La Grange and again in College Station. Texas A&M Transportation Services is advising drivers to anticipate multiple road closures and potential delays beginning early Sunday as the riders make their way through campus.

A section of Lamar Street starting at the bell tower will be closed to drivers throughout the day, while Houston Street will remain closed from George Bush Drive to Joe Routt Boulevard. Riders will make their way down Olsen Boulevard and Old Main Drive before passing the Memorial Student Center and Kyle Field on their way to the finish line. A map of the route through campus, as well as accompanying road closure and parking information, can be found at transport.tamu.edu/ms150 .

Visitors planning to watch the participants finish are invited to park in one of the three nearby garages: Gene Stallings Boulevard Garage and University Center Garage will both charge a flat $10 entry fee, while West Campus Garage charges an hourly visitor rate. Additional parking information is available on Transportation Services’ event parking page .

The National Multiple Sclerosis Society’s Bike MS, which encompasses the Texas MS 150 and a variety of other charity rides across the country, traces its roots to 1980, when the first MS 150 was held in Minnesota. Today, it is the largest fundraising cycling series in the world. Participants in this year’s Texas MS 150 have already raised nearly $7 million to fight multiple sclerosis, with an overall fundraising goal of $9.425 million. More information about the Texas MS 150 and Bike MS is available at events.nationalmssociety.org .

Media contact: Tad Fifer, Texas A&M Transportation Services, [email protected]

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Amy Grant on the 2022 bike wreck that 'changed everything' and her return to touring

It was a beautiful summer day in July of 2022 when Amy Grant and a friend went on a bicycle ride through Percy Warner Park. She was in the best shape she'd been in since before she had kids.

The singer and friend Mel Cox stopped to take in an overlook when she confided to her friend that she needed to make change in her life.

"I feel spread so thin," she told Cox that day. "I feel like I'm not giving the most energy to my family."

Cox responded, "If you were hit by a bus today, what would matter to you?"

She responded, "My family."

Ten minutes after that conversation, Grant's front bicycle wheel dropped hard into a four-inch deep pothole, sending her catapulting over her handlebars and into an unconscious state that would result in a traumatic brain injury and memory loss. Had it not been for her helmet, the outcome could have been worse.

The only reason Grant remembers any of the pre-wreck conversation is because Cox took the time to write down all the details of the day for Grant when she was ready to read it. It was nine pages of text that Grant didn't read until much later.

Another detail Cox shared with Grant (who still has no memory of that day) was what she said in her hospital room shortly after the wreck.

Cox told Grant that she kept saying over and over in the hospital, "I can't believe I still have all my teeth." Grant had landed on her face and was badly bruised. Then she said something unbelievable.

"I needed this."

The accident, as Grant said during our interview at her home earlier this month, "changed everything."

'I had to re-learn the words to my songs.'

Grant had to relearn how to sing. She had to relearn lyrics to songs she's been singing effortlessly for decades.

"The very first thing I did was I had the Christmas shows with Michael W. Smith," she said. "I couldn't remember... I had to re-learn the words for my songs. I had a teleprompter. My balance was messed up. I was scared to death. I tried to sing a song in soundcheck and it triggered tears and I couldn't stop them. I felt so vulnerable."

She didn't get much more recovery time before having to appear on a national stage as she was being inducted as a Kennedy Center honoree — just five months after her accident.

"I couldn't have done it if I'd had to sing," she remembers. "I'd done a handful of shows and each one felt better, but I did feel like I had worked my way on a treadmill up to about a 3.5-mile walk and I was merging onto the interstate."

It was the understanding of Grant and her longtime manager Jennifer Cooke that there would be no singing or speeches at any of the events. Then at the medallion dinner at the state department the night before the ceremony, each honoree got up with notes to speak.

"Jen is looking at me like, 'dear God, you've got to say something," Grant said, laughing.

"They told us no written speeches," Cooke remembered. "I'm like, she has a freaking brain injury and she has to get up and speak. She has nothing prepared."

What happened next would set the trajectory for Grant's continued healing and recovery. She stood in front of the crowd with no notes and no preparation and spoke just like she would have before her accident.

"She couldn't have written something in advance better than what she said," Cooke said. "It was beautiful and powerful and I remember thinking 'It's ultimately going to be OK.' That makes me cry to this day because during those few Christmas shows, it felt a little different and then that happened and I was like, 'OK. She's still there."

