Cool Travel Destinations!

Got these oh-so-inspiring travel destination suggestions from other "stumblers" while adding my websites in Stumble Upon. I love nature and I adored Europe so these suggested European holiday getaways really caught my attention.

What made these getaways very interesting is its terrific location in the countryside, calm, quiet, and romantic with a vibrant scenery of rolling hills, streams and valleys, a perfect diversion from the redundant beach resorts and luxurious amusement parks regularly mentioned in travel magazines and websites.

So let's get to know more about these spectacular villages in Europe we rarely read in travel columns. 

BIBURY, ENGLAND

Well, my closest friends know I am obsessed with England. :-)

Bibury village in the Cotsworld Region, Southern England

Image source: Stumble Upon

I love everything about Britain, from the afternoon tea tradition, beautiful countryside to castles and royalty, it's cool to explore the archipelago even just in my thoughts. 

I've been researching for quite sometime now how to travel to Britain (Great Britain is composed of three countries which are ancient in existence: England, Scotland and Wales. Northern Ireland is not part of the geography of Britain but it constitutes the whole part of the United Kingdom, the official name of Great Britain) and read everything about its beautiful countryside, Northumbria, Grasmere, Cornwall, Gloucestershire and the Scottish Loch ness for instance, but I didn't know anything about Bibury! I read stuff about Cotswold, which is known as the area of outstanding natural beauty, and its breathtaking sea side but haven't heard anything about its villages.

Okay, so here. According to the source, Bibury is a beautiful English village at the Cotswold region in Southern England. So lovely that by looking at the village's cobbled houses and pathways through photos you will be instantly entranced with its extraordinary beauty of nature!

According to the image source, Bibury has relaxing lush meadows that serve as a natural backdrop to the ancient stone cottages with steep pitched roofs in the village. The most scenic area is the Arlington Row, a lane of sepia-hued cottages believed to be built around the 17th century and has been preserved up to the modern times.

Oh I love Cotswold! This Southern England region is really fantastic and dreamy. The countryside and the beaches are captivating and I believed the Isle of Mull (correct me if I'm wrong) is part of this region.

CONG, IRELAND

Before going elsewhere in the continent, let's have another taste of wonder at England's nearest neighbour, Ireland. This might sounds strange as some globe-trotters never included this country in their list of favourite travel destinations, but did you know that Ireland, known as the emerald isle, is equally interesting as England? Or so I thought (I just read it in the book).

Classic Victorian architecture of Ashford Castle in Cong, Ireland

Image source: Stumble Upon

I'm not quite familiar with Ireland, aside from its capital, Dublin, and the Giant Causeway, the only Irish village I know (through books) is Limerick. But Oh, there's one, Cong! What a name!! Never heard about it.

Cong is a lovely village whose topography straddles between the County of Mayo and Galway dominated by vibrant meadows, lakes and lush plants, it has medieval cottages that survived up to the modern times. The most fascinating thing about this village is that it is home to Ashford Castle, a grand Victorian estate that has been converted to a luxurious hotel.

Cong, Ireland might not be your ideal travel escape but with its amazing gift of nature and interesting culture, it's not bad to include this place when travelling to Ireland.

REINE, NORWAY

Known to the world as the Land of Midnight Sun, Norway is equally interesting as the rest of the countries in the Scandinavian peninsula. Its countryside is covered with fjords, streams, lakes, rugged terrain, rolling hills and beautiful blooms.

Experience the snowy travel in Reine, Norway

Image source: Stumble Upon

Everyone knows Norway's capital is Oslo, but only few travellers are aware that the country has an extraordinary and lovely lakeside. Here, let's find out more about this lakeside sort of thing and discover Reine, one of Norway's wonderful villages which has a direct access to the Arctic circle.

According to the source, Reine is located in the North of the Arctic circle, so expect to experience a terrible blizzard of ice during winter when visiting this place. Basically, Reine is a fishing village in the Lofoten archipelago which is shrouded by the breathtaking wilderness of Nordic!

