A visit to Brussels should see you enter into a very enjoyable city that is also the capital of Belgium and which has in its center a place known as the Petit Ring that is surrounded by fourteenth century walls and which is cut up into three distinct districts with the Lower Town in the western part of the city that caters to the middle and lower class families, while in the eastern part you will find the Upper Town that hosts the upper class Belgian families. In between these two districts is a boulevard where you will find many venues for shopping as also bars, restaurants and cafes.

The boulevard also goes through The Grand Place that is the heart of the city and which sees many local people as well as tourists thronging there. If you want to visit museums in Brussels, then you would have to go to a part of the city that lies beyond the Petit Ring’s eastern walls and where you will find Parc Leopold that houses three large museums. And, for those that would much rather experience the arty side of Brussels, they could visit St. Giles that lies to the south of Brussels’ center and which is a very trendy district of Brussels. And, the royal family of Belgium has their residence beyond the northern part of Brussels at a location named Laeken.

If you want to go shopping in Brussels, you could check out Galeries Saint Hubert-Sint Hubertusgalerijen that has the proud honor of being the first shopping mall in the world. There are many typical department stores, cafes, bookstores and also tiny diners and a cinema in this wonderful shopping destination. Another alternative would be to visit Marche aux Puces-Vlooienmarkt that is a flea market situated in Place du Jeu de Balle-Vossenplein where you can get every different variety of things at rock bottom prices.

For quenching your thirst you could check out Beer Mania that is a local bar that is supposed to have more than four hundred beer types. And, for crawling from pub to pub you could check out Anderlecht while the trendier as well as more upscale establishments are located in Grand Place and St. Giles.

There is plenty of history and modernity found in Brussels that are so impressive that many consider it as being a Mecca for sightseeing. You would do well to pay a visit to Palais Royal, the Cathedral, the Musees Royaux des Beaux Arts, the Musees Royaux d’Art et d’Histoire as well as the Atomium. In spite of these impressive places to see, Brussels is still best known for its beer and you would do well to visit the breweries, pubs and also the bars that dot the city and which will give visitors a true feeling of Brussels that its many landmarks may fail to do.

There are many holiday makers that are greatly attracted to Mainland, Greece as here you will find many wondrous beaches, coupled with the excellent Mediterranean climate and the many unspoiled villages that beckon increasing numbers of tourists here each year to enjoy the fantastic history and culture of Greece. There are many resorts that offer outstanding scenic beauty coupled with the enchanting beaches and topped off with the wonderful cuisine that are just too attractive to pass over and which offers tourists enough opportunity to unwind and relax in comfort.

Mainland Greece has a lot more greenery and it is also quite mountainous as compared with the islands though it is generally not as well developed. You can reach here by charter as also scheduled flights, especially from the United Kingdom and it is most convenient to fly to Athens, the capital that is very busy city located in the south of Greece where you will find the Parthenon on the Acropolis.

Macedonia is the largest region on mainland Greece and lies in the north with its capital city known as Thessaloniki which is also very vibrant and is a busy Byzantine city located near the coast. Close from Thessaloniki are the beaches of Chalkidiki and the peninsula in the Aegean where you can find the Blue Flag beaches that have outstanding and splendid scenic beauty.

For a truly authentic as well as relaxing holiday on mainland Greece you could visit its central parts where the Pelion peninsula lies. You can also be assured of the commodious and comfortable accommodations in these parts, from where you can make excursions to the sandy beaches or take to the mountains while you may also want to choose to visit the charming villages that dot the landscape, especially near to the mountains. What you will not fail to notice are the exotic beaches and spectacular scenic beauty of the mainland.

When on the mainland in Greece you will be confronted with three different types of climate including the Mediterranean climate that has mild and wet winters along with hot as well as dry summers, an alpine climate found mainly in the west of the mainland, and a temperate climate that you would experience in the Central as well as Eastern Macedonia.

