Spain

The Spanish coast is something to be lusted over. Annually, flocks of beach-ready vacationers migrate to the sugary sand beaches of Tenerife and the Balearics Islands, where white-washed houses sit perched above translucent waters. And while the coastal beauty of Majorca and Ibiza is supreme, a fun-in-the-sun beach bum holiday leaves the lions share of the country—the heartland—unexplored. Spain’s interior, after all, is where Hemingway executed his virile prose, where Goya and Dali broke new artistic ground, and the bravado of bullfighting transpired. But, whether you opt for beaches or Basque country, your Spanish adventure is sure to yield cultural enrichment and copious sangria.

The relaxed Spanish temperament and warm climate have qualified Spain as one of the most exotic places in Western Europe. It’s a country that boasts both the second largest number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites, while also incorporating modern architectural elements. Spain’s capital, the historically rich and thoroughly cosmopolitan city of Madrid, for example, is where medieval architecture and monolithic cathedrals butt up against new, modern buildings that together account for its visual appeal. Whether one chooses to traverse the bustling streets of Barcelona to faun over Gaudi, chow down on Tappas in Andalusia, or party the night away in Granada, Spain’s cities are sure to show a good time.

Outside of these metropolitan hubs, however, lies Spain in its natural state. Spain's Castilian high country, “the overfoliaged, wet, green Basque country,” as Hemingway put it, is generously accented by Roman ruins and Gothic architecture, awaiting exploration. The Pyrenees, especially around the Aragón area, supply some of the best hiking conditions, while Guadix and Baza are rife with natural parks and cave-dwellings. Hard to believe, but half an hour from the Southern city of Granada is the Sierra Nevada mountain chain, where snow bunnies can enjoy a retreat from the lush green landscape farther North.