ArcaMax

I’m in Volterra, my favorite hill town in Tuscany, sitting under rustic, noble stones at the base of a palace that made commoners feel small six centuries ago. Bats burst through the floodlights amid ghostly towers held together with rusted iron corsets. These stones have soul. The countless peasant backs they bent so many centuries ago gave ...Read more

It's sunset, and I'm at the place to be in Granada – the breathtaking San Nicolás viewpoint overlooking the fortress of the Alhambra. Here, at the edge of the city's exotic Moorish quarter, lovers, widows, and tourists jostle for the best view of the hill-capping, floodlit fortress, the last stronghold of the Moorish kingdom in Spain. For ...Read more

Whenever I visit Amsterdam, I take time to visit the lush lowlands of Holland. In a country like the Netherlands – so small and with such a fine transportation infrastructure – day-tripping is easy to do. Within a half-hour of leaving Amsterdam's main train station, you can be deep in the Dutch countryside – awash with tulips, red-brick ...Read more

One of my favorite corners of France is Burgundy, a region overflowing with edible, drinkable, scenic, and floatable delights. Its rolling hills and a handful of sleepy villages have given birth to the superior wines and fine cuisine that are so quintessentially French.

The city of Beaune, snug within its medieval walls, makes a handy base for ...Read more

Jostling through crowds of Germans and tourists in the Rhine River village of Bacharach, I climb to the sundeck of the ferry and grab a chair. With the last passenger barely aboard, the gangplank is dragged in and the river pulls us away.

I’m captivated by the Rhine. There's a rhythm to the mighty river that merges with its environment: black...Read more

Iceland's remote location and harsh climate aren't exactly welcoming. But its striking scenery, draped with glaciers and punctuated by craggy peaks and steamy geysers, makes this destination increasingly attractive to nature-loving travelers.

On one of my trips from Europe back to the US, I took advantage of Icelandair’s free stopover and ...Read more

Belgium falls through the cracks. It may be a little country, but it's one of Europe's big treats. While its capital, Brussels, is an international hub, the port city to the north – Antwerp – has more of a local identity. It’s an honest, what-you-see-is-what-you-get place, perhaps because it's in the Dutch-speaking part of Belgium called ...Read more

Rugged is putting it mildly when it comes to 80 percent of Norway. Historically, it was a challenge to live here. That's why Vikings ventured south and so many emigrants left for America.

But I find excuses to return to Norway regularly. Three of my grandparents grew up there. I once told my TV producer, “So many people in Norway look like my...Read more

I love the knack Croatians have for taking a humble stretch of craggy shoreline and turning it into a wildly romantic bar or café. In the coastal town of Rovinj, several bars and restaurants offer tables atop the town's rocky seawall, and some provide you with a pillow – an invitation to find your own nook in the rocks overlooking the bay. As...Read more

Intriguing Dresden, Germany, winds up on far fewer American itineraries than it deserves to. Don’t make that mistake. Since its horrific firebombing in World War II, the city has transitioned to a thriving cultural center that's well worth a visit. Even with only a day to spare, Dresden is a doable side trip from bigger attractions like Berlin...Read more

Each European country has its marquee city that attracts the vast majority of travelers – think Rome, Paris, Amsterdam. And all too often, that tourist-pleasing destination is a traveler’s one and only stop.

While I’d never suggest skipping those places entirely, I like to complement them with a visit to the country’s “second city....Read more

As the Loire River glides gently east to west, officially separating northern from southern France, it has come to define one of France’s most popular tourist regions.

Because of its history, this region is home to hundreds of castles and palaces in all shapes and sizes. When a “valley address” became a must-have among 16th-century ...Read more

On my last visit to Oslo, I was struck by how peaceful the city felt. It seemed a world away from the commotion and angst that comes with the 24-hour news here in the US. I couldn’t help but take notes: Parents park their baby carriages on the sidewalk as they abandon their infants for a few moments to step into a store to do some shopping. ...Read more

Swiss cities remind me of the guy at high school who’s great at sports, has perfect hair and the best girlfriend, and whom all the teachers love. He’s just too perfect. Sometimes you just want to see him trip or get a pimple. Switzerland’s cities can seem too perfect, too. For me – and most travelers – the mountains provide more real ...Read more

One of Ireland's most popular destinations is the Iveragh Peninsula – known to shamrock lovers everywhere as the “Ring of Kerry.” The Ring, lassoed by a winding coastal road through a mountainous, lake-splattered region, is undeniably scenic. Visitors since Victorian times have been drawn to this evocative chunk of the Emerald Isle, where ...Read more

It's rare that a town's charm will get me out of bed early. The postcard-pretty, lake-cuddling town of Hallstatt, two hours south of Salzburg, is one of those places. First thing in the morning, I head to the high end of town to look at the glassy waters of Lake Hallstatt. With the town’s church spire mirrored in the tranquil water, a shuttle ...Read more

Centuries ago, the towns of Buda and Pest, the leading cities of a mighty Hungarian kingdom, united to become Budapest. Today, Hungary’s vibrant capital maintains its stately ambience and offers plenty of tourist-friendly activities. You can sample spicy paprika at the Great Market Hall (designed by Gustave Eiffel), sip coffee in a genteel ...Read more

With its steel-and-glass Modernist buildings and dedication to green living, Stockholm has the feel of a gleaming metropolis, but it offers a satisfying mix of old and new, from a well-preserved 17th-century warship to its sleek and glittering City Hall from our age.

Before you go, check out Visitstockholm.com and then consider whether to buy a...Read more