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KEEPING ACTIVE On canals, most vessels travel so slowly that you can walk the towpaths that parallel the waterway and reboard your barge at the next stop. Many vessels carry bicycles as

well. MEALS AND BEVERAGES Dining is a highlight of most barge cruises. Whether your meals are taken on board or in local restaurants, they typically showcase regional specialties and wines,

using ingredients purchased that morning in the market. Many ships also invite local dance troupes and musicians to perform. COSTS Rates range from about $2,500 to $6,000 per person; if

you're flexible, you can sometimes find lower special offers. All costs are included except airfare, transfers to and from the meeting point, and crew gratuities. Some trips also offer

a half-board option, meaning that breakfast and either lunch or dinner is included. This is worth considering since dining in local eateries is one of the prime joys of these

off-the-beaten-path explorations. There are numerous companies that offer European barge trips. Here are four experienced and reputable companies that specialize in barging and offer a full

range of options. The Barge Company: Offers include half-board cruises, plus special food and wine cruises. Barge Lady Cruises: Themed feasts include chocolate and wine tours in Burgundy, 

Bordeaux and the upper Loire Valley, and a culinary cruise on the Canal du Midi. European Waterways: Offers Christmas and wine appreciation cruises, plus lots of other themed itineraries.

The line also features a six-week thousand-mile voyage between Avignon in southern France and Amsterdam in the western Netherlands. French Country Waterways: Special offers include an

imaginative "quinquennial anniversary special" for couples celebrating a quinquennial (five-year, 10-year, etc.) wedding anniversary. The discount, applied on select departure

dates, is equal to the number of years married — a 5 percent discount for five years, 10 percent for 10 years, and so forth, up to 50 years. _Don George is a travel writer with more than 25

years' experience and the author of several books, including Better Than Fiction: True Travel Tales From Great Fiction Writers and The Kindness of Strangers._