Couch to Countryside
Adventures by Disney, Tour de France, European Countryside, Travel, Adventure, Bicycle
Every July, like clockwork, I find myself drawn to the Tour. The opening bars of the Tour de France coverage begin, and suddenly I’m there! I’m wandering the rolling countryside, dramatic coastlines, charming villages, and towering mountains of France. It happens every year: as the cyclists crest the peaks of the Alps or fly down winding village roads lined with lavender, I’m overwhelmed by the same thought—Let’s go.
There’s something magical about the Tour de France. Yes, it's one of the most grueling athletic events in the world, a showcase of stamina, strategy, and sheer willpower. But to me, it’s also the world’s most captivating travel commercial. No narrator needed. The scenery speaks for itself.
One moment I’m watching the peloton snake through the vineyards of Burgundy, the next they’re racing past centuries-old stone cottages with flower boxes on the windowsills. The camera pans to a crowd of cheering villagers, and I realize they’re not just watching a race—they’re celebrating tradition, history, and their homeland. And in the process, they’re inviting me and you to come experience it for ourselves.
No travel brochure could sell France like the Tour does. It’s not just Paris (though that final ride along the Champs-Élysées is its own kind of poetry)—it’s the hidden gems. The places we might not know to visit, unless we’ve seen a helicopter shot of cyclists racing past a medieval château or a sparkling river bend in the Dordogne. I’m watching out of the corner of my eye, while researching train routes, dreaming of espresso at a sidewalk café, and wondering how many days one would need to properly “bike and baguette” your way through Provence.
Of course, I (nor my husband who still thinks he possibly could😉) will never cycle the Pyrenees, but that doesn’t stop the Tour from stirring something deep in my travel-loving soul. Every summer, it reminds me of the richness of Europe—how every region tells a story, every village has a rhythm, and every winding road could lead to my next great memory.
So if you, like me, find yourself watching the Tour de France and feeling that itch—that longing to explore Europe, to wander cobblestone streets, to taste something new in a town you’ve never heard of—know you’re not alone.
The Tour may be a race, but to many of us, it’s also an invitation. A moving postcard that says: Come see what all the fuss is about. France is waiting.
And believe me, when summer rolls around, I’m always tempted to answer that call.
Ready to turn those Tour de France dreams into your own European adventure? Let’s plan it together. I’ll do the work… you make the memories. 🇫🇷🚴♀️🧳
— Julee from Grandma Does Disney +
📧 Julee@Vacationeer.com | 📞 231-206-2781