When on the mainland, be prepared for a lot of mountainous terrain as there is as much as eighty percent of the land that is mountainous which also makes Greece among the most mountainous countries of Europe. The highest point in Greece is the Mount Olympus. It is also a famous place for bird watching and there are many tours organized around this activity.

Though most attention revolves around the islands of Greece, the mainland too has much to offer in the form of such rarely visited places such as Epiros that lies to the northwest and where you will be spellbound by the amazing natural beauty that has remained untouched throughout history and which will provide you with a blissful experience that you won’t want to ever miss.

United States, or the United States of America, is one of the world’s wonderful tourist destinations, located in Northern America. Bordered by the North Atlantic Ocean and the North Pacific Ocean, United States consists of 50 states and a Federal State, each of them with its own government and laws and rules.

United States boasts of such a great number of attractions that it takes years to explore all of them. Few to mention are the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco – the largest bridge in the world; the Grand Canyon – an amazing gorge located in the heart of the Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona; the Mount Rushmore in South Dakota, where you can find an impressive monumental structure sculpted in granite, and containing the heads of former US presidents like George Washington, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln; the Huntington Botanical Gardens – which comprises fourteen botanical gardens; and Ground Zero – the former spot of the World Trade Center in New York.

The north eastern part of the nation is home to some of the best waterfalls in the world, such as the highest waterfalls in the world – Niagara, which is on the Niagara River between the borders of New York and Canada. Niagara is not only a popular tourist destination but also a major source of hydroelectric power for New York and Ontario. Waterfalls including Arethusa, Moss Glen, Bash Bish, Moxie, Bingham, and Ripley, are also much famed among the tourists.

Forests in United States are simply amazing, and many of them are noted for its scenic beauty and towering trees, ranging from chestnut and oaks to spruce and pine trees. A visit to such rich as well as sheltered forests as Green Mountain National Forest in Vermont, White Mountains of New Hampshire, and Alleghany National Forest in Pennsylvania, is really a great experience.

The nation also has to its credit a continuum of world-class national parks, of which perhaps the most fascinating is Yellowstone National Park, which is the first in the world. Spread over three states: Wyoming, Idaho, and Montana, this expansive national park covers an area of about 3,472 square miles. Also, fabulous is Red Wood National Park in California, which is home to some of the rare evergreen trees on the earth.

Places of interest also cover a chain of museums and historic monuments. For instance, Anniston Museum of Natural History in Alabama, Aspen Art Museum in Colorado, Evansville Museum of Arts and Science in Indiana, and White Pine Museum in Nevada, are all a treasure trove of rare art and artifacts.

No visit to United States is complete without an excursion to attractions such as the Statue of Liberty, which stands on the Liberty Island in the Hudson River in New York and the White House – the official residence of the US president in Washington, DC. Likewise, also, take a tour to the fantastic beaches of the nation, which among many others, are Red Rock Beach, New London Beach, and Amelia Beach.

The nation is easily accessibly via almost all modes of transportation including air, road, rail, and water, with more than 14,000 airports, 6, 00,000 km of highways, 2, 00,000 km of railways, and 40,000 km of waterways.

Comprising one of the four countries that make up the United Kingdom, Scotland is a country that has as much as one third of the area of the Great Britain having a border with England that lies south of Scotland. On the east, there is the North Sea and the Atlantic Ocean lies further north and west of Scotland, and lower down to its southwest are the North Channel and Irish Sea. There are thus many islands that also make up a part of Scotland, whose capital city is Edinburgh which is the second largest city in the country and it is also a financial center of great importance in Europe. The largest city in Scotland is Glasgow where there are supposed to be living as many as forty percent of all Scots that inhabit the country.

Once, it was an independent kingdom, until on May 1, 1707 the Acts of Union brought it into political union with its southern neighbor, the Kingdom of England which resulted in the creation of the Kingdom of Great Britain. However, the Scottish legal system continues to remain separate and distinct from those of Wales, Northern Island and of course, England.

