A 5-Day Self-Guided Bike Tour Along the Rhine River
Biking down the Rhine River is a highlight of a lifetime! One of the most beautiful parts of Germany is undeniably between Mainz and Cologne, along the Rhine River. This stretch of land is famous for its picturesque villages, award-winning wines, and stunning scenery, and there's no better way to see it than on bike. Relish in the beauty that surrounds this area as you become one with your bike and the German landscape. The ancient Romans were attracted to this majestic area due to the fertile land and natural hot springs, building hilltop castles, and quaint villages along the way. This self-guided bike tour will take you along their route, starting in Mainz and passing through the towns of Rüdesheim, St. Goar, Koblenz, Bad Godesberg, and finally Cologne. The biking path is mostly flat and almost exclusively paved trails, asphalt, and quiet country roads. This 5-day self-guided bike tour will take you through quintessential German towns, past glorious castles, and alongside one of the most famous rivers in the world. Designed to show you scenery like you've never experienced as well as recommend the best restaurants, wine stops, and overnights visits, this itinerary is built for those seeking adventure. The majority of this route is not difficult and can be easily accessed by all biking levels, however, an intermediate cycling level and a basic knowledge of cycling etiquette is recommended. In this itinerary, you’ll experience: overnight visits to six iconic cities, towns, and villages the best Riesling wine region in the world beer gardens famous castles and cathedrals mythical stories WW2 historical sites the best views of the Rhine Valley This itinerary begins in Mainz and ends in Cologne. There are countless different ways to execute your biking trip, as you have the ability to travel with your own bike or rent a bike when you arrive. This guide suggests renting your bike and returning it in Mainz, as that is the most budget-friendly alternative, however, those
Beer Lovers 3-Day Guide To Northern California
Benjamin Franklin said, "Beer is proof God exists and wants us to be happy." He could have easily said the same thing about the breathtaking natural beauty of northern California. In this itinerary, we combine these two extraordinary pleasures into one exquisite three-day adventure. Come with us as we use some of the finest breweries in the world as a guide to one of the most scenic parts of the United States, from the Golden Gate Bridge to the towering redwoods of Humboldt County. This is the perfect trip for both bar flies and outdoorsmen, hikers and beverage aficionados alike. Come for the redwoods and stay for the beer? Or come for the beer and stay for the redwoods. To each their own...
Beginner's Iceland - A four-day self-drive itinerary
Iceland is one of Europe's most enticing and unique holiday destinations. It's no overstatement to say that its scenery is world class. It's simple to rent a car and get out on the open road to explore it for yourself. Route 1 encircles the entire island, so if you have a couple of weeks, you'd be able to see the country's highlights. Most people, however, only go for a few days and don't see much beyond its capital city, Reykjavik. If you're one of those visitors that don't have the luxury of having weeks to vacation at a leisurely pace or your budget will only stretch to a short break, then this four day itinerary will ensure that you return home having seen the must-see sights. Once almost prohibitively expensive, favourable exchange rates now give you more clout for your krona and you'll find prices more in line with the rest of Europe. Just a short hop from major European cities such as London, and with Icelandair offering stopover packages to and from North America, it's never been easier to get there. This guide will help you explore well-trodden landmarks like the natural wonders of Geysir and Gullfoss in addition to less well known sights like the charming Fjaðrárgljúfur canyon and the quaint turf covered houses on a farm at Keldur. It will lead you to a remote beach where you'll find a decades-old plane wreck and to the windiest bridge in the country where you can quite literally walk from Europe to North America. You'll find out about the tradition of eating shark meat at a tiny museum hidden up a gravel track at Bjarnarhöfn on the scenic Snæfellsnes peninsula, and why you must never consume your hákarl fresh. And of course, you won't miss the best of Iceland's water-based attractions: the phenomenally beautiful Jökulsárlón glacial lagoon and the luxurious Blue Lagoon spa. With suggestions on where to eat and which hotels to choose, plus clear step-by-step maps leading the way, this guide will take the effort out of your Iceland trip planning, leaving you
Landscape, Food, & Trulli: 1 Week in Puglia, the Valle d'Itria, and Matera
Puglia is a region of Italy that still preserves elements of “la bella vita” – Italian life as we imagine it from black and white movies starring Sophia Loren… rustic landscapes, charming farmers, and ample local food. In the heel of the boot, it’s where you can stay in a prehistorically shaped stone hut called a “trullo” and witness a procession of barefoot penitents at Eastertime. Although many rental properties in the area are owned by Brits and a few years ago Puglia was declared “the new Tuscany,” this is still a region in which you can feel like you’ve discovered something. This guide is based on repeated trips to the area in the past decade, and seeks to reproduce my own sense of discovery in Puglia. Less packed with cultural and artistic “must-sees” than the rest of Italy, it’s an area that is perhaps best appreciated while getting lost on tiny roads bordered by mortarless stone fences and tasting local delicacies while enjoying the true hospitality of its people. This guide suggests which towns to visit, a few things to observe in each, a list of local foods (the restaurants are almost all good) and some other tips. This itinerary suggests 6 days of trips including the UNESCO heritage sites of Matera (in Basilicata) and Alberobello, the "white" towns of the Valle d'Itria - Locorotondo and Martina Franca, the seaside city of Taranto, the fabulous grottoes at Castellana and the jewel of a seaside town, Polignano a Mare. Proposed as a day-by-day itinerary with suggestions about what to see and eat, you may of course choose to switch around the order of visits, or simply spend some days relaxing at the beach or at your hotel or rental property. A list of beaches, things to eat, important local events, and other practical information is provided in the appendix. The style of travel is relaxed , appropriate for couples, groups of adults traveling together, or families. A car is required (it’s needed in order to get lost!). The itinerary assumes a centrally locate