Our family of four was privileged to serve as missionaries to France and Belgium for many years. That meant that every one of our vacations was a European vacation. From our home south of Brussels, we could be in London before lunch, the Swiss border in five hours, Paris in three hours, Amsterdam in two hours – all by car. When we lived in Tours, France we could be almost anywhere in France within just a few hours – again by car. In addition, ministry sometimes took us to some of Europe’s most beautiful destinations, giving us the opportunity to combine work and play.

So, as many enjoy their summer 2016 vacations, we thought we’d help you plan your vacation for next summer. Or even earlier as the crowds are smaller and the rates are usually cheaper off-season.

Below are ten more favorite European vacation destinations, all carefully tested for you – some more than once. They are in alphabetical order.

Enjoy these little visits to these great places as you make your plans to go in person.

Bavaria, Germany

Berchtesgaden. This beautiful town is best known for its proximity to Hitler’s southern command       headquarters – “The Eagle’s Nest” was located just outside this charming Bavarian city. Yes, visit and marvel at “The Eagle’s Nest,” but don’t go to Berchtesgaden only for TES – go to see this jewel of a city as it is a classic post card Bavarian small town with old world hotels and restaurants. A walk through the streets of Berchtesgaden is a treat in itself and the views of the surrounding alps are stunning. Warning: if you do want to combine a  visit of The Eagle’s Nest with your visit to Berchtesgaden, be sure to visit in the late spring or summer months as snows can make the ascent by car impossible even as late as May 1^st.

Munich, the capital of Bavaria, is not to be missed as it is one of Germany’s most beautiful cities. Near Munich is Dachau and its World War II concentration camp where 200,000 people were imprisoned and almost 45,000 killed over its twelve years of use as a prison camp. Walking the grounds, seeing the ovens, reading the history is overwhelming, silencing conversation to few and whispered words. When we visited, an old Polish soldier met us at the ovens and talked with us about his life in this camp – he had come every day without fail since the camp was liberated, with the single purpose of doing all he can to ensure the world never forgets the horrors of Dachau.

Neuschwanstein Castle. The castle is located high in the Bavaria Alps, near the town of  Fussen. It was built by King Ludwig II of Bavaria. Oddly enough, this most beautiful and recognizable of all castles was built by Ludwig as a personal retreat. He also built it in honor of composer Richard Wagner; many of the rooms are actually themed, representing works of the German composer. From Fussen, you can walk up the steep road to the castle or you can pay a small fee and enjoy a horse-drawn wagon ride. The only way to see the castle is to take the official tour. Warning: tours of this ornate (to put it mildly) castle are literally “walking” tours, beginning and ending in under 30 minutes. The visitor really doesn’t have time to appreciate the incredible grandeur of this diamond level castle. After your tour and descent back into Fussen, visit the first restaurant on the corner to your left and order the apple strudel and coffee. It will definitely ruin the American version of strudel, but the flavor – and the memory – are worth it.

Côte d’Azur, France / Monaco

The Azur Coast. Azur blue. Enough said. The waters of the Mediterranean along the French Riviera sparkle like liquid diamonds under the sun and their warm temperatures make them ideal for swimming. The surrounding hillsides help give the region its distinctively rugged and elegant beauty. The drive from Marseille to Toulon to Cannes to Antibes to Menton and on to Monte Carlo is absolutely gorgeous, ranging from ascending rocky hills and blue waters to descending lush green woods and rivulets.

Monte Carlo is what you think it will be, but even more. People forget that not only is it a world capital for gambling and night life, but it is home to thousands of people who work and make a life just like people elsewhere do.  And what friendly people! Throughout our travels, our daughters collected postage stamps from every nation we visited. As we walked the beautiful streets of Monte Carlo in search of La Poste (the Post Office), an elderly woman carrying a straw basket of groceries asked (in French) if she could help us find our way. I told her the where and the why of our search. She smiled at our family, explained the way for us, and then assured us that others would be happy to help us if we could not find our way.

