Europe

Few places in the world are as romantic and private as Bellagio, a resort nestled in the hills of Lake Como.  Often referred to as “Pearl of the Lake,” Bellagio has world class hotels and restaurants that offer the perfect environment to relax and enjoy the stunning panoramic views – especially the Italian Alps.

I’m no an adrenalin junky, take me anywhere near a bungee jump and I’ll run a mile. But I do enjoy skiing and should you fancy a change from Colorado, and if maybe you’ve ticked off America’s five best resorts like Jackson Hole in Wyoming and Snowbird and Alta in Utah, then Europe has so much to offer.

A couple of years back, I headed for Switzerland, the beautiful, landlocked country boarding France and Italy formed from 26 regions known as cantons. My base for the week was the scenic, yet little-known mountain-top town of Nendaz in the Canton of Valais.

Nendaz lies at the heart of a popular ski region which markets itself as The Four Valleys, and from here you can access 95 lifts, over 100 pistes and two snow parks designed specifically for burgeoning snowboarders.

What’s even better is that skiing from Nendaz, compared to the de rigueur neighbouring resorts of Verbier and Lausanne, will come in at a fraction of the cost.

If you love to travel, chances are you have been to Amsterdam, the city of canals, windmills, museums and friendly people. I never tire of taking a Canal Boat sightseeing tour when I visit because it seems I spy something unique each time I go.

So here's a spot you probably haven't thought to explore in Paris – the area known as Bercy. This is actually a great place to spend a few nights especially if you are traveling with your grandchildren. The Pullman Paris Bercy is one of the most reasonably priced hotels while visiting the City of Lights. Granted, you are not in the heart of Paris, but a mere 15 minute Metro ride into the center. The hotel has a very modern feel with amenities the kids will like – it is child and pet friendly. The beds are very comfortable and the food and service is quite good. The bathrooms are equipped with amenities and are quite large – all of which is hard to find in the center of Paris.

Few have ever heard of this magnificent and magical city which has been a city/lake retreat for over two thousand years! Two thousand four hundred to be exact!

Statford-Upon-Avon is a must to visit should you be attending one of the many celebrations this summer in the UK!  As part of the summer Olympic celebrations and 60th Year Celebration for the Queen, the UK is hosting the biggest ever Cultural Olympiad that began on Shakespeare's birthday in April 2012 and will run through October 2012.  This World Shakespeare Festival will feature 70 theatrical productions from the Globe Theatre in London to the RSC in Stratford-upon-Avon.  Thirty-seven countries will perform thirty-six plays in thirty-seven languages over a six week period!  Julius Caesar, Much Ado About Nothing, Twelfth Night, Troilus and Cressida, King John, Richard III, Romeo and Juliet in Baghdad, The Tempest to mention but a few!  Such events and productions are planned not only in London and Stratford but in many other cities throughout the UK.

Few destinations are as charming and poetic as Salzburg, Austria.  This cherished city, protected as a UNESCO World Heritage site, has no end of enchanting qualities.  Flowing rivers, snow-capped Alps, baroque architecture, castles, cathedrals, and a preserved “Old Town” transport you back in time.  It is home to one of the world’s most beloved composers, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.  Every summer, the city hosts the Salzburg Music Festival, a renowned celebration of music and drama, to honor their favorite son.  The Von Trapp family, from the beloved film The Sound of Music, also calls this city home.  Throughout Salzburg, you will recognize churches, gardens, and castles featured in the picture.  You may even hear Julie Andrews’ voice echoing from the hills themselves.

Want to feel like you are exploring the earth for the first time? Visit Reykjavik, Iceland – it's wonderful for so many reasons. If you have an adventurous spirit or are just nostalgic for pure, fresh air, this is the place for you!

When you live in a seaside holiday location it’s all too easy to take the views, facilities and ambiance of your own town for granted. I guess it's a minor case of familiarity breeding contempt.

Take my home town of Whitstable for instance; it’s a small, pretty seaside town with a working fishing harbour and a population of 30,000 that nestles into a small, pebbly cove on the Northeast coast of Kent.

Barely five miles north of the historic cathedral city of Canterbury, 20-odd miles from the ports of Dover and Folkestone and a 60-mile commute to London, it is the place I call home.

Our compact former railway workers’ cottage lies just 300 yards from the beach, yet I’ll admit, I’d become a little blasé about the place until a recent readers’ poll in The Times newspaper voted our little town into the top 20 places to live in the United Kingdom.

It stunned me that people all over Britain aspired to live here! So why is it that Londoners buy weekender homes here and holidaymakers flock here, snubbing seemingly more exotic destinations all over the world, to take in the sights of Whitstable?

Allow me, a relative newcomer to the town, to tell you.

Our visit to Florence took us to the breathtaking source of the Italian Renaissance. You saw and felt history in every direction and at all times. We spent 5 days on patrol revisiting our art history textbooks from college only this time we were there in person.