Europe. Everything to satisfy every sense.

From Northern Scandinavia to the Southern Canary Islands, the breadth and width of entertainment, culture, adventure are impossible to capture. Europe has so much to offer, to every personality, every craving, every soul.

Britain and Ireland

Emerald gems set in deep blue water? Sure.
But also dynamic, energetic, diversity abound.

Not just a fabulous nation of walkers, readers, gardeners, and cultural critics, England offers scenic beauty, historical wonders, and quaint villages at every turn. Tour the great cathedral towns of Canterbury, York, Winchester and a dozen others, the spa towns of Bath, Leamington, and Buxton, or spend some time amidst the dreamy spires of Oxford or punting along the river Cam in Cambridge. But beyond the more traditional delights of half-timbered cottages with thatched roofs and sublime grand country houses and palaces, England is also redefining cutting edge architecture for the 21st century. It has given the world Shakespeare, Jane Austen, and Benjamin Britten, as well as the Beatles, Benny Hill and, yes, the musical "Cats".

Its capital city London took the new millennium seriously, invigorating its already rich cultural and physical resources with a forward thinking edge and more than a little glamour. London dazzles with its energy and diversity. Theatres, museums, shopping, restaurants, clubs, and a fascinating and sometimes regal royal family make London the can't miss capital of Europe.

Scotland is perched just beyond the ruins of Hadrian's Wall to the north of England. It is home to the famous links of St. Andrews, some of the world's best distilleries, and starkly beautiful countryside and coastline. Its capital Edinburgh is a lively juxtaposition of the old city on a hill overlooking the 19th century new town. Industrial-era powerhouse Glasgow is a frenetic cultural hub with beautiful parks and many signs of the influence of the early 20th-century master of design Rennie Mackintosh.

With a traditional language that seems devoid of vowels, over 600 castles, and a culture of chorus singing, Wales is rich with a unique heritage. Outside its culture-rich capital of Cardiff, you'll find breathtaking national parks, 750 miles of coastline, and access to the freshest local cheese, seafood and other locally grown ingredients.

Ireland is an ancient civilization with more than its fair share of turbulent history. Modern Ireland is home to brilliant folk music, delicious traditional food, and beautiful lush landscapes. Stay in a castle, have a Guinness, visit world famous crystal-works or kiss the Blarney Stone.

Cosmopolitan, colorful and over a thousand years old, Dublin presents a fine starting point for visitors to Ireland. This capital city is split in two by the River Liffey, which gives form to the city and has no less than nine bridges spanning it. Easily explored on foot, central Dublin presents a wealth of historic landmarks, from ancient cathedrals to gracious Georgian buildings that pay testimony to days gone by. There are several attractions on both sides of the Liffey, ranging from gaols and castles to the birthplaces of famous poets and writers and guided literary trails.

France and Monaco

Beauty and perfection at your finger tips!

Paris is everything you have heard and more. The world capital for art, fashion, food, and romance it is hard not to be enchanted by the City of Lights. Flanking the River Seine, Paris hosts some of the world's most recognizable monuments like the Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triomphe, and Notre Dame. It is also the home to the world of haute cuisine and haute couture. And despite the millions of things to do in the city, perhaps one of the most fascinating is grabbing a café au lait and croissant at a sidewalk café and watching Paris walk by. With shopping, art, and a subway system that are second to none there is no reason in the world not to go to Paris. Even the day trips from Paris are fabulous, with easy connections to Fontainebleu, Versailles and Chartres.

Close to Paris and almost as close to England, the Normandy coast is perhaps the most historic stretch of coastline in the world. A jumping off point for the Norman conquest of England in 1066, Normandy also played a pivotal role in the liberation of France at the close of World War II. The region is also home to the Bayeux Tapestry, Monet's garden at Giverny, and the iconic fortress of Mont Saint Michel.

Easily reached from Paris, the Loire Valley is synonymous with the grand chateaux that litter its lush green countryside.