This village offers visitors an extraordinary experience of breathing the cool fresh air from the Norwegian sea and the amazing view of the summer midnight sun through its cottages and cabins which are directly facing the sea side.

BLED, SLOVENIA

Oh! Another unpopular European destination, you might thought. But no, Slovenia is as lovely as Austria and Germany.

Bled is a small Alpine Town in Northern Slovenia cradled with lake, mountain and meadows

Image source: Stumble Upon

To make things easier for everyone to know Slovenia, here's a little background:

This country is once part of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia, when this Kingdom was partitioned and thoroughly erased in the map of Europe, Slovenia for a time was annexed to Serbia until 1991 when it became an independent country. Now, this small nation is one of the most interesting places to visit in Central Europe. The country's capital is Lijublijana.

It borders Italy, Austria and Croatia and what's interesting about the landscape of Slovenia is its ideal location near the Alps! So just imagine how romantic it is to visit Slovenia during winter or even Autumn.

One of its amazing villages is Bled. The atmosphere is so relaxing because this small Alpine town is cradled by mountain hilltops, meadows and a lake whose glacial blue waters encircled the tiny island with a baroque church smack in the middle.

While we never gone yet to Bled, Slovenia, we can easily picture out how everything runs when we travel to this place someday. After visiting the church and marvelling at its placid blue water, a quick mountain trekking is somewhat ideal and experience the soothing breeze while throwing glances to the panoramic view of the Alps. Picture-perfect isn't it?

There you go, the amazing European villages we almost never know as these are rarely featured in the travel magazines and articles. Countryside travel is ideal especially if you want to discover the natural beauty of the country you are visiting and experience the stillness of the mother earth.

Ultimate Travel Dream: TUSCANY!

Each one of us has a unique travel dream.

It could be just within our country of birth or abroad, it doesn't matter, the point is we have this absorbing desire to really go into adventure once in a lifetime. I am no exemption. I have this unique travel dream too!

I always considered travelling as the most wonderful escape from stress and pressure in life. To be able to visit the fantastic places I only read in the book is such a huge accomplishment.  One of the most beautiful regions in the world I longed to see is the romantic region of TUSCANY in ITALY.

Sounds super ambitious lol! But one of my fantasies in life really is to experience a relaxing TUSCAN HOLIDAY! It started as a fascination towards renaissance culture, history and arts then grew into an obsession of a grand European tour where Tuscany is the ultimate destination. 

Tuscany is one of the regions in Italy on the central part and its capital is the artistic city of Florence. It is often dubbed as the world's greatest repository of art collections, from paintings to frescoes, sculptures and architectural masterpieces. Some of its famous cities are Florence, Sienna, Pisa and Chianti. With its interesting history, culture, food and romantic landscapes, Tuscany, for me, no doubt, is one of the best regions in Europe to explore for leisure, adventure and learning.

The vineyard in Chianti, the wine producing region in Tuscany

Tuscany is also known for its breezy scenery, spectacular beaches, breathtaking countryside and authentic Italian dishes. Its artistic legacy and influence on high culture made this historical region even more interesting especially among artists, scholars and researchers.

Beautiful Tuscan beach!

Four of Tuscany's most beautiful destinations I dreamed to explore:

Florence - This is Tuscany's capital. Considered as the birthplace of the Renaissance period in Italy, it is highly popular due to its legendary artistic culture, so much so that it is consistently named one of the most beautiful cities in the world!

Sienna - Famous for its medieval buildings, arts, museums and cuisine, Siena, no doubt, is one of Europe's lovely places. Its countryside is dominated with rolling hills, beautiful scenery and relaxing mountain paths. Some of the best attractions in Siena according to an Italian travel guide online are the following: Piazza del Campo, Palazzo Pubblico, Piazza del Duomo, Siena Cathedral and Torre del Mangia. Siena also offers unique Italian food and wine.

Pisa - Home to one of the world's oldest universities, the University of Pisa. This Tuscan city houses some of the most popular tourist attractions in Italy including the Square of Miracles known in Italy as Piazza del Miracoli. 

