St. Brelade, in the Jersey Islands, is home to several beautiful bays with golden sands. St. Brelade Bay is a great place for an active beach day—beachgoers enjoy canoeing, banana boat rides, trampolines and kayaking. Visit the Fisherman’s Chapel to see the perquage, a path from the chapel to the sea. Ancient law allowed a criminal to seek sanctuary in the chapel for eight days. On the ninth, he had to surrender or walk down the path to board a boat, which would carry him into permanent exile from the island.

The Jersey shore looks a little bit different in the Channel Islands. No Snookis here—instead, the partying of choice is the annual Battle of Flowers, a sweet-smelling carnival that culminates in the Moonlight Parade. Kayakers, surfers, divers and sailors will find plenty to love about Jersey’s active watersports scene, and adrenaline junkies will (cliff) jump for a coasteering tour of the caves, cliffs and crags. A day of shopping and café-hopping in St. Helier is an excellent dose of cultural retail therapy.

Brittany’s charming capital, Rennes is home to enough timber-framed houses and cobblestone streets to make you feel transported back to medieval France. Far from sleepy, however, the university town boasts art museums, sidewalk cafés, and the verdant Parc du Thabor.

Brittany's dramatic 750-mile coastline traces a rugged hem against the chilly Atlantic. Attractions such as St-Malo's 1689 Fort National, the prehistoric ruins and striking beauty of Gavrinish Island and Brest's Oceanopolis aquarium cling to the rocky shoreline of France's most northwestern province. Nantes, Rennes and Brest are the largest cities. Rennes is just two hours from Paris by TGV. Breton and Gallo, the ancient languages of this Celtic province, are still spoken in pockets throughout the area.

A British crown dependency, the sunny (well, relatively speaking) island of Guernsey boasts mild winters and warm summer months. From coasteering to kayaking, windsurfing to foodie foraging, outdoor enthusiasts of all types will love to roam this gorgeous Channel Island. A great base for fishing and angling trips, Guernsey also has plenty to see and do on the mainland. Explore Neolithic sites, stoic Castle Cornet, and ancient burial sites like Le Creux es Faies, a tomb that was once believed to be the gateway to a magical fairyland

As Belgium’s largest coastal outpost, Ostend offers a rare taste of Flemish beach culture. Inland visitors flock to sandy beaches and the seaside promenade, while reminders of the city’s military and maritime history run deep in the old harbour town.

Best known as the capital of Charlemagne's Frankish empire, today's Aachen sits at the juncture where Germany meets the Netherlands (the Dutch know it as Aken) and Belgium (where "Walloons" call it Aix-la-Chapelle). But Aachen's history goes back even further than 8th-century Charlemagne. Roman soldiers dating back to the 1st century AD cherished its hot springs (as did Charlemagne, who loved a good spa day just as much as the next guy). Aachen Cathedral, northern Europe's oldest and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is the city's main attraction.

A rich blend of the historic and modern, Zaragoza sits on the banks of the Ebro River. Stroll in the centre of town near San Miguel's pedestrian ways or around the Plaza de los Sitios, where you find boutiques, markets and souvenir shops. A centre for gastronomy, Zaragoza offers food and drink for every budget and taste. But tapas is a must! In 2008, Zaragoza hosted the International Exhibition; the Water Tower, Bridge Pavilion and River Aquarium show off of the city's avant-garde architecture.

Glencoe, a designated National Scenic Area sometimes referred to as the Glen of Weeping, was the scene of the infamous 'Massacre of Glencoe' in 1692. The Glen has a number of viewing stops on the road through the valley, and the National Trust for Scotland has a visitor centre along the main route.

Saint Paul has been called the last city of the East primarily because early developers built it to fit Eastern standards: city squares or parks, towers and turrets, lofty arches, Baroque domes and elaborate adornments abound. Ideal for families and those who like to explore on foot, the capital of Minnesota offers big city attractions with small town manageability. It's an easy and scenic stroll along the banks of the Mississippi River from the Children's Museum to the Science Museum. The kids (and the young at heart) will love them both. Nearby are the grandiose State Capitol, designed by esteemed architect Cass Gilbert and the historic Como Park, which includes lovely picnic areas, a zoo and a conservatory. Also in the mix are modern museums, stately old mansions, interesting natural wonders and unique shops to browse around. Be sure to check out the stellar collection of contemporary works by local artists at the Minnesota Museum of American Art. From four-star luxury to affordable and family-friendly, Saint Paul offers a variety of lodging and dining possibilities making it a great destination for all tastes and budgets.