When traveling with family, relaxation is often the main priority. Planning leisurely time spent enjoying each other's company and the place, wherever a group trip may take you. However, on a recent family hiking trip through the Basque Country of Spain and the Pyrenees Mountains, we relaxed, but only after a day outside. We challenged ourselves and each other, trekking through mountains, vineyards and towns while enjoying the simplicity of life when it’s reduced to the basics—walking, eating, resting and repeating. Choosing an adventure travel family vacation isn't most people's first inclination, but the benefits of exploring together in this unique way are magical.
Our journey began in Biarritz, once a glamorous resort town favored by Empress Eugénie and Napoleon III. Its grand boulevards and seaside promenades feel like a step back in time, but the real magic began just beyond the town—on a cliffside trail near Bidart, where the Atlantic churns below dramatic bluffs. The Sentier du Littoral, a coastal path that stretches into Spain, carried us past fishing villages and stone chapels, across beaches, and into the vibrant port town of Saint-Jean-de-Luz. Timber-framed houses, a glass of crisp Txakoli, and our first of many long, wine-filled dinners marked the start of a special trip.
The next few days led us into the Pyrenees, where trails traced the French-Spanish border and wound past shepherd's huts and fields dotted with Pottok ponies. In the hills above St-Martin-d'Arrossa, we climbed past vistas where the land rolled in endless shades of green. Along the way, we learned about the history of the mountain range and settled into a rhythm that slowed everything down. At night, we stayed in restored estates with sweeping views—a glass of Rioja in hand.
There were challenges, of course. A 2,500-foot climb in misty weather. A few minor blisters. But those moments have become some of the memories reflected on most frequently and most fondly, and the fantastic meals tasted that much better with tired legs resting under the table.
Crossing into Spain over the Col de Roncevaux, a pass steeped in legend, we followed the route of ancient pilgrims along the Camino de Santiago. As we stepped into the next leg of our journey through the vineyards of La Rioja, the terrain softened, the meals grew even richer, and wine cellars carved beneath medieval towns offered respite from the afternoon sun.
By the final day, walking among the vines near Briñas with the River Ebro glinting nearby, we all felt invigorated. Adventure travel with family has a way of reshaping the familiar. Parents become companions. Siblings lean on each other with renewed appreciation. And shared effort turns into shared memory—adventure travel strips away distractions, offering space for authentic connection. Without schedules packed with sightseeing or technology pulling focus away from the adventure at hand, families naturally fall into a unique rhythm that exists so distinctly beyond a typical vacation. Every climb, every unexpected detour, becomes a joint effort, transforming the experience into something richer than relaxation alone.
We departed after a day in Bilbao with a deeper appreciation of the region and a well-deserved pride in all we had achieved together. Hiking, eating, sweating, swimming and exploring with family elevates a vacation beyond relaxation and enjoyment to a level where something new can grow - something lasting.