Piazza del Duomo where the famous Leaning Tower of Pisa is located

Square of Miracles is where the world-famous Leaning Tower of Pisa is located, it is a bell tower of the Cathedral located within the ground of Piazza del Duomo. The baptistery located within the cathedral is considered one of the largest baptisteries in Italy. Other must-see landmarks around the Square of Miracles are enchanting monuments, treasures and the famous Camposanto, an ancient monumental cemetery located north of the Square.

Chianti - Located between the cities of Florence and Siena, Chianti is very famous for its stunning hills, vineyard, castles, medieval villages and churches. But most of all, this city is popularly known for producing the best wine varieties in the world. Delectable regional Italian food can be tasted in Chianti also and because of its close location to Siena and Florence, visitors can easily reach Chianti in just a short travel.

There you go, the reasons why Tuscany is my ultimate travel dream!

Tuscan Holiday

Email this to a friend

Once in a lifetime---everyone dreamed of embarking into a Tuscan holiday  and who would not be? It's probably one of life's greatest indulgences!

I am no exemption....Aside from Cornwall in England, St.Kilda in Scotland and Klosters in Switzerland, another European destination I am aching to hop-in someday is the region of Tuscany in Italy.

Famous for its three romantic and artistic cities: Florence, Pisa and Sienna, Tuscany is home to several historical landmarks like the Leaning Tower of Pisa and medieval castles. It is in this province that, well according to various sources, travelers can taste authentic, home-made Italian Pizzas and wines. I am not into pizza (I hate it) -- I would just choose other traditional Tuscan foods like Pappardelle sulla lepre or Crespelle Crepes with Aperitif.

I've been fascinated with Tuscany ever since I was a teenager because of its captivating countryside and enthralling landscapes and vineyards and this amusement was even intensified when I watched "Letters from Juliet" (which was entirely shot in Tuscany), I also read the blog of Lisa Jobs, a Harvard communication graduate and eldest daughter of the late Apple co-founder, Steve Jobs, where she described how wonderful and fulfilling to be in Tuscany and how she had hoped to live there.

Lisa, whom the PC unit -- Lisa of Apple Incorporated, was named, wrote a beautiful line in the last paragraph of her blog: "Italy is where the soul went to find calm and love and I want to hold the best of it at the palm of my hand".

The gorgeous countryside of Tuscany region

Tuscany is one of the most popular regions in Europe among travelers because of its unique historical landmarks and romantic holiday locations where everyone can freely stroll around its countryside and coastline with a soothing feeling of being "at home". Tuscany is home also to famous Italian geniuses like Galileo Galili and Leonardo Da Vinci. It is in this region where visitors can witness the rich artistic and renaissance culture of Italy. Tuscany's capital city is Florence, just three hours from Rome.

South of Tuscany overlooking the Mediterranean sea

Its fascinating villages, especially Sienna and Pisa are just some of the favorite wedding and honeymoon destination choices of the rich and the famous. Aside from its romantic countryside, the region overlooked the fabulous Mediterranean sea with its gorgeous sparkling cobalt blue water beckoning below. Authentic Italian wines are famous in Tuscany because of its vast vineyards around the region.

Treat your love ones and friends with these best gift of Tuscan Treasures Gourmet Italian foods this Christmas season. Celebrate Christmas and New Year in a romantic Tuscan style! Check it now at Amazon.

According to a Tuscan holiday website, the best way to experience a relaxing holiday in Tuscany is to stay in a Villa with various choices from holiday farm houses to apartments and cottages. Most of these villas are directly facing a scenic view of the countryside, villages and beaches with rich verdant flowers and lush plants cascading nearby.

You may visit the Tuscan Holiday website for more details how to get there. Check this site

-->

Most Beautiful Sunsets

Email this to a friend

An Escape to Paradise!

Here are some of the world's most spectacular holiday destinations where we can witness the most beautiful and romantic sunsets according to Beth Greenfield of Forbes Magazine. These two European villages are known for its legendary sunset viewing and romantic beaches.

