Like a medieval fantasy preserved for all time, the Czech Republic embraces its storied heritage while also thriving as a modern city. With towering castles and the dramatic arched bridges as a backdrop, this spectacular country offers an astonishing array of culture, art and nightlife. The heart of the country lies in the magnificent capital city of Prague. The city’s gothic towers, Baroque churches and Romanesque rotundas create a vivid tableau of life in the middle ages. The city’s calendar is crammed with events and music festivals, and the burgeoning gastronomy scene offers a wide range of international and ethnic dining options. Find paintings and Bohemian crystals in the stalls along the Charles Bridge, take a ride in an elegant horse-drawn carriage or perhaps sit down to an inexpensive lager in one of the jovial beerhouses. Romantic Prague has never been more enchanting.
You can see over 2,000 castles and châteauxs, as well as 12 UNESCO World heritage sites in the Czech Republic including the Villa Tugendhat in Brno, the village of Holasovice and the Baroque column Olomouc.
One of the most wonderful ways to experience Prague and other cities in Central Europe is on a river cruise. Another unique option is a privately guided tour combining Budapest and Prague. This 6 night package including private transfers and some touring, breakfast daily and your choice of 3, 4 or 5 star hotels. Travel any day of the year…priced from $,1799 pp
Whether you are a wine connoisseur or just an enthusiast, expand your horizons on a tour or France river cruise through the Burgundy Wine Region.
Most of the vineyards in the Champagne region can be found in Epernay and Reims. In Reims you will also find the amazing Louis XV Palace, the Roman Porta de Mars, and many museums dedicated to the art of making effervescent wine. The 13th century Reims Cathedral is a famous jewel of Gothic architecture. The cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, was destroyed in World War I, but was restored with its stunning facade, interior and stained-glass windows. Try to make time to visit Moet Chandon and Taittinger vineyards as well as Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Beaunne, is the wine capital of Burgundy, and an ideal base to explore the vineyards. The burgundy region is known as the meeting place of civilizations. Located in the center of France, it is easily accessible via the high speed TGV train and numerous highways winding throughout.
Below is a video compliments of the France Tourist Board. You can also click to register with the France Tourist Board to win a trip to Alsace, Burgundy and Champagne region.
The wildlife in the Galapagos is extreme. Giant tortoises whose saddle-shaped carpaces inspired the name Galapagos. Marine iguanas who have adapted to an ocean-going existence by grazing on seaweed and developing a special gland to rid them of excess salt. The world’s only Equatorial penguin, which has learned to hold its flippers out to cool off and protect its feet from sunburn. Species never developed a fear of man, so they’re unusually easy to approach and observe.
Even though the archipelago has been studied extensively, new species continue to emerge. A new species of giant tortoise was recently discovered not far from the Charles Darwin Station. A hefty pink iguana with black stripes was discovered in 1986 and only announced in 2009. You never know what new wonder you might discover in this UNESCO World Heritage site – a place that has become a “must see” for those who long to continue evolving their own knowledge of the world around them.
Interested in planning a Galapagos trip? You can either tour or cruise the Galapagos Islands. Our travel consultants can help you find the perfect Galapagos vacation.
For those that are new to travel, you may be wondering when reading through an itinerary, “what is a UNESCO World Heritage Site?”
A UNESCO World Heritage Site is actually a site that holds a list of outstanding cultural or natural universal value such as, the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. It could be a monument, building, mountain, forest, lake, desert, complex or city.
So how is a site selected?
Only countries that have signed the World Heritage Convention, pledging to protect their natural & cultural heritage can submit nominations for properties on their territory to be considered for inclusion in on the list.
A nominated property is independently evaluated by several Advisory Boards. Once a site has been nominated & evaluated, the intergovernmental committee makes the final decision. One per year, the Committee meets to decide which sites will be inscribed on the World Heritage list.
The program aims to catalogue & preserve sites of outstanding importance, either cultural or natural, to the common heritage of humankind.
There are currently 890 World Heritage Sites in 148 countries. These include 689 cultural, 176 natural and 25 mixed properties. Each year millions of people travel the world to visit UNESCO sites. It is estimated that 2 to 3 million visitors go to see the Taj Mahal annually. The famous Gothic Cathedral in Cologne, Germany has an estimated 6 million visitors per year. In Barcelona, the Sagrada Familia by Antonio Gaudi is the most visited site in the city. Italy has more sites than any other country, a 44.
There are 20 UNESCO sites in the U.S. You may have visited one already, not realizing it was a UNESCO site such as the Statue of Liberty, Grand Canyon, Yosemite, Redwood, Yellowstone or Olympic National Parks.
For those that are new to travel, you may be wondering when reading through an itinerary what is a UNESCO World Heritage Site?
A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a site that holds a list of outstanding cultural or natural universal value such as, the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. It could be a monument, building, mountain, forest, lake, desert, complex or city.
So how is a site selected?
Only countries that have signed the World Heritage Convention, pledging to protect their natural & cultural heritage can submit nominations for properties on their territory to be considered for inclusion in UNESCO’s World Heritage list.
A nominated property is independently evaluated by several Advisory Boards. Once a site has been nominated & evaluated, the intergovernmental World Heritage Committee makes the final decision. One per year, the Committee meets to decide which sites will be inscribed on the World Heritage list.
The program aims to catalogue & preserve sites of outstanding importance, either cultural or natural, to the common heritage of humankind.
There are currently 878 World Heritage Sites in 145 countries. These include 679 cultural, 174 natural and 25 mixed properties.
You may have visited a place in the U.S. already, not realizing it was a UNESCO site such as the Statue of Liberty, Grand Canyon, Yosemite Yellowstone or Olympic National Park.
I have seen 20 sites in 9 countries, so only 858 to go, but I have to say that certain countries do not interest me AT ALL, so my goal would be to see at least half of the UNESCO sites while traveling the world.
Like a medieval fantasy preserved for all time, the Czech Republic embraces its storied heritage while also thriving as a modern city. With towering castles and the dramatic arched bridges as a backdrop, this spectacular country offers an astonishing array of culture, art and nightlife. The heart of the country lies in the magnificent capital city of Prague. The city’s gothic towers, Baroque churches and Romanesque rotundas create a vivid tableau of life in the middle ages. The city’s calendar is crammed with events and music festivals, and the burgeoning gastronomy scene offers a wide range of international and ethnic dining options. Find paintings and Bohemian crystals in the stalls along the Charles Bridge, take a ride in an elegant horse-drawn carriage or perhaps sit down to an inexpensive lager in one of the jovial beerhouses. Romantic Prague has never been more enchanting.
Whether you are a wine connoisseur or just an enthusiast, expand your horizons on a 
