Serious cyclists who can’t get to Europe to tackle some of the sections of the Tour de France have options closer to home thanks to The Cycling House. The 10-year-old Montana company specializes in challenging rides, such as the Montana Hell Ride, a one-day, 126-mile ride with 7,900 feet of climbing. For this year it’s adding a ride from July 27-Aug. 2 that starts in Glacier National Park near Montana’s border with Canada and ends in Yellowstone National Park. The 487-mile ride will cross the Continental Divide on Glacier’s famous Going-to-the-Sun Road. Daily mileage will be from 50-95 miles, and the daily climbing will be 2,000-6,000 feet. Cost is $1,595 per person double occupancy, which includes tent camping, daily transfer of gear, most meals, guiding, sag support and a mechanic. Bike and sleeping bag and pad rental are extra, as is airfare. There’s a limit of 30 riders. 406-219-1318, tinyurl.com/k7jo9u9
Recommended travel apps
Smartphone apps can make your travel life a whole lot easier, though, of course, they also can make you spend your trip with your nose in your phone rather than seeing your destination. The folks at Eagle Creek, who try to make your traveling easier with their bags, backpacks and other packing gear, have put out a list of what they consider the best smartphone apps for travel. One is Hipmunk, available for both iPhone and Android. While it’ll let you search for flights and hotels, like many other apps, it expands the lodging hunt by also looking at other options such as Airbnb or HomeAway. Free Wi-Fi Finder, also for both phone platforms, keeps your data usage costs from soaring by helping you find Wi-Fi hot spots. Of course, you’ll still be using data if you have to be online to use it, but it has an offline mode that allows you to download info before trips. Read about these apps and other recommended apps at tinyurl.com/qh88uq3.
Snow determines the discount
Parts of the country suffering through blizzard after blizzard may find there can be a good side to all of that snow. Wild Dunes Resort in Charleston, S.C., is offering a Let it Snow promotion that means the more snow you get, the better. When you book a reservation before March 16, you tell them the highest snowfall amount in inches that’s occurred in your city in a 24-hour period since Jan. 1. If the amount was 20 inches, you get 20 percent off the room rate. Snowfall amounts will be confirmed through weather.com. The deal is good for stays through May 21, but from March 27-April 11 the discount is limited to 15 percent. Eligible lodgings include the Boardwalk Inn or Village at Wild Dunes guest suites and select vacation home and condo rentals. Read about the resort and the promotion at tinyurl.com/nd9m559 and make reservations at 888-778-1876.
