Summer means European vacations for many North Americans. As great as it is to explore the U.S., Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean and other areas of the continent, many of us grow up yearning for a trip to Europe to see the Eiffel Tower and the Colosseum and Big Ben and other icons.
Editor’s note: I took my first trip to Europe after graduating from college in California (UCLA) in 1979. I saw many wondrous things, including Stonehenge, The Royal Mile in Edinburgh, the Mona Lisa in Paris, The Vatican, the canals of Amsterdam and the Swiss Alps. Better still, I met a young Canadian woman on a train heading from Rome to Florence. We got married in 1981 and will celebrate our 45th wedding anniversary next month.
I have no idea how many times I’ve been back, but it’s got to be at least 30 trips so far. I haven’t seen nearly as much as I’d like, but here are some of my personal fave spots. I would suggest avoiding the most popular cities in July and August if you can, as they can be brutally crowded. With that in mind, I’ve tried to list some places that don’t get nearly as much attention as cities like London, Venice and Paris.
FRANCE
Sarlat la Caneda is a beautiful town in the rich and historic Dordogne river valley. JIM BYERS PHOTO
Sarlat la Caneda is a delightful village in the Dordogne region with creamy, yellow stone buildings and fabulous food. It’s also the best place to find a man perched on the statue of a goose. The river is lined with hilltop castles and tons of pretty towns. I strongly suggest a canoe trip so you can enjoy the scenery from the water.
PORTUGAL
There are great hikes in Burgau, a villlage in Portugal’s Algarve area. JIM BYERS PHOTO
The small town of Burgau is in the western edge of the Algarve and has tremendous, clifftop hiking. There’s a nice beach and several family-run restaurants on or near the water, where you can get great sangria or super-fresh fish. It’s a short drive or bus ride to the bustling city of Lagos, where you can take a terrific sea kayak ride.
SLOVENIA
Ljubljana, Slovenia. JIM BYERS PHOTO
The capital of Ljubljana has lovely, pastel buildings and churches, a pretty river running through town, a small castle on a hill, and wonderful markets. It reminds me of Salzburg, but without the Mozart chocolate shops and Sound of Music kitsch. Don’t miss a side trip to Lake Bled, which has a pretty church on an island and lovely views of the Slovenian Alps.
SCOTLAND
Brodick Castle on the Isle of Arran, Scotland. JIM BYERS PHOTO
The isle of Arran (an easy ferry ride from the mainland west of Glasgow) has pretty much everything you want in a Scotland holiday; an historic castle, fine golf courses, a whisky distillery, cute towns (the main city of Brodick has nice restaurants and inns, such as the Auchrannie Resort, rolling hills and peaceful, coastal scenery.
SLOVAKIA
A skateboarder showing off his moves in Bratislava, Slovakia. JIM BYERS PHOTO
There will likely be a fair number of cruise ship visitors enjoying a trip along the Danube, but the city of Bratislava has a handsome main square and shops with friendly, welcoming owners.
ITALY
Ponza-Ferhat Deniz Fors – Unsplash Photo
The island of Ponza is quite popular with Romans, so I would skip it in August and maybe July. But it’s a lovely island off the west coast of Italy, with dramatic cliffs that rise up behind deserted beaches, pretty grottoes and terrific waterfront restaurants.
SWITZERLAND
An alpine lake in Engelberg, Switzerland. JIM BYERS PHOTO
I don’t think there’s a part of the country that I haven’t thoroughly enjoyed, but I particularly loved my visit to Engelberg a few years ago. The town sits in a deep, green bowl surrounded by jagged, snow-capped, alpine peaks. Take a gondola ride to the top of Mt. Titlis for tremendous views.
IRELAND
The King’s Head pub in Galway, Ireland. JIM BYERS PHOTO
I love Dublin and Belfast, but I thought Galway had its own particular charm. It’s considerably smaller than the other two, so it’s relatively easy to get around. The King’s Head pub is a glorious place to down a pint. It’s an history-filled place that dates back more than 800 years. I also love the colourful g Hotel and Spa.
CZECHIA
Cesky Krumlov is one of the prettiest villages I’ve ever run across. JIM BYERS PHOTO
Cesky Krumlov is a gobsmackingly gorgeous village in Czechia. It’s a popular day trip for folks cruising the Danube, so I would suggest going early in the day or later in the afternoon. Climb the hill to the castle for tremendous views of the town and the Vtalva River, which snakes its way through the town.
ENGLAND
The village of Mousehole in Cornwall, England. JIM BYERS PHOTO
Mousehole is a postcard-cute village at the end of a peninsula west of Penzance, in the marvellous Cornwall region. A walk in any direction will reveal charming homes and fabulous harbour views. Other great towns in the area include St. Ives, Fowey and Padstow.
SPAIN
The City of Arts and Sciences in Valencia, Spain. JIM BYERS PHOTO
Barcelona and Madrid get more attention, but I find Valencia to be a terrific city. The food (especially the paella) is to die for, and there’s a great mix of old architecture and new, including The City of Arts and Sciences, a gleaming, white affair designed by renowned architect Santiago Calatrava. It’s the setting for many scenes in the recent Andor (Star Wars) TV series.
NETHERLANDS
Edam, Holland. Tiziano Compagnoni/Unsplash Photo
I’ll cheat a little here and mention several villages that are fairly close to Amsterdam. Edam, famous for its cheese, has a tidy public square and sleepy canals. Volendam is a pretty seaside town with a nice boardwalk. Hoorn features a beautiful town square and an historic waterfront tower.
