Europe Up Close

Travel Stuff We Love

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We love to travel and we also love to share with our readers items that make travel easier, more interesting, or are just plain fun. Here is our latest batch of travel stuff we love: Travel Stuff We Love Carry on Backpack Our latest love (for sure) is Standard Luggage Company's  Carry-on Backpack. We received a sample of this product just before we left for our annual beach weekend. I couldn't ... Read Full Article

Six Great Places for Spring Travel in Europe

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It’s always a stunning time in Europe when the sleet and snow of winter make way for the glowing renewal of spring. Parks and gardens blossom and bloom, cities return life again. Ahead of the summer throngs, it’s also a fabulous time to bulk the European crowds, while keeping the back pocket in tact with friendly shoulder-season rates. From the Italian Lakes to Vienna, Budapest to Seville, we take ... Read Full Article

Italy’s Lake Como: Spectacular Villas, Gardens and Active Sports

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Lake Como, about 25 miles north of Milan, is a hugely popular spot, and it’s easy to see why. This gorgeous blue lake, 30 miles long, surrounded by mountains, is Europe’s deepest and has a 106-mile shoreline. There is no limit to the activities available, including bicycling, mountain biking, hiking, sailing, kayaking, and climbing. You can swim, paraglide, windsurf, ride horses and, in the ... Read Full Article

Locanda dell’Isola Comacina, A Restaurant Like No Other

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Comacina, a quiet, pleasant island in Lake Como, holds one of Italy’s lesser-known treasures:  Locanda dell’Isola Comacina. At this unique restaurant, I enjoyed one of the memorable meals of my life. The restaurant, open six days a week, and closed November 1-March 1, has no menu.  Guests are served the same meal every time, unchanged since 1947. John and I arrived on the island as everyone ... Read Full Article