Scotland forms the northern third of Great Britain and it has one land border and that is the one that separates it from England. The climate can best be described as being temperate as well as oceanic and it does change quite often. There is warmth from the Gulf Stream that comes from the Atlantic and even the winters are relatively mild as compared to other places including Oslo and Moscow that are situated on similar latitudes.

You will find much wildlife in Scotland that is more or less what is found in other parts of Europe though there are many of the bigger mammals including the Brown Bear, Wolf, Eurasian Lynx and also Beaver, Reindeer and Elk and Walrus found in this part of the world.

Scotland is also a well developed country that follows western type open as well as mixed economy that is much like what you would find in Europe and in many other parts of the world. Its economy centers on shipbuilding, coal mining and also steel, and with the North Sea oil has good economic prospects for the future as well. At Edinburgh is the financial center that is sixth as far as other European nations are concerned being surpassed only by Paris, London, Frankfurt, Zurich and Amsterdam!

There are believed to be as many as five million inhabitants, who make Scotland the one hundred and twelfth most populated country in the world, and the majority of its towns are located on what is known as the Central Belt. The religion is predominantly Protestant and the Church of Scotland follows a Presbyterian system that is independent of the state, and there are also many Roman Catholics, more so in the west of the country.

Scotland also has many traditions molded into its culture and there is a vibrant arts scene that sees heavy music (including its famous bag pipes) and literature, though sports are also a major activity in the country.

When in central Europe be sure to consider visiting Ukraine that lies in the south east of Central Europe and is a newly formed independent country that borders Russia, Byelorussia as well as Moldova and Slovakia, Romania, Hungary and finally Poland on land. Ukraine also has Georgia, Romania, Bulgaria and Turkey as its neighbors on the sea. The country itself is largely flat and without many trees and is best described as being a “steppe”. However, there are mountains know as the Crimean Mountains as also the Carpathians in the west, though you can be sure they do not rise too high into the sky.

Tourists to Ukraine will find the climate appealing as it is mostly moderate and even winters do not see any extremes of weather though you would appreciate the regular falling of snow when rivers and lakes freeze up. Such a favorable climate has helped the Ukraine into having many agricultural areas where wheat, maize, corn as also buckwheat are often grown as too is red and green vegetables and many fruits, melons and the tasty berries. In fact, Ukraine is also a major producer of sugar, which is more than sufficient for home consumption with plenty remaining to be exported, which is why it is one of the main centers of sugar production in the world. There are also many natural resources found in the Ukraine.

The country owes its independence to the popularity of Mikhail Gorbachev’s perestroika especially around 1988-89 in which year the country saw the formation of the “People’s Movement of Ukraine”. Two years later, the country achieved its independence and much was expected of it in terms of economic wellbeing though it had to go through a severe economic slowdown that saw it reeling under the weight of five digit inflation during the 1990s. However, it turned the corner in 2000 and has since grown steadily in economic terms.

Ukraine is also the forty-fourth largest country in the world and is also Europe’s second largest and it currently also enjoys the status of being among the thirty largest economies of the world. Its population consists mostly of Ukrainians who constitute about 77.8 percent with another 17.3 percent being Russians with minute amounts of Belarussians, Moldovans, Crimean Tartars and Bulgarians and Hungarians along with Romanians, Poles, Jews, Armenians and Greeks and Tartars making up the remainder of its population.

As far as religion is concerned, the major religion in the country is Eastern Orthodox Christianity that is made up of three Church bodies and a lesser religion practiced in the country is Eastern Rite Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church. Most of its culture is an amalgamation of its eastern as well as western neighbor’s influences as seen in the architecture and music and dance of Ukraine. It is also a country with a pronounced food culture that goes back many thousands of years and the diet of the average Ukrainian would include pork, chicken, beef and fish and mushrooms. Also, included in the Ukrainian food are many potatoes, grains and also vegetables accompanied by various types of bread.