OIA, SANTORINI, GREECE

           

Pronounced as "Ia", Oia seemingly belonged to the ancient world of Greece. It is a quiet village located in Santorini, a mystical island of Greece where many archaelogists believed it as the true "Atlantis" the lost continent. Oia is known in the world for its magnificent and spectacular sunset and picturesque surroundings. 

Travellers will be treated to a beautiful and quiet countryside of Oia with narrow streets, blue house roofing, sunbathed verandas, cultural attractions like its maritime museum, art galleries, taverns, tourist shops and cafes.

Oia is perched above a beautiful cliff where the sparkling cobalt water of the Mediterranean Sea beacon below. The tranquil surrounding and soft sea breeze are enough to lure travellers to take a repeat visit to this amazing village in Greece. For more information how to get to Oia, visit THIS SITE

IBIZA, SPAIN

Definitely one of Europe's best holiday destinations among the rich and the famous because of its popular club party houses and romantic seaside, Ibiza is beautifully located along the Mediterranean Sea in Spain not far from the island of Mallorca. 

Ibiza is being called the world's capital of electronic music because of several party clubbing houses. But beyond electronic music and clubbing lifestyle, Ibiza is also popular for its sun-kissed shorelines, gorgeous beaches and crystal blue water where sunset can be seen at its best.

Night life is very lively at Ibiza that's why it is the favourite holiday destination among the upper class, Prince William, Prince Harry and Princess Caroline of Monaco's children are just some of the frequent visitors of Ibiza. Its cool cafes, restos and hotels will surely delight travellers. For more information how to visit Ibiza, visit this TRAVEL GUIDE SITE

-->

A Royal Adventure to CORNWALL, England

Cornwall has a famous association to the Duchy of Cornwall to which the annual income of the heir-apparent to the British throne is generated. Prince Charles, the Prince of Wales, gets his annual income from this duchy, that's why the King-in-waiting is not included in the Civil List of the Parliament. 

The Duchy of Cornwall, established by King Edward III of England in 1337 for his son, Edward the Prince of Wales (often called the Black Prince, he died during the Hundred Years of War and the throne was passed to his son, Richard II), is a crown property and its income, since the 14th century, supported the daily activities and expenses of a male heir to the throne.

Rugged beach at Cornwal Photo source: www.guardian.co.uk. Photographed by Adrian Houston/Corbis

Cornwall is one of the ceremonial counties in South West England with medieval remains of castles and palaces, most notably the Tintagel Castle, believed to be the birthplace of King Arthur, the legendary British King, then there's St. Michael's Mount, a fairytale castle perched atop an island in Mount Bay overlooking the coastal area of Penzane where visitors could gaze at the warm sea with cobalt blue water. This beautiful English county is known for its rugged coastline and beaches, sailing and surfing are the popular water sports in Cornwall. 

 The ruins of Tintagel Castle at Cornwall, said to be the birthplace of legendary King Arthur, the legendary British King. Image from www.english-heritage.org.uk

St. Michael's Mount. Image from www.penwith.co.uk

Cornish beaches such as Bude and Newquay are some of the major surfing destinations in the British Isles. It is one of the sunniest areas in England making it an ideal place to visit even during winter season where the temperature would not go down below 11 degrees Centigrade. For people who find surfing as life’s most wonderful beach adventure, Cornwall is a terrific place to visit. This spectacular county in England is not only offering an exciting surf adventure, it also offers a tremendous feeling of relief and relaxation as its shoreline provides a tranquil experience of stillness. 

Cornwall has a spectacular countryside, where taking a leisure walk along its breezy road with trees and plants can be a soothing adventure. There's a beautiful landmark in Cornwall called The Eden Project, one of the most magnificent tourist attractions in England, it is a world’s largest greenhouse with an artificial biomes housing plants collected from other parts of the globe. Eden Project Complex, created by Tim Smit, designed by architect Nicholas Grimshaw and Anthony Hunt and Associates (an engineering firm), is located at Kaolinite Pit near the town of St. Blazey and St. Austell.  It has adjoining domes that house plant species, tropical environment and Mediterranean environment.

