Take a morning stroll to go shopping at the market in Krakow’s Rynek Glowny Central Square and then go back in the evening for a taste of the city’s nightlife. Or take a walk through Kazimierz—the Former Jewish District of Krakow. You can also ride a bus or tram to the historic Warsaw District, Oskar Schindler’s factory museum or to the notorious Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camps.
You can either walk across the famed 14th Century Charles Bridge that was featured in 1996s Mission Impossible movie. Another fun activity would be a tour of historic Prague Castle—built in the 9th Century. You can take a break in the Old Town Square and go on to enjoy a 5-course medieval dining experience in several restaurants. Then take an evening view walking tour, or an underground ghost tour, or visit oldtown for medieval underground and dungeon tours.
If shopping is your thing, you’re in luck! Shop the Praca do Cemercio, a public square lined with shops and cafes, or the Mercado da Ribeira, an indoor market with food and crafts. Visit one of dozens of historical monasteries, convents, and cathedrals. Visit the Oceanario de Lisboa, the largest indoor aquarium in Europe and the original site of the 1998 World Expo.
Take a walk around the 1929 site of the World Expo at the Plaza de Espana; a sprawling, half-circle shaped building complete with moat, bridges, tiled fountains, and walls, ponds and benches. Visit the Catedral de Seville and explore the 16th Century architecture as well as the third largest cathedral in the world’s rich history. You could also visit the Royal Alcazar of Seville and learn about the Moorish architecture and history in the heart of Spain.
In Montreal, located in Quebec, Canada, you could start by exploring the Parc Jean-Drapeau containing Notre Dame and Saint Helen’s Islands, the original site of the 1967 World Expo. For a little fun and excitement, touring the Old Port of Montreal with its shops, activities, and restaurants as well as a boardwalk theme park sounds like a great nighttime activity. Of course, you could always take in the culture by visiting the Notre Dame Basilica of Montreal, the Montreal Botanical Gardens, or taking a walk through the vast Mount Royal Park.
Take a stroll through Viejo San Juan—a 16th Century fort that now houses a string of cocktail bars and clubs. If you’re into history, you could always tour one of several historical sites such as the Castillo de Felipe del Morro—a 16th Century citadel that was built by the Spanish, Not to mention the beautiful beaches that are all just a short walk away.
Feel like taking a walk on the wild side? How about a boat ride? Located on Lago General Carrera Lake in Chile are 6,000-year-old partially submerged caves that can turn different colors depending on the reflection from the lake. There are several hotels and bed and breakfasts to choose from, all located on the lake shore!
That’s right. We said Morocco! In Fes, you can enjoy being pampered at one of the Moroccan spas, take a pottery class, or just explore the Blue City! If you’re feeling particularly adventurous, you can always take a walk around the Medina of Fes — their ancient quarter of maze-like streets complete with shops, stalls, and cafes. And finally, if Fes doesn’t keep you busy, you can always visit the nearby neighboring cities to get a good look at some ancient ruins and learn about cultures you never thought of before.
The whole country has something to offer the adventurous and those with wanderlust. In North Iceland, take a whale watching trip for a chance to spot humpback and minke whales, dolphins, and harbor porpoises. Take a private day tour to Reykjavik, a Katla ice cave tour, or in Southwest Iceland, take a hike across lava fields and volcanic craters to reach a cable car that will take you into the depths of Iceland’s dormant volcano. And don’t forget about Iceland’s geothermal baths like the Blue Lagoon, Geosea Geothermal Baths, and the Myvatn Nature Baths.
Usually when one thinks of visiting Italy, most plans are made in the northern part of the country to places like Milan, Venice, or Rome. However, sitting in the heel of Italy’s “boot'' in the south is a little gem of a region that is a world’s difference from the northern half of the country. One of the best attractions in this region, is Polignano a Mare, a town that was constructed on top of rocky cliffs that appear out of the cyan-blue sea. If you’re the sporty type, you can enjoy hiking or biking through the Valle d’Itria and enjoy the beautiful scenery of ancient vines and olive trees, as well as the region’s traditional Trulli houses (built of stone and whitewashed with conical roofs)
Who thinks of Germany for a vacation?? That’s right! We do! Berlin is history- and culture-rich for those who are so inclined. There are literally dozens of museums and landmarks to visit, not to mention the East Side Gallery— the last part of the Berlin Wall that is still standing for street art. Another suggestion would be to travel to the top of the Berliner Fernsehturm for a breathtaking 360-degree view of Berlin.
In the scheme of things, we bet Russia was not on your list of vacation destinations—yet! This city in Russia is rich with history and rich architecture. It’s biggest claim to fame is their Church on Blood in Honour of All Saints; a church built over the site of the Romanov executions in the 21st Century. Close-by are some famous abandoned salt mines which, when explored, present psychedelic patterns caused by mineral carnallite.
Ahh. The cradle of Western Civilization. Most people when traveling to Greece choose the most popular destinations such as Santorini, Mykonos, or Athens but we think of Kavala. Do you want beaches? Kavala has Rapsani, Camping Batis, Perigiali, and Kavala Beaches! Do you want culture and history? Try visiting the Kavala aqueduct, Castle Kavala, and Kavala Fort for history beginning back in the 15th century.
Of course, most people think of Paris when it comes to traveling to France; however, one of France’s best kept secrets is the jewel of Lyon. For nightlife, stroll the Vieuz Lyon—a well-lit district filled with post restaurants and a beautiful view of the Cathedrale St. Jean-Baptiste. During the day, take in Lyon’s more than 2,000-year-old history in the form of the Roman Amphitheatre des Trois Gaules and the medieval and Renaissance architecture found all around the city.
Dalkey Island in County Dublin is where you should plan to stay if you want the authentic Irish experience. Take some time to experience Dalkey Castle and Heritage Centre or meet Ken the Ferryman and take the ferry over to the main part of the island to explore. Close by is Bulloch Castle, St. Patrick’s Church, and Mornington Garden. For a bit of the local nightlife, check out Johnnie Fox’s Pub or Finnegans of Dalkey for your standard-type Irish fare.
