Summer is the ideal time of the year to relax, enjoy good company, and explore new places. But what makes a summer vacation different from the ones that preceded it is the choice to discover new places – ones that offer a unique experience that becomes a memory dear to the heart.
So, here are the top 3 destinations for summer 2014!
1) Barcelona
Set on Spain's Mediterranean coast, Barcelona offers trendy urban life and direct access to the beach in one place. Its individual neighborhoods host their festa mejor, which is a block party full of feasting and fire-runs, in which fake giant dragons breathe fire over the crowd, creating an atmosphere like no other. It’s weather is very sunny and it is full of cultural delights and delectable tapas to amuse the summer traveler. The Sonar electronic music festival held June fills the city with beats and adds to the already cheerful nature of the beautiful city.
Where to go and what to do:
Enjoy a relaxing promenade at Park Guell with the enchantingly beautiful view and the unique work of Gaudi. You can also enjoy beachfront dining at Agua restaurant where you can have delicious seafood while watching the waves break. And don’t miss out on the brilliant paintings at the Barcelona Picasso Museum, located in Varrer de Montcada.
2) Nice
The Cote d'Azur is the ideal, breezy perfect summer destination. Nice's Promenade des Anglais is an ideal site for fully enjoying the spectacular coast and the blooming markets at the Cours de Saleya make for some wonderful sunny browsing. For those who love the romantic restaurants and magical beaches, Nice is the place for you. With the July "Crazy Week" festival that brings along some parties to town, Nice shows how one place can combine sophistication with craziness and fun.
Where to go and what to do:
Enjoy a memorable walk at The Promenade Des Anglais with its iconic boardwalk and its beautiful, refreshing atmosphere. Art lovers can indulge in more than 250 paintings of artist Marc Chagall at the Musee Marc Chagall located in Avenue du Docteur Menard.
3) Salzuburg
Although Salzburg is known for its cold weather and its icy mountains, summer begins in July when both the weather and the activities really heat up. In town, the Salzburg Festival takes over with a unique mix of classical music and world-class opera and Mozart aficionados mixing with cheerful sounds of the many talented music day-trippers. The serene mountains and lakes surrounding Salzburg are the ideal settings for a refreshing summer swim, as well as some adventurous hiking.
Where to go and what to do:
Enjoy some delicious coffee and a leisurely lunch on the banks if the river at Café Bazar. You can also enjoy the breath-taking view from Untersberg, the biggest mountain in Salzburg’s immediate surroundings. Shopping will be on your list, too, with the oriental shopping streets at Getreidgasse, where you can choose from any number of frozen treats to keep you chilled between purchases.
So, will one of these enchanting destinations top your list for the must-visit locations this summer?
(Images Courtesy: Gogobot.com, romantik-hotel.at, cms.fkimgcom and hithisisbarcelona.files.wordpress.com)
