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2 0 2 6 A RC H RO A M R I G H T T R AV E L I N S U R A N C E P L AY B O O K
AV E R Y H A L E S M I T H
C H I E F E X P E R I E N C E O F F I C E R AT B A C K R O A D S
CREATING UNFORGETTABLE , ACTIVE E XPERIENCES Backroads began with my dad, Tom Hale. While working a desk job, he dreamed of creating a company that let people experience the world by bike—something few were offering at the time. Once the idea took hold, he left his job and set out on a 5,000 mile ride across the western US, using that journey to map out and shape what would eventually become Backroads.
From the beginning, the idea was simple: when you move under your own power, you experience a place differently. You notice the terrain, the weather and the subtle shifts from town to town. You’re not just passing through a place, you’re in it. What began as a domestic biking company evolved naturally over time.
As our guests’ interests grew, we expanded into hiking and walking trips, new regions and eventually active travel around the world.
Nearly 50 years later, that belief still guides us.