Most  often enough, couples looking to celebrate their love escape to the warm climate and laid-back atmosphere of a tropical resort. But in my case, commemorating my wedding anniversary with my husband demanded a bit more adventure, mixed in with culture and fast-paced action set in the historically rich region of Tuscany. With that said, booking the ultimate vacation was easy – just by signing up for a touring vacation with Italy by Vespa, founded by Stanley and Patsy Gallery.

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Arriving in the sun-drenched city of Florence, we first settle in at Hotel Radda, where we rest our heads amidst the essence of 11th century architecture and impressive stone walkways. As we settle in for the first part of our trip, we admire the majestic view of the surrounding countryside, then quickly make our way to the Vespa orientation. While we do encounter scooter-challenged members in our group, after a little concentration and courtesy, all 16 of us Vespa enthusiasts are soon zooming around the picturesque town on our very first afternoon. The next day, we relocate just minutes away to Hotel Vignale, still in the heart of Tuscany. The refined hotel boasts carefully restored craftsmanship and ancient architectural features.

Every morning, our group gathers in anticipation, for an exciting new day of endless discoveries. As we speed along winding roads to our next destination, there’s plenty to admire: vineyards bearing some of the world’s finest grapes, stately lines of towering cypress trees, silvery-green olive groves, and fields of swaying, crimson poppies. Not just a wine-producing region, Chianti bursts with Romanesque churches, hamlets and castles, which still bare witness to the area’s history and culture. Each village we travel through is embellished with clusters of fragrant and colourful flowers. The floral scent floods our noses, and our eyes widen to capture and remember the picture-perfect terrain.

As our adrenaline is in full swing with every turn on our Vespa, the sound of scooters cuts through the wind. We all can’t help but laugh out loud as we zoom by on our fiery red Vespas, which catch the attention of curious locals.

Each day brings a new finding. We visit Il Borro estate, the medieval hamlet that since 1993, has been restored by the fashion-saavy Ferragamo family. Travellers can rent a villa, discover hidden local artisans’ shops and dine as we did at L’Osteria Del Borro, on a terrace overlooking the medieval village. Apart from Italy’s masterworks, the one thing I miss the most is the extraordinary flavour of the locally grown food: lush tomatoes, salty prosciutto, savoury goat cheese, and more. Every day, we indulge in meals that are five or six courses long. Most meals begin with simply displayed antipasti, including bruschetta, pecorino cheese dripped with honey, and an array of cured meats. At the Michelin-starred restaurant La Bottega del 30, we participate in the art of food preparation, helping to create fresh homemade noodles, tossed in diced tomato and a scintillating sauce of porcini mushroom. More than that, you can’t go to Tuscany without trying the classic cinghiale (wild boar), which is a favourite amongst Tuscans in every restaurant. After every satisfying feast, we find ourselves lingering around the table, sipping Vin Santo, a source of great pride for Tuscans. Chilled limoncello and grappa also make it to the table, to cleanse our palate and restore our senses.

During the rest of our week-long trip, we embark on guided wine tours through some of the most distinguished wineries. This is where we taste, indulge, discuss – not drink – wine made from San Giovese grapes, each glass accompanied by cheese or bread. Next on our list, we fulfill all of our guilty pleasures by slipping through the doors of the only Prada outlet store in Montevarchi, lunch at the 13th century-built Castello di Verrazzano, and a walk through the awe-aspiring Duomo in Siena.

Italy by Vespa successfully takes you past stunning panoramas, lively town squares, authentic gelato shoppes, quiet chapels and every Italian extravagance you can conjure. An adventure of a lifetime, the sweet sound of a scooter or the taste of Chianti Classico on my lips, always transports me back to that fabulous Tuscan voyage. Cin Cin!

www.italybyvespa.com

No matter where you spend it, a run-of-the-mill beach vacation is loosing its allure. With physical activity and eco-awareness on the rise, people are seeking new routes when it comes to the ultimate getaway. It’s a trend that’s picking up speed, as travellers combine bicycling with voyages to distant lands, provided by first-rate tour companies.

Whether you seek to explore the Hawaiian volcanoes or venture along Croatia’s Dalmation Coast, Backroads can help. As one of the world’s largest active travel companies, Backroads specializes in feature bike tours all over the globe. “I simply can’t imagine a better way to immerse yourself in the life of a region; to explore hidden corners and appreciate nuances while travelling under your own power,” says founder and president Tom Hale. Since the company’s first biking trips 30 years ago, Backroads now offers a variety of exotic getaways, including excursions to the Incan town of Ollantaytambo in Peru and the Chorten Nebu Monastery in Bhutan.

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The spirit of exploration is a key driving force behind another expedition leader like Discover France. When it comes to cycling, clients quickly discover it’s the business’ savoir-faire. Featuring self-guided bike tours throughout the country, Discover France provides a full network of local expertise and support to make every trip a pleasurable escape. Travellers can pedal back in time and visit the beaches of Normandy, once invaded by Allied forces in the Second World War. For the royal-minded, outings to the Loire Valley’s many Renaissance-era castles promises a majestic experience. Recognized by publications like Maison de la France, the company remains one of Europe’s pristine providers of adventurous retreats.

