Surrounded by the frigid waters of the North Sea, Atlantic Ocean, English Channel and Irish Sea, the beaches in the U.K. aren’t quite as warm as those in the sun-drenched Mediterranean. However, there are plenty of stunning gems to be found, particularly along the eastern coastline.
Should you have you chosen to stick close to your home in the KMC on your hard-earned week off, don’t despair! With deep dark forests, verdant vineyards and cooling waterways all well within a couple hour’s drive, you’re spoiled for choice when it comes to fabulous day trip destinations.
There is nothing like a stroll or a brisk hike in the woods to clear the mind and recharge the soul. The word ‘hiking’ might bring up visions of overly stuffed backpacks, walking for hours on end and fighting every bug imaginable.
Heidelberg has charm, Cologne a cathedral, Frankfurt its skyscrapers and Stuttgart is the home of some fancy automobiles. So what’s the often-overlooked city of Bonn got to offer? Fans of art, architecture and culture are in for a pleasant surprise here!
You may have heard of this legendary “ghost ship” but do you know where the legend began? Buckle up as we depart on a trip to the Netherlands aboard the famous ship once captained by Willem van der Decken!
The Alsace region of France springs vivid pictures when I think of it— brightly colored half-timbered houses lining narrow cobblestone alleys, a foodie’s paradise with Michelin-starred restaurants in quaint villages, and of course, award-winning wines.
For those who love Jägermeister, there may be a deeper dimension, unknown to many, for further enjoyment of that dark liqueur from the deep forest-green bottles. Yes, many enjoy it as a digestive or taken ice-cold seconds before a meal to make the first bite even more wonderful.
Have you ever looked up an unfamiliar German word in a dictionary, only to find its English translation leaving you every bit as baffled as you were to begin with?
According to legend, April 30 is the night when witches would flock to the highest peak in the Harz mountains to celebrate the arrival of spring and the fading winter.
Walking through Germany’s urban spaces, it’s easy to find statues of famous rulers on high horses, poets with quills in hand, and the humble foot soldiers who’ve fallen in countless wars. Most such statues and monuments we tend to breeze by without a moment’s thought.
Europe’s time and battle-worn fortresses are symbols of history, beauty, chivalry and charm that allure tourists from all around the world.
Castles are stunning to behold in any light, but there is a special magic witnessing them towering against a backdrop of stunning fall foliage.
Packed with beautiful architecture, dreamy canals and bridges — not to mention mussels, beer and chocolate galore — Bruges is an absolute delight to visit. As you wander along the cobblestoned streets of this perfectly preserved medieval town, it won’t take long to fall under a spell.
For many, Transylvania conjures up images of vampires, werewolves and other creatures of the night. I have survived Halloween in Transylvania and discovered that the real Romania is far more fascinating, and spookier, than the folklore.
Land of legends
Small but gorgeous, Lithuania offers you dozens of UNESCO World Heritage sites, millennium-old history, medieval castles, affordable dining, drifting sand dunes and romantic walks on the beach. So, pack your bag and catch one of a budget airline’s cheap flights to lovely Lithuania.