A visit to the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg is well worth it and this small and independent state that lies tucked between France, Belgium and Germany is only eighty-four kilometers long and fifty two miles wide and has a population of just fewer than half a million people. People that visit Luxembourg are enamored by its temperate climate that does not see any extremes of weather and the sea that is about two hundred miles distant ensures that the weather is moderate. You will also find the clean air a welcome departure from the pollution filled cities of Europe and you can thus enjoy good health when you visit Luxembourg.

The international airport named Findel Airport is situated just a few kilometers from Luxembourg and is an ideal arrival point for those desirous of coming to Luxembourg. Its national airline is known as Luxair that serves many destinations in Europe. You can also use the railways and buses for getting about in the country. Luxembourg, just like the rest of Europe has a good road network that connects the entire country and all of its roads are toll-free. There is also the River Moselle that, since 1964 has been canalized, which is the link from Luxembourg to the major waterways of Europe.

Luxembourg owes its economic prosperity to the time when iron ore was discovered in the country around 1850 which was later followed by a steel industry that drew many thousands of foreign workers to its ore mines and steel factories that in turn ensured the economic prosperity of Luxembourg. The biggest contributor, not surprisingly to the country’s exports is steel as can be evidenced from the fact that Luxembourg is home to ArcelorMittal which is the largest private employer in the duchy and also the world’s biggest steel company that has a turnover of nearly ninety billion dollars as of 2006.

No doubt, everyone must be acquainted with the fact that Luxembourg is also a major financial center in Europe having many banks as well as investment trusts. Another major contributor to the economic prosperity of the country is tourism. This country with fewer than half a million inhabitants has nearly a fifth of its population living in Luxembourg city and this city also has as many as thirty-two percent of foreigners out of its total population. Its national language is known as ‘Letzebuergesch’, which is symbolic of the national identity of most Luxembourgers.

Luxembourg is also a country where the German as well as French cultures meet and it is not unusual for the inhabitants to speak both French and German, though French is the official language used in administration and jurisdiction as also in education and parliament. English too is spoken in Luxembourg.

When in Luxembourg, be sure to visit the Chemin de la Corniche, touted as being the most beautiful balcony in Europe which is really a pedestrian promenade. The Wenzel Walk is also recommended as too is a visit to the National Museum of Military History, which is, amongst other things, some of the things to do and see in Luxembourg.

France is a wonderful, romantic country, abound with art and architecture. Officially known as the French Republic, France is an incredible tourist destination in Western Europe, stretching from the Rhine to the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea to the English Channel and the North Sea.

Each area of France is unique and has its own specialties. For instance, the capital city – Paris, alternatively known as the City of Light, boasts of world class attractions, all of which offer such an experience that lasts for a lifetime. The impressive Eiffel Tower, majestic Notre Dame, historic Musee D’Orsay, unequalled Chateau de Versailles, and Montmarte with an amazing blend of culture and ambience, are just few among them. A peerless host of beautiful buildings, gardens, parks, squares, cafes, and open markets can also be seen here.

For tourists who want to explore the rich history of France, one of the best destinations would be Marseille, which has to its credit some of the charming streets in the country, apart from old ports and attractions like fortresses built by Louis the XIV. Another great historic city is Normandy – a picturesque town with awesome attractions such as D-Day beaches. Places of historic significances also include Rouen – an ancient town where Joan of Arch was cremated. Further, Rouen is home to some of the fantastic buildings of medieval style.

A visit to France is incomplete without an excursion to the unspoilt oasis at the edge of the Mediterranean – French Rivera, also called Côte d’Azur, which is a fabulous assortment of upscale beachfront resorts such as Saint Tropez, Nice, Monte Carlo, and Cannes, hosting the much famed international film festival. Provence is another great destination for those looking to enjoy the Mediterranean lifestyle.

