Hop on a bicycle and start your vacation

Bicycle touring, a European obsession, is growing in popularity in the United States as more vacationers look for healthier getaways.

"It's a great way to explore the country," says Dan Nidey, a 56-year-old Iowan and touring fanatic who plans to pedal from San Diego to Austin, Texas. "You smell the air, see the sights and feel the breeze."

Some tips for touring stateside:

•The Adventure Cycling Association (adventurecycling.org) offers information and detailed maps for 21 rides, including the Green Mountains loop, which covers 373 miles through rural Vermont.

•If you prefer sleeping in hotels instead of camping, ride the 184-mile bike path of the historic Chesapeake and Ohio Canal from Washington, D.C., to Cumberland, Md., and stay in bed and breakfasts along the way (nps.gov/choh).

•Or do a supported tour where a van carries all your luggage and gear, leaving your bike unencumbered. America by Bicycle (abbike.com) specializes in supported tours, including the seven-day, 556-mile New England meander from Niagara Falls, N.Y., to Portsmouth, N.H.