16 Reasons You Can't Totally Hate On Belgium

 
 
 
 
 
We may have lost the soccer match (and the epic match that was identification of waffle varieties), but even still, you can't totally hate on Belgium. Why, you ask? They have fries. And just a few other things... 1. There are beaches. ...many beaches. We recommend De Panne, an "endless" strip of colorful huts and umbrellas.   2. The International Bathtub Regatta. This year's the[...]

Top 6 places to visit while cruising on the Canal du Midi in the South of France

 
 
 
 
 
The 330-year-old Canal du Midi Skirts the sun-drenched shore of the Mediterranean before meandering inland through the fabled ‘Cathar Country’. For those seeking an alternative destination in France, the historic, UNESCO World Heritage status Canal du Midi is perfect, with it’s with its fortified hilltop villages, walled cities, ever present towpath and little canal side villages. Carcassonne Ca[...]

Provence If You Like

 
 
 
 
 
Being Scott and Zelda Married new money? Made a stock-market killing? Or just remember the old saw "If you don't travel first class, your heirs will"? Well, the Riviera has been a hard place to practice self-denial ever since F. Scott Fitzgerald arrived with the rest of his Jazz Age literati. So drain that glass of Dom. Enough lollygagging! It's time for a power decision: which luxurious pleasure[...]

A Balkan road trip

 
 
 
 
 
The Balkan Peninsula is great for country hopping – and you can explore these hidden gems without emptying your pockets, says Sara Abbasi. Budva, Montenegro It's all about sun, sand and James Bond in the Montenegrin resort town of Petrovac, which was used as a filming location for Casino Royale. Situated within the district of Budva, Petrovac is dotted with spas, such as Monte Casa Spa and W[...]

5 ‘Must Do’ Things in Brussels

 
 
 
 
 
Brussels is the capital of Belgium and the headquarters of both the European Union and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). What began as a mere fortress outpost in the 900′s has grown into a sophisticated metropolis, admired the world over for its architecture and its food. Brussels is a bilingual town, where residents speak, and street signs are printed in, Dutch and French. The pe[...]

Europe's Best Adventure Destinations

 
 
 
 
 
Attention thrill-seekers and adrenaline-junkies! We all know Europe as one of the world's best destinations for history, culture, and cuisine, but it's also where you can live some of the world's most unforgettable adventures, provided of course that you're willing to strap on your boots and leave those museums and city streets! To help get you inspired, we've gone to the open community of trav[...]

13 of the Most Beautiful Cities in Europe

 
 
 
 
 
Dave and I have been dreaming of Europe this past month. It was this time last year we were in Bologna enjoying time in Italy’s quiet countryside. Oh how we miss Balsamic Vinegar with fine Parmesan Cheese, creamy gelato, rich coffee and of course Italian wine and Prosecco. All our reminiscing got us talking about the most beautiful cities we’ve visited in Europe. We most certainly haven’t seen all[...]

10 of the best spots for culture in Paris

 
 
 
 
 
There are good reasons why the Louvre and the Eiffel Tower are respectively the most visited museum and monument in the world. However, we thought we'd go slightly off the beaten tracks and reveal some of Parisians' favourite hotspots for culture in Paris. From louche Pigalle to up-and-becoming-groovy rue de Bagnolet, from gritty rue d'Aubervilliers to the leafy Jardin du Luxembourg, we have selec[...]

The Top 5 of Florence

 
 
 
 
 
As many people around the world know, Florence, Italy is the European capital of renaissance history and art. It's incredible to think back to the early 1400s when architecture, literature, science and fine art began a whole new movement of change. Before you go across the pond, make sure these five activities are set in stone as you plan to walk the same streets as Michelangelo. 1. Peruse the Mu[...]

Greece's Rock-Pinnacle Churches: Suspended in Mid-Air on the Looney Front

 
 
 
 
 
Some say it started 10 million years ago, other 25 to 30 million, yet others 60 million years ago. Just for the heck of it, let's say 25,636,666 B.C., give or take a week. It was then that Mother Earth got a bad case of tectonic indigestion and burped up the floor of what was then an inland sea on Greece's Thessaly plain. Further eructations caused nearby mountains to move in and compress the n[...]