Special memory: it was here in Monte Carlo that our younger daughter, Allison, gave a lesson in French to a Frenchman, one that he, nor we, will ever forget – a lesson that evoked laughter, made an instant friend, and earned our family a free dinner from the man’s restaurant. Le pain!

Edinburgh, Scotland.

The Scottish capital, green, rich in history and magically beautiful. After you enjoy the outer areas of the city, head up to Edinburgh Castle, walk the Royal Mile of High Street down to Hollyrood Castle for a literal mile of classic views. You’ll see “the honors of Scotland,” the crown and its accoutrements (like the mace and sword) – along with the Scottish coronation stone. Inside Edinburgh Castle you’ll also see the royal apartments of Mary, Queen of Scots, including the room where her son, James I was born – he whose name is still carried on the Bible translation he commissioned. Centuries old, massive cannon forged in our Belgian home town, Mons, defend the castle high atop its walls. Be sure to visit the Scottish War Memorial where the nation honors its noble war dead. As you walk from Edinburgh Castle to Hollyrood, from time to time you’ll see, and hear, men in kilts playing bagpipes – wonderful. Along this walk you will also see the place on High Street where Charles II was declared king of Scotland as well as the home of Scottish Reformer, John Knox lived. You can finish your day in Edinburgh with a visit to an authentic carvery restaurant where you can enjoy a real Scottish meal.

The Greek Isles

Sailing the Greek Islands itself is vacation enough – the dark blue waters of the Aegean are amazingly beautiful and from time to time you may even see schools of dolphins jumping and racing along side the boat. Stopping in various ports to sightsee, dine, and shop is just as nice. As always, get off the beaten path to walk the side streets and “lose” yourself in the surrounding areas. You’ll find a treasure or two in great restaurants and shops, and you’ll probably meet some wonderful locals along the way. At Poros take the long climb up the slope to see the clock tower. While the tower really is a beautiful sight, the real attraction is the fantastic view of the port and sea. In Hydra the port area is bright and colorful with lots of interesting things to see: multi-colored fishing boats, the burro trains, and shops. Walk around the coast toward the sea and find the overlook of the sea, complete with stairs down to the crashing Aegean waters.

Lloret de Mar, Spain

We used to vacation here every three years with missionary colleagues from across Europe. This beautiful coastal town is near Barcelona and a well-known vacation destination for its warm Mediterranean waters, beautiful views and, yes, its shopping opportunities. Vacationers come to enjoy the Old Town area of Lloret, filled with wonderful shopping and restaurants. You can shop for Toledo gold and exquisite Nao and Lladro porcelain at attractive prices. Architectural features include the Castle of St. Joan and the church of St. Roma. Lloret also features especially nice street cafés where you can quietly pass the afternoon in conversation.

Loire Valley, France (Tours, France)

We still call Tours our home town in France. Nowhere like it. We lived on the north side of the Loire River (you really need to drive along the Loire for a good stretch of your ay), just a hop, skip and a jump up Rue Nationale and within walking distance of life’s needs. Tours is an absolutely beautiful town featuring a 14^th century town square – Place Plumereau – with many wood buildings from that time. The square and surrounding streets are filled with wonderful cafés, restaurants and shops. Roman ruins await you behind one row of stores on the square. St. Martin’s church is a few blocks away, home to the remains of the venerable saint of early Christian days. The twin towers of the cathedral of St. Gatien are a familiar and famous landmark. Within one hour of Tours are more than 350 exquisite French châteaux. Some of our favorites include these ten:

            Amboise – and its gorgeous town of the same name;

            Azay-le-Rideau – our favorite, we wrote of this château in Part I of this series;

            Blois – formidable exteriors rising like cliffs, ornate interiors of vivid colors;

            Chambord – massive in size, it began as a season hunting lodge for the king;

