Cosmopolitan. Beautiful architecture. A rich history. A river running through it. Public thermal baths. Great food and cafes. Jewish heritage. Budapest is all of this and more. It’s not the old-fashioned Communist era city you may think it is. Budapest is a great city to savor and explore – and with some simple planning, you can find some lovely, tranquil spots.

The Upper Engadine alpine region is a hiker’s paradise with glaciers, lakes, and rivers plus charming towns with unique culture, lodging, and great cuisine. After plenty of research, we decided to explore the hiking options located around St. Moritz.

Gran Paradiso National Park, located in northern Italy near the French and Swiss borders, is off-the-beaten path for most Americans. That’s probably why the idea of hiking there appealed to my husband David and me.