To know French wine is to know the region of Burgundy. In addition to the eponymous red wine this region is also known for the town and wine of Chablis. A wine museum and the town of Dijon further identify this region with good taste.

Tucked in beneath Mont Blanc the Rhone-Alps region provides France's contribution to the multinational Alps. In addition to some of the finest skiing areas such as Val d'Isère and Chamonix, there are also the famous vineyards that supply the world with Rhone Valley and Beaujolais wines.

Situated between the Alps and Mediterranean coast, Provence is a scenic, historic, and gastronomic delight. Add medieval fortresses, charming villages and ancient Roman ruins with fields of lavender and sunflowers and you start to understand the charm of this region. Discover your own, rent a barge, get up close by bike, the sky is the limit.

For fashionably elegant surroundings on the sunny Mediterranean coast, the French Riviera is the place to be. Nice and Cannes provide a lively contrast to the charming and quieter medieval villages set in the hills along the coast.

Although a tiny independent state tucked away on the Cote d'Azur, Monaco is a beautiful destination with wonderful weather. Ruled by the progeny of the House of Grimaldi and Princess Grace, Monaco is best known for its elegant casinos in Monte Carlo and its annual Grand Prix.

Germany and Austria

Sharing a common language these Teutonic gems set the standard for serious culture and serious fun.

If you go to Germany looking for beer, bratwurst, and lederhosen, you won't be disappointed. If you go looking for fantastic museums and inimitable orchestras and opera, you also won't be disappointed. Much of Germany can be seen while floating down the Rhine and the Danube, two of its most famous and romantic rivers.

The once-divided city of Berlin was long the center of German life, politics, and culture and a major hot spot in Europe. Since reunification, Berlin has reclaimed that mantle and has rapidly developed into one of the continent's most dynamic and modern cities. Despite all of it success Berlin has not forgotten its troubled past with moving monuments and museums commemorating the Holocaust as well as the excesses of the communist era.

German precision and efficiency are on display everywhere, from the meticulously maintained autobahn to the performance vehicles speeding along it at 100 mph. The beautiful and delightful city of Munich known for its infamous Oktoberfest is also the regional capital of Bavaria in southern Germany. From Munich one can make a day trip to the concentration camp at Dachau to pay respects to the victims of the holocaust and visit other historic sites in Bavaria.

In Austria the hills truly are alive with the sound of music. Salzburg is not only a charming city and home to the world famous music festival, but was also home to the Von Trapp family which inspires more than a few visitors to relive their favorite scenes from the Sound of Music. Vienna, once the seat of the mighty Hapsburg Empire is situated on the banks of the Danube and is second to none when it comes to classical music. With perhaps the finest orchestra and opera in the world, Vienna nurtured more legends of classical music than any other city in the world. The central city is beautiful and very pedestrian friendly with wonderful art collections, shopping, Sacher Torte, and the beautiful white stallions of the Spanish Riding School.

Italy, Greece and Croatia

Surrounded by sparkling blue, this is one beautiful neighborhood.

There are hardly enough superlatives to be able to aptly describe the beauty of Italy and the Italians. This boot-shaped country flanked on the west by the Mediterranean and the Adriatic to the east is truly blessed with stunning natural and manmade beauty as well as some of the best food in the world. Now the capital of Italy, Rome was once the center of the mighty Roman Empire and it shows. Walk through the ruins of the Roman forum and Coliseum to begin to understand the magnitude of that Empire. Wander through a seemingly endless number of gorgeous piazzas and churches and visit the granddaddy of them all, the enormous Saint Peter's Basilica and its enormous piazza in Vatican City. And while walking through the labyrinthine Vatican Museum you will be forgiven for standing open-mouth gaping at the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel.