            Chenonceau – the gem of the collection, built in 1513 over the Cher River and as beautiful as ever;

            Cheverny – an 18^th century château still occupied today;

            Chinon – a ruin today, it is where Joan of Arc miraculously began her rise to fame;

            Clos Lucé – the final home of Leonardo de Vinci;

            Langeais – built for defense, it is a journey back into a true “fortress”;

            Villandry – home to exquisite flower and kitchen gardens, all geometrically arranged;

London, England

London may well be my favorite large city in the world. Yes, Buckingham Palace, Parliament, Big Ben, 10 Downing Street, Trafalgar Square, but much more. So many memories of London. The Tower of London: seeing The Crown Jewels; the look on our daughters’ faces as they came face to face with the exact spot where queens and others lost their head; the kind (and famous) Beefeater who drew a special sketch for our daughters and took time to make their visit special. Westminister Abbey: first visit and marveling at the names of those interred there – it reads like a Who’s Who of English History, Literature and Art; discovering the lesser known St. Margaret’s Church right behind the Abbey (don’t miss this!). Covent Garden: the street artists, magicians and acrobats; the flea market, the food; the quiet street festival feel; eating at Wagamama. Harrod’s: The Tiffany’s and Cartier of department stores; unbelievable; one entire room devoted to Jelly Bellies; again, unbelievable. The Royal Albert Hall: iconic concert venue. St. Pancras Old Church and Gardens: you won’t find this address in the tour guides, but the grounds are gorgeous and a pleasant way to spend a lazy afternoon. The British Museum: Magna Carta, The Rosetta Stone, famous literary and music manuscripts, and the incredible King’s Library – go! Marylebone Station: more than a train station, it’s a piece of British film history, from the Beatles to you name it. Apple Headquarters: it was there the Beatles built their business empire; it was here on the roof where they held their last – and very informal – public concert; sadly, boarded up today. Twickenham Studios: creative home of so many classic British films, including “Agatha Christie’s Poirot.” Sherlock Holmes’ 221B home and museum.   New Bond Street: home ot Tiffany’s, Cartier, Asprey’s and many more of the top-of-the-top of the line jewelry establishments; entry by appointment only; no cameras allowed on the street; security everywhere; limousines measured by the acre. EMI/Abbey Road Studios: We signed the wall out front and even got pictures on the front steps of this place where the greatest band of all time made music; then it was out to take our turn getting pictures on the famous Zebra Crosswalk where the Fabs took their iconic photo for their final recording. No trip to this corner of London (St. John’s Woods) would be complete without a trip to the official Beatles Coffee Shop: coffee and something sweet to eat make it the perfect end to a perfect day.

Paris, France

Where to even begin in the City of Lights. What a joy it was to live just south of this spectacular city. I won’t even try to list all of the obvious reasons to make Paris your next vacation destination. I’ll just list some of our favorite memories. The Eiffel Tower: climbing the stairs as high as permitted, dining in its second level 5-star restaurant or being pinned by the wind against the cage all the way at the top, scaring an elevator full of people; seeing it at night for the first time. The Metro: chasing and catching the 5 thieves who robbed me; informing a Paris policeman that he would one day stand before God and give an account for his treatment of my family. The Catacombs: over 2 km of crypts in which the bones of 6 million people are arrange for viewing, complete with altars. Pas beau.   A Forgotten Inn: after being stranded on the streets of a Paris banlieu, we found refuge in small inn whose name we have since forgotten. God bless the bar owner who found these lodgings for our family. Les Bateaux Mouches: Our favorite way to see Paris is still by the tour boats that sail the Seine. Be sure to go at night when the temps are cool and the lights of Paris make her sparkle. Les Jardin des Tuilleries: A friend insisted we eat at here at a charming outside sandwich shop. I protested, telling him the price would be prohibitive, but he insisted. He got a table while I waited and line and did the ordering (he didn’t speak French). When I arrived with the sandwiches, he was so incensed at the $13 price tag for a hot dog that he wouldn’t – and didn’t – eat it.   The Orsay Museum: Spending the entire day enjoying the Impressionists; lunch in their fabulous Louis XIV restaurant. The Louvre: every time we went. Fantastic. As many times as we went, we never saw it all. The Seine: Enjoying baguette sandwiches seated on a bench along the Seine. Our first time in Paris after moving to France: arriving in the city we saw hundreds and hundreds of police everywhere and noted that every trash can we saw was bolted closed. It was only after we arrived home that we learned there had been a bomb threat in the city.   Our first time driving Paris: We drove a moving truck through the city on our way to our new home in Tours, France. The temp was almost 100 degrees, traffic was stop-n-go, we were trying to find our way through the city for the first time, and we had no air-conditioning in the truck.