 The picturesque countryside of Cornwall. Image from www.city-data.com

Going to Cornwall made easy by taking a ride by rail, by air or by car to the south west region of England. Train leaves London Paddington railway station on a daily basis to Penzane, online ticket purchase is available at www.thetrainline.com. If by air, flights are available from London Gatwick to Newquay, Cornwall. Overnight stay at Cornwall is not a problem since the place is offering terrific hotels and tourist lodge houses at reasonable prices. 

Visit this site for more information http://www.cornwallinfocus.co.uk/leisure/gettingtocornwall.php

FAIRYTALE CASTLES:discover the romance of traveling

Taking a leisure trip to the countryside is one of the most fulfilling ways to relax and feel the tranquility of the mother earth, much more if the countryside is surrounded with romantic castles we read and find only in fairytale books. As the old adage goes "fairytale do come true", it is indeed magical to visit these amazing castles once in a lifetime.

Two of the most frequently visited royal structures in the world are Windsor Castle in England and Neuschwanstein Castle in Germany. Known for its grandeur, charm, mystic, gothic architecture and romantic ancient history, these two castles attracted tourists annually for its mesmerizing location and existence plus the sugary feeling of... living happily ever-after.

WINDSOR CASTLE

Windsor Castle echoes a vivid past with a touch of mystic and romance, it was at Windsor where Queen Victoria retired in seclusion, mourning for forty years for the death of her beloved husband, Prince Albert, it was also at Windsor where the present Queen discovered how much she loved the dashing Greek Prince who would become her husband several years later. The castle is the ultimate symbol of Great Britain and the focal point of the British Monarchy. It is the favorite royal residence of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, and the seat of court during New Year and Royal Ascot Party in June. It is  the oldest inhabited castle in the world dated back from the Norman conquests in the 12th century. When the Duke of Normandy, William, defeated the last Anglo-Saxon King, Harold II, in the famous Battle of Hasting, he became England's King and crowned as William I, he then chose Windsor Castle as his official royal residence.

The aerial view of Windsor Castle. Image from www.mapsworld.com

Windsor Castle covers 13 acres, cloaked on the chalk cliff of Berkshire county above the placid Thames River. The castle had been remodeled and refurbished by many monarchs but the splendid renovation was done by King George I, the first Hanoverian King who extremely loved the country life. The King preferred to stay at Windsor than in London to avoid a wife he found intolerable and the subjects he could not understand. He ordered the grand renovation of the castle's several state apartments, turrents and the labyrinths. 

The Queen's chamber, originally built for Queen Catherine, wife of King Charles II, now a room where Queen Elizabeth II received her audience when visiting at Windsor. Image from www.royal-windsor.com

During the English Civil War, where King Charles I (the second Stuart monarch) was beheaded through the order of military leader Oliver Cromwell, the royal family fled to France (Charles I's wife was Princess Henrietta Maria of France) and the castle became the prison site of the enemies of the Cromwellians. Ten years later, the monarchy was restored and Charles I's son ascended the throne as King Charles II, he started the extensive restoration of the castle replacing most of its ancient features with grand architectural designs, he commission architects to design the "Long Walk" similar to the beautiful ground of the Palace of Versailles in France. Long Walk is a magnificent avenue of neatly-trimmed garden, trees and flowers, located on the southern part of the castle.

The elaborate garden of the Long Walk. Image from www.destination360.com

Best Attractions at Windsor: Windsor Castle became very popular because of its glorious past, so magical that English diarist, Samuel Pepys, dubbed it as "The most romantic castle in the world!" Today the castle continues to mesmerize the public with its unique background of fairytale and legend, often visited by travelers whole year round, the castle is open to the public when the Queen is not in residence, booking can be arranged ahead of the tour.Windsor Castle, with all its romantic splendor, offers the best traveling experience than any other palaces in the British Isles. It has a breathtaking view of the countryside with lush green plants covering the area. It has two working farms, a chapel, a souvenir's shop, a private residence called "Frogmore", originally bought by King George III for his unmarried daughter, Princess Augusta, and a walk-way.