If Rome is the demarcation line separating northern and southern Italy, then the capital of the south is the exuberant city of Naples. Besides having the best pizza in the world, this ancient port city is alive with activity and hosts an amazing archeological museum which houses a huge collection of artifacts from nearby Pompeii. But don't be fooled, Pompeii has to be seen to be believed and is worth the visit. Further south the lovely port of Sorrento marks the start of the awe-inspiring Amalfi Coast. With gorgeous towns like Positano, Amalfi, and Ravello hugging the cliffs over the Mediterranean, the drive down the coast is easily one of the most beautiful in the world. Also worth noting are the nearby islands of Capri and Ischia. Even further south, off the very tip of the boot is the island of Sicily.

Heading north of Rome one encounters the natural beauty and lovely hill towns of Tuscany and Umbria. It is hard to visit and not fall in love with these regions. With beautiful rolling hills, spectacular food and wine, and amazingly picturesque towns like Pienza, Assisi, Cortona, and San Gimignano. You will also find as well the larger but equally beautiful cultural and commercial centers of Siena, Pisa and of course Florence home to the Ponte Vecchio, Michelangelo's David, the Boboli Gardens and the Uffizi Gallery.

Further north one finds Milan, the fashion capital of Italy and the home of the world famous La Scala Opera House; the charming towns of the Cinque Terre along the Italian Riviera; the Italian Alps; and perhaps the most unique city in all of Europe, Venice. Seemingly floating on water Venice is navigated either by boat and gondola through the many canals or on foot. Completely devoid of automobiles, one can wander for hours through the maze of "streets" and piazzas visiting the Doges Palace, San Marco, the Guggenheim and a million other photogenic sites along the way.

Just down the eastern Adriatic Coast from Venice is the beautiful nation of Croatia. With stunning coastal towns like Hvar and Split, Croatia and the Dalmatian Coast are worth more than just a detour.

Set on a peninsula and islands in the Aegean, Greece is known not only for its stunning beauty but also for its role as the cradle of European, and by extension, Western civilization. The capital of Athens, a bustling city in its own right, is also home to the Acropolis and serves as a great base for exploring the mainland and some of the smaller islands. Mythical places like Crete, Rhodes, and Naxos really do exist and are scattered along with their neighbors of Santorini and Mykonos, in the sparking blue.

The Iberian Peninsula

Different languages, but the Spanish and Portuguese
deliver hospitality and warmth.

Once the center of a rich and powerful empire, Portugal retains a prominent position on the Atlantic edge of the Iberian Peninsula. With a culture that is quite distinct from its larger neighbor Spain, Portugal delights with its haunting fado music, distinctive black and white cobbled plazas, and its heartwarming Port (the drink, not the place to park your boat). Its capital city of Lisbon is built on hills overlooking the Atlantic Ocean with staircases and funiculars linking the high points with the center of the city. On the southern edge of Portugal one finds the ever sunny Algarve with its sandy beaches, amazing cliffs and lovely whitewashed houses.

More so than any other country in Europe, you won't find the early bird special available in Spain. This is a country on a seriously laid back schedule. With the practice of afternoon siestas after late lunches still common throughout most of Spain, dinner can end up being pretty late.

And if you are still having dinner at 11:00 pm you can imagine how late the nightclubs get going. There are some clubs in the capital city of Madrid that don't even open until 7:00 am in order to catch the crowds who haven't gotten enough from the night before. But if you are looking for a quieter time Madrid has plenty of other attractions as well. Once the imperial center of Spain, Madrid is an impressive and vibrant city with grand plazas and a trio of art museums, the Prado, the Reina Sofia, and the Thyssen-Bornemisza, that are among the finest in the world.

Located on the Mediterranean coast, Barcelona is perhaps the funkiest city in Spain. The capital of the Catalonia region, Barcelona is Spain's second largest city and has a decidedly different feel from its bigger sibling. It is home to Antonio Gaudi's exuberant and unmistakable architecture, neighborhoods teeming with life, and the Ramblas, one of the most beautiful avenues in Spain.