SPECIAL NOTE: While in Paris, be sure to head south to Versailles and its unbelievable château AND an hour due south to Chartres to visit its incomparable blue stained glass cathedral.

The Rhine Valley, Germany

A drive through the Rhine Valley is a picturesque an relaxing way to spend a short vacation. This trip is       filled with old German castles that look down on you as you drive below. Towns like Koblenz, Bingen,       Bacharach and Boppard are great places to stay, shop and eat as you enjoy this beautiful valley. In       Bacharach you can shop for old lithograph prints. In Koblenz you can enjoy wonderful German restaurants and pastry shops, dining in or dining outside. In Boppard you can stay overnight in a hotel overlooking the Rhine, taking in the sights and sounds as the ships navigate their way down the river. We always stay at the Garni Gunther in Boppard for its great views of the valley, its proximity to restaurants, and the amazing fact that the owners are a German-American couple: she is German and he is from Ohio, my home state. There are also some very interesting shops in Boppard – we bought a beautiful German cuckoo clock here.

Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Germany

The Christmas capital of the world! The city is a walled Medieval fortress that transformed itself into a year-long celebration of Christmas with unbelievable decorations and stores, all in the classic old world style. Store after store offer the most beautiful things imaginable and many of them are handmade. Kathe Wolfahrt “Christmas Village” is amazing: Animatronics-type characters invite you in and other entertain you as you shop; the store features a traditional German 18 foot Christmas pyramid with 122,000 lights, and an immense Christmas tree with over 1000 ornaments, many of them as large as beach balls.  We won’t even talk about the great restaurants and the beautiful walk around the city along the top of the Medieval wall.

Venice, Italy

Easily one of the three most beautiful cities we have ever visited. East meets West, land meets sea, and this day meets history in a city that cannot be described in words, but must be experienced to understand. By Gondola or by the labyrinth of walking streets, Venice truly is a gem of beauty and surprises, every turn bringing something new into view. Yes, the Grand Canal is gorgeous, but get off the beaten path and explore! But be sure to carry a map app or you’ll never find your way home. If at all possible, go in February for Carnival when thousands of people from around the world come to Venice to participate and compete in a pageant of costumes that is stunning. On certain days of the festival, the contestants walk the piazza, gladly posing for pictures with anyone carrying a camera or phone. The theatre, the elegance, the pageantry, the meeting of history and time, it is never to be forgotten.

SPECIAL NOTE: While in Venice, take the short train ride over to Verona, a gorgeous Italian city complete with Roman coliseum and street after street of flowers-and-cobblestone charm. Verona is famous as the setting for Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. In fact, be sure to visit the ancestral home of the Capulets where you can stand out on Juliet’s balcony and scan the horizon for Romeo or pose for a picture in the courtyard with a bronze statue of Juliette. Verona is a uniquely beautiful and well-preserved city. The downtown area is striking. Don’t miss the Ponte Scaligero (Scaligero Bridge ), finished in 1356, the statue of Dante, the Roman theatre and Roman arches, and the remains of a Roman street complete with grooves worn into the rock by Roman wagon wheels.