100th performance: Vince Gill, Amy Grant celebrate 100th Ryman Christmas performance with Nate Bargatze, more

TODAY show: Amy Grant on life after bicycle accident: 'I feel fantastic'

'Wiggle your toes and speak your truth'

Grant credits Cooke and fellow musician Sheryl Crow with some sage advice that helped her get through the nerves of that impromptu speaking engagement. Remember, among her fellow honorees in the room were George Clooney, Gladys Knight and U2.

Cooke said to Grant before her speech, "Wiggle your toes and speak your truth."

Grant, who can't remember what she said that night, said years ago when she was preparing to speak at her mother's funeral, she told Crow she was afraid she would get choked up while speaking. Crow's response was this: "I'm going to tell you what my mom told me. Wiggle your toes. Just wiggle your toes and it will ground you in the moment that you're in."

Cooke reminded Grant of this before her speech at the Kennedy Center dinner. It worked.

"I did that that day and I tell people all the time, 'if you have to present, whatever it is, if you start getting overwhelmed, just wiggle your toes.' I give the credit to Sheryl."

Trauma can manifest change and recovery takes time

The bicycle accident isn't the only thing Grant has had to overcome in the last four years. During COVID she discovered a birth defect in her heart that required open-heart surgery. In 2022, the bike accident required her to have a shoulder surgery. Then while re-training her voice, her vocal coach noticed a lump on her throat that would ultimately also require surgery right after the Kennedy Center Honors in January of 2023.

The cyst turned out to be non-cancerous, but was growing and affecting her vocal chords. She considers this just another blessing that came from the bike accident, which sent the cyst into "hyper growth" mode so it was discovered and remedied early.

"That cyst was keeping company with my vocal cords and was slowly making it impossible for me to hold pitch to sing. It felt like too much work. Singing wasn't fun anymore. I was trying, but I hated the way I sounded. The sound my vocal cords would make when they rubbed together was the same, but my ability to control it was awful."

After the wreck brought the cyst to her attention and it was removed, Grant said, "It gave me my voice back. How amazing. I'm so grateful for that."

Grant's husband Vince Gill said of Amy, "It didn't matter if it was a heart surgery or a bike wreck, you can't faze her. She's fearless every step of the way. It's pretty inspiring to watch. She's always had that aura around her that's contagious. It's remarkable."

Today Grant is learning to embrace the process of healing and recovery, which she has learned doesn't happen overnight. Both take time and she's taking life a little slower to make sure she creates space to heal. After all, isn't this exactly what she needed when she confided in her friend before the wreck?

"I'm going to enjoy the process of regaining balance. I'm going to enjoy the process of healing. And like for me with singing, my vocal coach Laura said you've got to strengthen the little tiny muscles in your vocal folds. And she said, pick any low note and see how long you can hold it. I went from getting to 'three Mississippi' and now I've got 'eight Mississippi.' The human body is incredible in response to attention."

'The View from Here'

In February of 2024, just two years after her accident, Grant embarked on a 33-city tour that will hit Nashville's Ryman Auditorium for two shows just in time for Mother's Day on May 10-11. It will be the first time in 25 years Grant has headlined a Nashville show outside of her annual Christmas residency at The Ryman.

The show has been billed as a walk down memory lane through her remarkable career. Contemporary Christian music's female pioneer's proverbial mantle of awards boats a whopping six Grammy Awards and 26 Dove Awards (including four Artist of the Year Awards). She was the first CCM artist to have a platinum record, the first to hit No. 1 on the pop charts and the first to perform at the Grammys. 

She has total career album sales in excess of 30 million and over 1 billion global streams. And she isn't done yet.

She has released two new songs “Trees We’ll Never See,” and “What You Heard” that she says will ultimately be part of an entire album she will call "A View From Here" even though its title track has yet to be written. It's her first new music in 10 years.

"So much of my touring life is singing old songs. That's what people want to hear. You can't recreate your musical past. And I love that people still are willing to buy a ticket, and they want to come and join us, and they know the words. But the view from 63 is a lot more in-depth. At this stage of the game, to me it's so much more meaningful to fall in love with the process. You know, if I fall in love with the process of cooking, it doesn't matter who is at the table."

Melonee Hurt covers music and music business at The Tennessean, part of the USA TODAY NETWORK — Tennessee. Reach Melonee at  [email protected] , on X @HurtMelonee or Instagram at @MelHurtWrites.

What : Amy Grant

When : May 10-11

Where : The Ryman Auditorium

Tickets : www.ryman.com/event/2024-amy-grant

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