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To get a lot more out of
your European adventure, veteran travelers suggest you factor
some of your interests within your route. This could range from
adding activities like hiking, skiing, white water rafting, or
cycling or more relaxed pursuits like art appreciation, wine
tasting, or bird watching. Before you arrive in Europe, consult the
activity section of a good guide book or research your options on
the Internet. Some of the more popular activities and the best
places to do them are featured below.
Hiking or trekking are great ways to leave the cities behind and
explore Europe's mountains, lakes and forests. If you plan to
hike, make sure you adequately prepare your outdoor gear and
equipment and inform someone else about your plans. Also make sure
you get yourself in shape by walking with a backpack before you
leave home, gradually building up to the distance you expect to
cover in Europe. Some of the best and most scenic hiking is in the
mounting areas like the Alps of Austria, Switzerland, France and
Italy. In some regions like England, you can make shorter hikes from
village to village without needing to camp or cook your own food.
If cycling is more of your hobby, you will enjoy Europe.
Europeans love cycling and there are lots of dedicated bike
paths all over the continent. This is especially true in the
Netherlands and Belgium. Other good areas for cycle touring are
Tuscany in Italy, Provence in France, southern England, anywhere in
Ireland and southern Germany.
If you plan on skiing, some of the best ski resorts can be found in
Austria, France and Switzerland. Though skiing is not a budget
pastime, it is still possible to hit the slopes cheaply if you avoid
the Alps and head to some of the lesser-known mountains in
Andorra and Eastern Europe which offer some of the cheapest
skiing packages. Ski gear can be hired in even the smallest mountain
resorts so there's no need to bring boots and poles around. You can
also ski and small resorts in Scotland, Spain, northern Greece and
Turkey.
For surfers, opportunities aren't great but they do exist in Europe.
Windsurfing is more popular along the Mediterranean coast.
Windsurfing is also extremely popular in Greece, southern Italy and
Croatia. You can hire boards and equipment on the beach or in the
resort towns. North Cornwall in England is a chilly but popular
surfing center. Believe it or not, Scotland also has some good
waves. Great areas to windsurf include Ireland and both the North
and South coasts of Spain.
There are also plenty of things of interest for scuba divers around
Europe. The best scuba diving and snorkeling is off the coast of
southern Europe, Turkey and Greece. Other good diving spots are
Cyprus, Malta, Portugal and parts of Italy.
There are also hundreds of organized adventure activities
that you can take part in while in Europe. These can include
canyoning, white water rafting, ballooning, parasailing, bungee
jumping and hang gliding. Always keep in mind that these activities
carry an element of risk so always check the safety record and the
reputation of the company you use. Make sure your equipment is in
good condition and that your travel insurance covers is the type of
activity you want to try. Always listen to the local warnings on
weather conditions.
If you're not into the adrenaline rush, there are also good bird
watching and fishing spots. River fishing throughout Europe is
subject to all sorts of restrictions so you might have to buy a
license and your catch can be limited. Many stretches of river or
also privately owned, so it can be extremely expensive to fish
there.
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About the author:
Michael Russell - Your
Independent guide to
Europe Vacation.
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