The best of both worlds comes together when explorers discover Pedal and Sea Adventures. An ultimate cycling quest unfolds with the company’s imaginative guided bike and cooking tours in Atlantic Canada and Europe. “You’ll encounter camaraderie, fresh air, great cuisine, wonderful inns, and if you’re lucky – wildlife, too,” says founder and co-owner Dana Gallant. Destinations include the snow-capped Canadian Rockies, complete with pines, elk and mountain goats. “Of course, our most challenging tours are the Viking Trail in Newfoundland and the Cabot Trail in Cape Breton,” Gallant says. For buccaneers seeking extra European flair, Pedal and Sea offers tours through Galway – Ireland’s cultural heart – and Sicily, a haven of Greek temples and Phoenician ruins.

With a never-ending list of places yet to be explored, the Earth remains an open field of adventure.

www.backroads.com
www.discoverfrance.com
www.pedalandseaadventures.com

The first thing you notice when arriving in Brussels, Belgium is the wildly divergent architecture around you. The striking buildings that have stood for hundreds of years share terrain with wonderfully eccentric Art Nouveau buildings designed by native Belgian architect Victor Horta. The one thing that’s consistent about the look of Brussels is its inconsistency. The reason for this is that Belgium has been conquered so many times over the centuries – by the Spanish, the Germans, the French and the English – that the city reflects the diverse looks of all those different cultures.

The route I chose to get to Belgium is one that I highly recommend. I flew to Paris, landing at Charles De Gaulle International Airport. If you fly Air France, they can arrange for a connecting train from the airport in Paris to Brussels. The train ride is a wonderfully scenic way to see Europe and to see the city of Brussels unfolding before you.

Once in Brussels, I checked into the Royal Windsor Hotel. It was a perfect choice due to its close proximity to the breathtaking city square known as the Brussels Grand Place. Ornate baroque and gothic guild houses border the huge square, which was first built as a merchants’ square in the 13th century. The first building that draws your eye upon entering the square is the Town Hall (now known as the Hotel de Ville). This building also dates back to the 13th century, and is known for its 315-foot tall spires topped by a statue of St. Michael.

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If you are looking for the best of European shopping then you need only to head to one of the coolest shopping areas – the Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert. This glass-roofed arcade has the distinction of being the first shopping mall in all of Europe. First built in 1847, the Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert has cinemas, high-end clothing shops, and many wonderful little cafés and restaurants.

Another spot to visit if you are interested in history and historical architecture is the Palais Royal (Royal Palace), which is the residence and office of the King of Belgium. During the summer you are allowed to enter the Palais Royal for tours, and if you wish to catch a glimpse of the king then just check the flagpole – if the flag is flying, that means the king is home.

What is Belgium perhaps best known for? The answer is beer, and in Brussels there are pubs and beer gardens everywhere that boast over 600 brands of beer – everything from the widely popular Stella Artois to the lesser known, wonderfully flavourful cherry beers made by the Trappist order of monks. If you are a big beer fan then there is a place in Brussels that you should visit above and beyond the readily available beer gardens – Cantillon Brewery. This brewery is amazing because it still uses the same brewing process that it did when it was first built in 1900. This family-run brewery (the Van Roy-Cantillon family) is open for tours. While there, ask to sample a uniquely Belgian beer called Geuze, which has the taste and tingle of fine champagne.

While wandering the streets of this interesting and picturesque city, stop by one of the many streetside stands for some French fries. The best fries you will ever eat anywhere in the world can be found in Brussels. Why? Because French fries were actually invented in Belgium. One older Belgium gentleman who ran a little French fries stand near the Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert explained the secret to me – the French fries are fried not once, but twice in oil heated to two different temperatures.

Belgium is also the home of the most fantastic chocolate you will ever experience. Belgium produces 172,000 tons of chocolate and has over 2,100 chocolate shops. And what is the secret of Belgian chocolate? They use no vegetable shortening, thus keeping the cocoa flavour more pure.

If you have ever wondered about the origin of the word “spa”, the answer can be found in Belgium. The town of Spa is about a two hour drive from Brussels, and it is the place where all other “spas” get their names. Belgium is chock full of luxury spas from one end of the country to the other if you are looking for a little indulgent relaxation.

Here are some more fun facts about Belgium: there are actually more castles per square mile in Belgium than anywhere else in the world. English is widely spoken in Belgium, particularly in Brussels, because it is the headquarters of both the European Union and NATO. Jean-Claude Van Damme, who is sometimes referred to as “the muscles from Brussels” hails from Brussels and was trained as a martial artist there. Also born in Brussels was the legendary actress and style icon Audrey Kathleen Ruston, whom you likely know by the name Audrey Hepburn.

Brussels, Belgium is one of those wonderful places that you can visit. It makes you feel like you are the first to discover it because so little is known about it in comparison to other European capitals. So give it a try – you will be amazed by what you find there.