The Loire Valley is also a great destination for those who want to explore the beautiful castles, ranging from the periods Middle Ages to the Renaissance. For connoisseur of tastes, a great destination is the lively city of Lyon, acknowledged as the gastronomic capital of France.

For vibrant as well as exciting nightlife, cities including Toulouse are great options. Likewise, cities including Bordeaux arrive with a diverse mix of beaches, forests, and dunes. Also, worth mentioning are superb destinations of Bayonne and Biarritz, located in Basque County.

Found in the Languedoc region is Pont du Gard, an aqueduct built by the Romans during the 19th century BC.

Also, a must-see attraction in France is the Alps – the largest mountain range in Europe, spreading over France, Switzerland, and Italy. This enchanting destination is filled with craggy peaks as well as snow-covered mountains, each of them rendering opportunities for a range of activities such as skiing and snowboarding. Further, the Alps are home to more than 200 resorts, among which most popular are Val d’Isere, Grenoble, Megeve, and Chamonix boasting of the highest cable car in the world. Marvelous mountain ranges in France also include the Pyrenees, offering spectacular views.

Apart from these, France renders opportunities for a host of activities such as shopping, dining, and sightseeing.

Denmark is a tiny country that has some castles that can only best be described as being magical and this country of mermaids and Vikings as well as delightful pastries and lovely beaches can enchant any tourist, which is why people come here year after year in search of the many pleasures that this Scandinavian country has to offer. You will find something here that caters to every taste is it the Tivoli Gardens or the popular beaches that can be found in Legoland and no matter what your age is, there is plenty for you to enjoy in Denmark.

This Kingdom is the tiniest of the five Nordic countries that include Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Iceland as well as Finland not taking into account its offshore territories that include Greenland and the Faeroe Islands. It has regions such Jutland that is situated north of the German border and also its three islands named Zealand, Funen and Bornholm that are situated in the Baltic Sea.

Your first stop to this wonderful country would without a doubt is Copenhagen, its thriving and cosmopolitan capital that is situated in the island called Zealand. It is a city that boasts the wildest side of life and it is also a central part of many international traffic and businesses while also being home to approximately 1.7 million people of which almost a tenth are foreigners. You can enjoy many pleasures here in Copenhagen including swimming the clean waters of Copenhagen Harbor, and lazing on the beaches that are open to one and all, besides which you can go wind-surfing, kayaking and also enjoy grilling and bonfires.

The Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen is a popular theme park and here you can take pleasure in the rides, and other activities including pop and rock concerts. Outside, the Danish country has very appealing rolling flatlands and there are also plenty of wondrous castles and forests that include the world famous castle known as Kronborg, better known as Hamlet’s Castle that is situated in Ellsinore and here you can see the Shakespearean play being enacted every summer.

There are also many peaceful and beautiful areas in South Zealand including Lolland, Falster and also Mon that is home to many splendid castles and manor houses and you will surely find the Alholm castle especially appealing that is situated in the island of Lolland and which serves as the largest car museum in Denmark. Another important attraction is the Knuthenborg that is the largest wildlife park in Europe and well worth a visit. These islands also have wondrous opportunities to enjoy the many beaches that dot all the islands and West Zealand in particular offers beautiful scenic wonders including fjords, harbors and also islets and beaches for bathing.

Also, another attraction that you should not pass up is the delicious and world famous Danish pastries that are a specialty of Denmark and includes open face sandwiches as well as Danish meat balls and much more.

Belgium is a wonderful country situated on Europe’s mainland though it is often overshadowed by other more powerful neighboring countries including the Netherlands, Germany and France. The name of the country originates from the Celtic tribe name of Belgae, and this wonderful country forms a crossroads for much of Europe with particular relevance to mainland Europe and the United Kingdom. This country has seen it become heavily influenced by such powers as England, France and the Netherlands right through its history and there are still remnants of Romans, Celtics, Germans, French and Spanish influences to be found in modern day Belgium.

