Outdoor Adventures
A good European trip includes more than a series of castles and museums. Europeans are into outdoor adventure, and many American travelers are finding fun ways to get wet, windblown and out of breath too. Any tips on outdoor thrills for mild-mannered back door tourists not packing ice axes? Share your favorite outdoor activity.
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Thingvellir
If you're in Reykjavik and you have a car make the 1-hour drive out to Thingvellir National Park (Žingvellir in Icelandic). Excellent hiking and spectacular scenery with meadows, streams and rock formations.
Mabel
Los Angeles, CA USA 01/30/2012
Hadrian's Wall
We walked part of Hadrian's Wall for the first time on our last U.K. and France trip. What fun! After reading up on it, we decided the best spot, with most of the wall still remaining, is from Housesteads Roman Fort to the Once Brewed National Park Centre. It was up and down all the way, but what a view. Next time we hope to hop the bus to the other end, then walk back. Don't forget to explore Chesters Roman Fort with its museum of Roman artifacts. How many people can say they walked where the Romans in 122 AD walked? Amazing!
Sherry
Spokane, WA USA 01/06/2012
Mount Rigi, Switzerland
Visiting Mount Rigi was one of the most beautiful days of my life. I was staying in Baden, Switzerland, so I took trains from Baden to Lucerne via Zurich. I explored the city for a bit, and then took the ferry from Lucerne to Vitznau which provides a lovely view of the lake and surrounding mountains, even on a cloud-covered day. From here I took the tram halfway up Mount Rigi to Kaltbad. It was a beautiful view, when the sun came out it was beautiful and warm. We took the aerial cablecar from Kaltbad down to Weggis and back up (though you could exit the ferry at Weggis and go up to Kaltbad that way). When arriving back at Kaltbad we walked around some more, took more photos (I love photography and it's a wonderful setting). Then we took the tram up to Rigi Kulm, the top of the mountain. You can walk up to the summit, get some soup or coffee and a few little restaurants at the top, more photos. You can return back down the mountain to Weggis or Vitznau, but since we were returning to Zurich it was easier (and provided a new route down the mountain) to take the other tram from Rigi Kulm to Art-Goldau and take a train from there to Zurich/Baden.
The day was beautiful and gorgeous and outstanding. The scenery is wonderful, the air so crisp and clean. I highly recommend it. For the more adventurous (or just well-packed with hiking clothing/boots, we had none) you could hike up parts or all of the mountain.
Plus, if you have a Swiss friend who can purchase a tageskarte gemeinde (a day pass) for you, all of the transportation is covered for only 33CHF for the whole day. Outstanding.
Devon
Ballwin, MO USA 12/29/2011
Avignon Wine Tour
Avignon Wine Tours with Francois....what a wonderful day! We booked at the last minute a few weeks ago while in Avignon. Picked us up at doorstep...and then the magic began. So knowledgeable, so fun, so organized. Our group of 6 were welcomed at many wonderful vineyards, had a great lunch stop selected in advance by him, and felt like the entire day was a highlight. Highly recommend...about $80 per person for the entire day...A+!
Diana
Minneapolis, MN USA 11/10/2011
Extreme Ireland adventure tours
Just a quick note re a walking tour i went on with Extreme Ireland. I did the 8 day south and had a great time. Thanks all at www.extremeireland.ie
Charles O Connell
Toronto, Ontari USA 07/07/2011
Ireland Burren Walks
If you are in Western Ireland and plan to visit the Burren I highly recommend Tony Kirby's Burren Walks. He leaves from the Burren Center in Kilfenora and provides and really informative walk about the history and geology of the area. A must for a curious traveler.
Cynthia Eberhard
Wheat Ridge, CO USA 07/05/2011
Off the Beaten Track Walking Tour
We like to be on our own schedule, not someone else's, so we just got back from a self guided walking tour in the Luberon Valley, Provence, France. We were somewhat off the beaten American tourist track. After a night in Ilse sur la Sorgue we started walking in Fontaine de Vaucluse and six days later ended up in Saignon with stops in Gordes, Goult, Bonnieux and the Aiguebrun Gorge along the way. Our stops were mostly in French hill towns and our walks were along ancient stone walls, vineyards, lavender fields and olive groves. The trails were up and down so we had our share of spectacular views too. The tour was organized by Walk Inn Provence. They gave us explicit directions and moved our luggage so we only needed day packs. They are one of several companies offering walking and bicycling tours in Provence.
Bill & Chris
Gilford, NH USA 05/09/2011
Swimming in a Norwegian Fjord
I went swimming in the Sognefjord in Norway. Just plunged right into the cold water off a boat dock in Balestrand. Because the water is salty, I floated easily and just spread out on my back in the middle of the fjord, gazing at the towering mountains around me or closing my eyes and communing with nature. I felt a little awkward at the beginning because I was the only one splashing around in my bikini while fully clothed people strolled around on dry land - though when I asked the girl in the tourist office where I can swim, she suggested here and even directed me to the changing rooms on the dock - but after my initial uneasiness and hypothermia, I thoroughly enjoyed myself. I even got a nice suntan (in Norway!).
Carrie
Los Angeles, CA USA 05/05/2011
Bindelweg Hike to Rifugio del Viel
During a road trip through the Dolomite mountains in northern Italy, we stopped in Canazai. We rode the gondola to the Rifugio Belvedere. From there we hiked the easy going Bindelweg trail to the Rifugio del Viel. The mountain vistas are BELLISSIMA and the cheese cake at the Rifugio del Viel is delizioso. My son and I took a more challenging ridge route back. Check out our little adventure on youtube - just type in Frametofame and view the Castelrotto & The Best of the Dolomites video. Next time we'll have to rent a couple of mountain bikes!
Andy Betschler
Vernon, BC USA 03/02/2011
Cinque Terre's hidden treasures
I had the best experience in Cinque Terre with a Trek guide that showed us the hidden treasures that even some of the locals haven't seen. Just amazing, and we didn't feel like we are on a cow trail with everybody else. A true back road travel experience. Worth the money and inexpensive. http://www.trekguyd.com
Birgit MAddox
Pacific Grove, Ca USA 02/04/2011
The Rhine and Burg Eltz
There is nothing quite like a bike ride along the Rhine in the beginning of fall; I biked the stretch from Bacharach to Bingen and it was beautiful (though I would have stopped before Bingen, and be warned that the ride is easiest on the way down the river than on the way back up). The stretch from Bacharach to St-Goar is supposed to be even prettier.
Burg Eltz is such a breathtaking place, especially on the inside, but also because of the 90-minute hike through the most gorgeous woods to get from Moselkern train station to the castle. It smells so fresh and sweet in the woods, and the light is so beautiful as it reflects off of the Eltz river and among the colored leaves of fall. One of my favorite (and most exhilirating) adventures of my trip.
Emily
Baltimore, MD USA 01/18/2011
Hiking in Tuscany
If you stay in Montalcino Italy, take the hike from the town to the Abbey of Sant'Antimo. 2 1/2 hours and a bit rugged (let's call it an "ungroomed" trail) but we did it! Past vineyards, grazing sheep and cows, through tiny agriturismos, and for much of it no traffic, no people. At the end of the hike, we had lunch in a small ristorante in Castelnuovo dell'Abate and took a bus back to Montalcino.
Laurel Barton
Portl, OR USA 10/30/2010