TravelDock 1. The High Tatras, Slovakia
With steep jagged peaks and verdant green woods, mountain lakes and the chamois that is adorable, the High Tatras of Slovakia pack a lot into a tiny place. The most exciting feature is the one-way trail where hikers pull themselves up a perpendicular cliff-face using chains bolted to the stone.
The views all the way down to the plains are brilliant. Make sure you spend a few nights in a chata – they serve cold beer and great food. As well as a trip to the outhouse at night includes the silver lining of the Milky Way blazing in the black skies above you.
2. Crete, Greece
Text from? Amanda of Maroc Mama. Crete is the largest of the Greek isles and will take much more than just a day or two to explore. Decide on among the larger cities for a city vibe like Chania or Heraklion or choose the tiny hamlets that dot mountains and the plains.
Renting a car will help you uncover hidden gems and is the easiest method to get around. Crete has everything; cities, hamlets, fantastic food, mountains, amazing beaches, jaw-dropping scenery, and friendly people. The only question is how long can you stay?
3. Porto & Douro Valley
Once a sleepy riverside city famous for its fortified wines, Porto has emerged as a lively artwork capital that is rightfully finding a lot of buzz as a great value destination. At the vanguard of the city’s bohemian art scene is the gallery-lined Rua Miguel Bombarda – liveliest during Coincident Launches when streetside concerts and new exhibitions produce a festive ambiance. Enormous museums like the Museu de Arte Contemporanea in Parque de Serralves host cutting edge exhibits. Meanwhile, Rem Koolhaas’ wildly designed and massively popular Casa da Musica keeps the music going at year round performances, including free outdoor concerts in the summer. Celebrated new restaurants have tapped to the creative prognosis that was new in the city’s. The DOP of Rui Paula showcases Portuguese fixings with a modern twist. Historical port wine lodges supply tastings and tours for free or a nominal fee.
4. Northern Iceland
Few destinations appears to be bringing just as much word of mouth love as Iceland. Using a window of mystery writers, popular Icelandic groups, affordability, as well as a looking world-wide importance of a very long soak in a hot spring, Iceland appears to be on every traveller’s head in 2013. Almost all of the focus continues to be on the Golden Circle as well as Reykjavik, but do not blow off the wild attractions of Northern Iceland and Iceland’s second city Akureyri, all readily reached by a short connecting flight from Reykjavik. You will leave most other travellers behind and there is no deficit of towering waterfalls, lava fields and spectacular geysers to help keep you business. 2013 indicates the conclusion of the 11 year maximum using a better light show in Northern Iceland, in aurora borealis action than you will see in more northern areas of Scandinavia.
