Explore

TUSCANY, ITALY - Land of Michelangelo, Da Vinci, Florence and Pisa. Explore Florence, city of art, prop-up the leaning tower of Pisa in pictures, experience regional culinary specialties such as crostini, bruschetta and ribollita. Tour the magnificent vineyards of the Chianti, Montepulciano, and Montalcino and sample their ruby-red wines. Behold the stunning hill towns of San Gimignano, with its Medieval towers (Often referred to as the Manhattan of Tuscany), and Cortona, the vibrantly charming town Frances Mayes extols in the pages of Under the Tuscan Sun. Take the Tuscan road less traveled and visit the cowboy-country region of the Maremma or the ancient Etruscan towns of Sovana and Sorano with their centuries-old Etruscan tombs. Tuscany is equally welcoming for families with children as well as honeymooners, couples, or singles looking for an enchanting experience.

BAVARIA, GERMANY - Experience the breathtaking Bavarian Alps whether skiing, biking, rock climbing or hiking. Swim, kayak or raft in blue glacial streams and lakes. Visit the holiday Kristkindlmarkts located throughout the region while sipping warm Gluhwein (hot spiced wine) to ward off the December chill. Shop for handcrafted items and ornaments. ‘Drink in’ Munich’s grand spectacle of Oktoberfest in September/October to get a taste of German bier, hearty German food, and true Bavarian hospitality. Only a short distance from Munich lies the masterpiece of mad King Ludwig – the fairy-tale castle of Neuschwanstein, said to be the inspiration for Disney World’s famous Cinderella Castle. Endless hiking trails and cable-cars will transport you to the otherworldly heights of the Zugspitze and a host of other peaks throughout the Bavarian Alps.

SALZBURG, AUSTRIA- Birthplace of Mozart and setting for the musical and film “The Sound of Music.” Its alpine setting and baroque architecture make it enchanting year round. Experience the world-famous Salzburg Music Festival, one of many festivals held each year. The Eagle’s Nest, Hitler’s famous mountaintop hideout and retreat located in nearby Berchtesgarten, makes an interesting day trip for the historically-inclined.

UMBRIA, ITALY – Lovely and largely undiscovered region bordering Tuscany with itsshare of lovely hill towns and rolling vistas. Visit the the town of Assisi, famous for St. Francis. Spello with it’s wonderful festival of  Infiorata where teams of people work to create elaborate sidewalk flower displays for the Corpus Domini feast. Or Perugia, the provencial capital of this region and world-famous for its chocolate.