A guided tour will bring you to the imposing ground of the castle with a beautiful landscape of beautifully-trimmed plants, flowers and park benches, you will witness the ancient ritual of changing of the guards, then take a leisure walk around the elaborate avenue of the Long Walk, wandering around the breezy environment of the Windsor Great Park and a sneak view of the state apartments edifice and St. George Chapel. This site offers best packages for a magical Windsor tour www.trafalgar.com.

NEUSCHWANSTEIN CASTLE

If there is one ancient fortress in the world, aside from Windsor Castle, I am aching to visit, it is Neuschwanstein Castle. This spectacular royal structure offers a wonderful, lovely view of the wooded hills of the Bavarian region, the rocky Schwangau village and the placid lake surrounding the area. It is indeed a welcome respite, a perfect place to unwind and rethink about life!

Experience the beautiful countryside scenery of the amazing fairytale castle of King Ludwig II

The existence of Neuschwanstein Castle is as mystical and mysterious as Ludwig's story. Originally conceived through the illusion and fantasy of the King who was ruthlessly called by his ministers "the mad king", the castle stood imposing on the breezy ground of Schwangau in Bavaria region. The King's excesses and uncommon fascination towards fairytale earned him the title "the Swan King", his pompous extravagance annoyed his ministers that he was declared insane and psychologically incapacitated to govern a Kingdom. He was forced to abdicate and held a prisoner, he was found dead with his psychiatrist one day through mysterious circumstances in a shallow water, about a knee level, a strikingly uncommon occurrence, since the King, according to history, was an excellent swimmer.

Feel the romance of living happily ever after through Neuschwanstein Tour. Image from www.junksblogger.com

King Ludwig II never married and just devoted his life ruling his Kingdom with dissatisfactions from his ministers. He was extremely fascinated with poet Richard Wagner's theater plays that he ordered his staff to imitate the costumes and characters of Wagner's theatrical performances. The King detested official gatherings and preferred a life of fantasy. The construction of Neuschwanstein Castle was one of his splendid illusions, the creation of the building horrified his subjects as he commissioned theater artists for the castle's design rather than architects. When the King died mysteriously, the construction was continued and financed by the government. When monarchy was abolished, the castle was converted into a museum and the government opened it to public for a guided tour.

Neuschwanstein became a popular holiday destination among travelers who are besotted with the castle's mysterious existence and King Ludwig's real story. It became a favorite location of Hollywood's fairytale movies. The castle of Sleeping Beauty in Disneyland is patterned after Neuschwanstein Castle.

For more information about Europe's grandest castles, visit my CASTLE BLOG

For online booking and complete details of a Neuschwanstein Castle tour, you may visit their site www.hohenschwangau.de (please choose the english page)

ICE SKIING ADVENTURE

Ice skiing is not a familiar sport to most Asians because this is only popular in western countries, but this outdoor adventure is one of my fascinations in life because it is associated with winter and I love snow! :-D

This is quite extreme because it requires a good amount of determination and bravery. Skiing is a very intricate and difficult sport and people must have enough training and orientation before plunging and that's what I love about it because I want to indulge in an adventure that requires responsibility, effort and drive. Rugged slopes at winter is very dangerous due to its the perilous platforms and freezing environment plus there's a constant fear of avalanche!Which makes skiing a very interesting sport!

This exciting sport exemplifies real adventure and thrill because presence of mind, enthusiasm, courage and body coordination are required. Ice skiing adventurers are just admonished to take precautionary measures when indulging in this sport.

One of the most popular skiing resorts in Europe is Klosters, a tranquil and spectacular mountain in the municipality of Prattigau near Zurich in Switzerland. It has a unique combination of a mountain resort and a romantic village. Klosters is the favorite skii-resort of the British royal family where Prince Charles and his sons, Prince William and Prince Harry are frequently bonded here several times in a year. 

Innsbruck in Austria is another popular European skiing destination, it is a renowned winter sport center and the host of three Winter Olympics. It is located in the federal state of Tyrol in Western Austria. With its remarkable ski lift past structure and excellent facilities. Innsbruck is ideal for beginner skiers with its friendly route along Stubai Glacier.