Belgium has been ruled by various European empires and it has thus had many famous commercial trading posts spring up in the form of Bruges, Antwerp and of course, its capital city Brussels. Belgium is not only famous for diamond trading, but it also has produced some very spectacular artists of whom Eyck and Rubens are perhaps the best known.

Modern day Belgium can be broken down into three separate states that each has significant amount of autonomy and there are Flemish, Walloon and also a tiny Germanic areas. The Flemish language spoken can be attributed to the Dutch influence, while the Walloon is more closely related to the French influences that have affected the country for many centuries. Each of these states is clearly divided and they all enjoy a great degree of autonomy and one may even consider them as being tiny countries in themselves.

Belgium is a Kingdom whose official name is the Kingdom of Belgium and it is a Western European country having about thirteen thousand square miles of territory with Brussels being its capital and which has just fewer than a million inhabitants with Antwerp, its second largest city with roughly half a million inhabitants.

The inhabitants of Belgium are called Belgians and there are about ten million people that all grow at a miserly level each year, which is believed to be about half a percent each year. As you enter the different states in Belgium, the main language changes with French being spoken in the Wallonia, Dutch in the Flanders and Germans are being most spoken in the Brussels area. The majority of Belgians are Roman Catholics though there are also Protestants, Jews, Muslims and also Anglican communities. The country is almost totally literate with as many as ninety-five percent literacy rate.

The country is really a mishmash of many influences and it enjoys a good reputation as being a progressive and friendly country with Brussels forming a major financial capital of Europe. The terrain in the country is generally flat though it can become hilly as well as forested as one enters the southeast of the country near Ardennes, and the climate in Belgium is generally cool and temperate with a lot of rains and summer temperatures hover in the seventies while in the winter it stays around the forty-five degree Fahrenheit. All in all, Belgium has a well developed market economy and boasts of having among the highest per capita GDP in the world.

One of the most beautiful countries in the world, Austria is certainly a very special place whose scenic beauty was best highlighted in the movie ‘Sound of Music’. There are many wonderful cities as well including Vienna, Salzburg and the towns in the alpine parts of the country like Hallstatt that are worth visiting. However, when visiting this lovely country make sure that you have enough money to spend as it is a very expensive place, which is why some people abstain from making it their holiday destination.

Nevertheless, Austrian cities, especially Vienna have a lot of history behind them and of course, as everyone knows, the country is the home of the waltz and its musical past is perhaps without a peer anywhere else in the world. You would also be impressed by the Habsburg Palaces or the Schoenbrunn Palace Gardens and walking the cobblestone streets of Vienna will be a special experience, and you can almost feel and hear many a music composer hard at his or her work. You will notice that many walking areas too have small orchestras playing their music in the evenings.

For all the impressive attractions that a city such as Vienna has for the tourist, the only drawback is the high cost of visiting Austria as it does pinch the pocket to come and visit this outstanding city. You may also like to pay a visit to the home of Mozart, which is Salzburg that is much like Vienna though it does allow you some quietude as opposed to the hustle and bustle of the capital. Here, you can enjoy a glass of beer and enjoy the operas and even take pleasure in walking the unique rose gardens.

If you are the skiing type, then you must head down to the little Alpine town of Halsatt that is about an hour’s drive from Salzburg and is best reached using the train services. What’s so unique about Halsatt you may ask? Well, for starters, the scenery is uniquely splendid and it also is an Alpine town that does not have any cars. When you come to Halsatt, you will feel like you have stepped into a time machine and been transported into the past. For a change, the prices are reasonable and you will be met by the friendly peoples of Halsatt and everywhere you will feel an atmosphere most conducive to romancing. There are swans swimming in the lakes and for the incorrigible romantic, Halstatt is certainly the place to be.

No doubt, Austria is expensive; but, it is so beautiful and appealing that you should make the effort and save enough to at least visit it once in your lifetime as you will surely find great pleasure and feel that your money has been well spent given the many attractions that are on offer.