by Melanie Grimes

Created on: April 19, 2009   Last Updated: January 24, 2011

While many tourists will visit the usual European cities of Paris, London and Rome, the best vacation spots are easily accessible but off the beaten track. With a rented car, or a rail pass, you can visit many varied European vacation spots on one trip.Summer vacation spots in Europe vary from urban exploration to seaside resorts to mountain retreats.

SOUTH OF FRANCE

The Dordogne is a scenic area in south central France with rivers, mountains, a gorge. Located in the Auvergne, this area offers bike and rafting trips, as well as many scenic hikes. Where else can you swim in a volcanic lake while dining on fine cuisine?

GREEK ISLANDS
One you leave the bustle of Athens, the idyllic Greek Islands are filled with ancient history, ruins, great beaches, and quiet winding roads. A ninety-minute boat ride takes you to the island of your choice, from Hydra to Crete. You can eat great seafood caught by local fisherman and hike along rocky coves or visit ancient ruins. Or from Athens, you can drive to Peloponesia. Yachters and boaters also favor this area.

STUTTGART, GERMANY
Germany, you might say? In Stuttgart, you can visit Picasso paintings at the State Museum in the morning, then swim in outdoor mineral pools in the afternoon. Three mineral pools attract the locals, but tourists favor the newest one. A lovely pedestrian shopping mall is another great tourist distraction with everything from local shops as well as national chains and department stores.

PARIS
Ok, you have to visit Paris. A summer stroll in the Pere la Chaise Cemetery will take you past the graves of Chopin, Jim Morrison and Gertrude Stein. In summer, the city deposits truckloads of sand along the walkways of the Seine, turning it into an urban beach resort. The Jardin des Plantes is always scenic, or you can opt to row a boat in the Bois de Boulogne. Three times larger than New York's Central Park, the Bois was once a hunting ground for kings, but now you can dine in one of several restaurants, bird watch or visit children's playgrounds. http://www.paris-walking-tours.com/boisdeboulogne.ht ml

GIMMELWALD, SWITZERLAND
In the little town of Gimmelwald, you can visit a museum, or hike along alpine lakes. This small farm village is accessible via a cable car with mountain views of the Schwarzmnch (Black Monk) Mountain. A lovely hike will take you down the Sefinental Valley. Be sure to taste the butter and cheese from the local dairy cows and goats.

Summer vacations in Europe can be educational, informative, and fun. Avoid the tourist traps and you will find a delight of culture and history in Europe.

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