A visit to southwest Spain puts the region's remarkable Arab history on display. The gorgeous cities of Seville and Granada are distinctive for their extravagant Moorish architecture and Arabic citadels.

And if the beach is what you are looking for Costa del Sol along Spain's southern coastline has 325 days of sunshine a year and warm temperatures and a stunning position on the Mediterranean. In addition to lively hotspots like Malaga and Cadiz that are centers for sailboats, luxury yachts, upscale shopping and restaurants, the region also has historical cities perched on the cliffs as well as medieval fortresses and Moorish baths.

Spain is also blessed with many of the most beautiful islands in Europe. The Canary Islands located 130 miles from Africa in the Atlantic Ocean provide glorious sunny beaches, picturesque villages, and more than a little nightlife. Similarly, the Balearic Islands of Mallorca, Minorca, and Ibiza, just off the coast of Spain in the Mediterranean Sea boast wonderful beaches, beautiful towns and villages, a laid back groove, and pumping nightlife.

Netherlands and Belgium

Commercial empires capitalize on their historic assets.

Those who hear the Netherlands mentioned in conversation and only think of tulips, windmills and wooden clogs are missing out on one of the most impressive little countries in Europe. With picturesque canals lined with distinctive gabled buildings and hundreds of stone bridges, Amsterdam is at the cultural heart of the Netherlands. This is a city where vice and virtue go hand in hand and maintain a striking and peaceful symbiosis. With everything from the red light district and wild night life to giant museums full of Rembrandts, Vermeers, and Van Goghs and one of the world's finest orchestras. With the famous blue and white pottery in Delft, the port city of Rotterdam, the international center of the Hague and the gorgeous countryside, one might actually overlook the tulips, windmills and wooden clogs-but that would be a shame.

The home of the European Union and NATO, multilingual Belgium has long been the meeting place of Western Europe. With Dutch, French, Spanish and Austrian influences evident in its architecture and culture, Belgium is about much more than delicate lace and the best chocolate in the world. Beyond the beautiful and bustling capital of Brussels one finds the delightful medieval cities of Bruges and Antwerp.

Scandinavia

Seek out Scandinavian cool anytime of the year by land or spectacular cruise ship-for sleek, sophisticated design or just to beat the summer heat.

There is something about Scandinavia that sets it apart from the rest of Europe. No doubt its geographic, climatic, and ethnic elements offer a world of natural beauty and ever progressive aesthetic sensibilities.

Beautiful in its own right, but lacking the high natural drama of its northern neighbors, Denmark is at the front of the pack when it comes to Scandinavian design. Its captivating capital of Copenhagen is equal parts charm and modern comfort. Cutting edge shopping and cafes are laced through this waterfront city of parks, canals, and the famous Tivoli Gardens.

Stretching from northern Europe all the way into the Arctic Circle, Norway's natural beauty is truly spectacular. Dramatic fjords, serene alpine landscapes and places with 24-hour sun in the summer and shimmering northern lights in the winter. Even way down south in the bustling capital city of Oslo you can revel in 18 hours of daylight in the summer. And in the winter Oslo is the only major European city that links you to great skiing with a quick, easy subway ride.

Sweden's version of Scandinavian beauty is played out along its extensive and diverse coastline, its remarkable natural areas, and its legendary capital Stockholm. Founded in the 13th century the city is comprised of fourteen islands in an archipelago of over 30,000 small islands and rock formations. It juxtaposes charming medieval buildings and narrow streets with all of the buzz and comforts of other large, modern, design-focused Scandinavian cites.

A small nation of five million people, Finland shares the natural beauty and modern aesthetic sensibilities of its Scandinavian siblings. It is the perfect spot for culture hounds who prefer their cerebral stimulation with large doses of fresh air and beautiful open space. Finland's lively capital city of Helsinki is filled with cultural attractions, shopping, and a fantastic design district. Just 15 minutes away by ferry is the Suomenlinna Maritime Fortress and World Heritage Site.

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