Get destined for the cobblestone path less traveled.

Whether you've vacationed to Disney World, Niagara Falls, or the Grand Canyon, or you've taken a jaunt off to London, Paris, or Madrid, there's always something exciting about finding that one vacation spot that is not as well known to all. It adds an extra sense of adventure to your trip. And, people seem more interested, and even a bit more envious than usual, when you're destined for some unchartered territory.

With a booming travel industry that sends us weekly emails on quick trips and flight deals and offers us personal and professional reviews on the great (and not so great) places to see and stay, you can certainly find a lot of options.

But, finding someplace a bit more off-the-beaten path sometimes takes a little more hunting. Or, you may just get lucky some lazy weekend morning and happen across an article featuring just that, the best of the less well-known getaways.

In which case, you'll be headed off to Girona and the Costa Brava region of Catalonia, Spain.

The city of Girona is located just about 1 hour north of the more well-known destination of Barcelona and is nestled at the base of the Pyrenees, just near the border of France. The broader Costa Brava region is filled with small towns, villages, excellent beaches and fabulous vacation rentals for anyone who is looking to either immerse themselves into the local culture with tapas and Tempranillo, or to simply relax to the soothing sounds of the sea.

More familiar within the European circles, Girona has become one of the treasured holiday destinations and offers an abundance of short and long-term vacation rentals. There are vacation rentals all along the coastal region, including beach front rentals in Lloret de Mar and houses for rent in tiny, untouched villages like Puerto de la Selva.

If you want to be enveloped by the local culture and walk along the cobblestone path less traveled, make plans to visit the quaint and charming medieval city of Girona. You'll be able to find holiday rentals in the hills above the city, or along the famous River Onyar in the Barri Vell area of Old Town.

Now that you're planning the trip that few people you know have ever taken, visit the official Costa Brava website, www.costabrava.org. The tourist department offers listings of several options for accommodations, and they respond quickly to requests for additional information and mailings. If you want to see a current selection of vacation rentals in the area, you can also visit www.holiday-rentals.co.uk, and search for properties in the Costa Brava region.

Once you decide between the beach front location, the remote village nestled in the countryside, or the cobblestone paths of the city, you'll be well on your way to booking the perfect vacation that will make everyone envious. And, if your luck strikes yet again, after you return from Costa Brava, you'll be making your plans for a second visit to the area, for a longer, more extended stay.

Learn more about this author, Amy Milligan.
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