The first step in planning a family cycling vacation is to outline your trip priorities. Once you've established a budget, define the length of the trip as well as the degree of adventure. Consider the age of the kids, their interest in cycling, and their capacity to bike. Determine how far you want to cycle in a single day. Decide whether cycling should be a small component or integral part of your holiday. Establish the type of cycling that suits you. Mountain biking or bicycle touring? Paved roads or rough terrain? A self-guided bike trip or assisted cycling tour? Think about lodging as well as food. Do you want to be pampered at the end of a long ride? Are gourmet meals part of the cycling experience? Review the options with your partner as well as the kids. Be sure they know what to expect. And most importantly, spend time training before you depart. It's the only way to avoid a sore bum and ensure the fatigue is fun.

Distance isn't the only thing to consider when selecting a Northwoods bike trail. Flat bike paths are easier than trails with rolling hills. Cycling on paved track is easier than biking on dirt and mud and doesn't require a specialized bicycle or certain level of skill. Some bike trails run parallel to lakes. Some end at picnic areas, sandy beaches and ice cream shops. Some bike paths are wooded loops. Some are out and back. Some children are motivated by challenge. Some only pedal at a leisurely pace. Whether you pedal for an hour, day or week be sure that the cycling adventure you choose is commensurate with the age, interest and ability of the kids.

The best time to bike in the Wisconsin Northwoods is from mid-June to early October. It is too cold in winter for all but the heartiest bikers and too rainy in spring for a ride with kids to be anything but wet. Yet no matter what time of year you cycle check the weather before you set out. In the Northwoods it can be rainy and cold in the heat of summer! And while weather will condition your ride it isn't the only thing to bear in mind when planning a family cycling adventure. Trails passes are required for all NHAL State Forest trails. They can be purchased at park offices as well as trailhead self-regulation stations and are often available at nearby stores.

Bike touring in the Northwoods requires nothing more than bikes, helmets and daypacks. Unless you plan to cycle a century that is. Child bike seats, ideal for half-day rides, offer tykes with little freedom. Child bike trailers, carts pulled by an adult biker, allow the under 5 crowd to play, sleep and squirm. Trailer bikes or tag-a-longs, one-wheeled bike trailers, are about more than safety. They make it possible for kids aged 5-9 to peddle much greater distances. Bike bags and panniers, overkill on a day trip, are a must on unassisted inn-to-inn cycling holidays.

The basics for a Northwoods bike ride include trail map, water, snacks, insect repellent, sunscreen, and windbreaker. Families cycling with young kids should also include diapers, wipes, etc. If you are biking unmarked trails add a compass, gazetteer and GPS to your backpack or pannier. If you plan to swim and fish at a lake en route strap towels and poles to your rear bike rack. Pack spare inner tubes (one for each bike) and mini toolkit in your seat wedge or seat pack. (Novice cyclers take note: bike tools are useless if you don't know how to use them.) And don't forget a portable pump no matter when you last inflated the wheels.