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Napa Valley Wineries and Wine Tasting:

With over 250 Wineries, Napa Valley is one of the largest and the most popular
wine producing regions in the world. It is just 35 miles long with over 40,000
acres of land planted to grapes. Most of these Wineries are open for visitors
and offer Wine Tasting and Wine Tours providing excellent wine education. Some
of the Napa Valley Wineries also offer picnic facilities with memorable
opportunities to celebrate any occasion with family and friends. Most of the
wineries are located on CA 29 whereas Silverado Trail also has popular wineries
and has less traffic. While most of the wineries do not require a reservation,
it is best to call in first if you have any particular winery in mind. Since
Wine Tasting is a major Napa Valley attraction, most of the wineries offer some
FREE Wine tasting with an additional charge of $2 to $5 each for other premium
wine tasting.

Besides wine tasting there are several other things to do in Napa.

Petrified Forest:
The magnificent Petrified Forest in Calistoga will take you back to an era of
more than three million years ago. It consists of giant redwood trees that
turned into stones millions of years back after being covered from the ash of
the Volcano that erupted three million years ago. According to Geologists it is
one of the finest examples of a Pliocene fossil forest in the world. The area
also has a small famous museum with interesting fossils and a small gift shop
with crystals and petrified wood that make good souvenirs to take back home. It
is open daily from 9 am to 5 pm in the winters and 9 am to 6 pm in the summers,
it is best to call in first for group tours.

Old Faithful Geyser:
Throwing hundreds of gallons water high up in the air like a giant
fountain, the spectacular performance of the Old Faithful Geyser in Calistoga is
a must see natural wonder and famous attraction of Napa Valley. Boiling hot
water shoots up to 60 feet up in the sky at regular periods of half an hour,
while spectators gather around it, trying to catch a good picture. It is one of
the three Geysers in the world that perform at regular intervals and have earned
the name of “Old Faithful”. Along With the Geyser, the area also has a small
gift shop and a picnic area for family get together and fun. It is open daily
from 9 am to 5 pm in the winters and 9 am to 6 pm in the summers.

Napa Premium Outlets:
Napa Factory Outlets are located at 629 Factory Stores Drive, Napa, CA 94558 (In
the city of Napa; First Exit off Hwy. 29 ). The stores are open daily 10am to
8pm Monday to Saturday and 10am to 6pm on Sundays. Being close to San Francisco
with over 50 stores, the Napa Premium Outlets are more popular than Petaluma
Village Premium Outlets and Vacaville Premium Outlets. You will get a
opportunity save 25% to 60% on popular brand stores. Some of the popular brands
at the outlets are Ann Taylor, Tommy Hilfiger, Barneys New York Outlet, Gap
Outlet, Calvin Klein, Coach, Cole Haan, Jones New York, Kenneth Cole, Liz
Claiborne, Banana Republic, Timberland, Bass, Fossil Company Store, Zales and
more. 

Hot
Air Ballooning:
Floating high up in the air is probably the dream of any one of us, Napa Valley
Air Ballooning has made this dream come true and is a popular attractions of
Napa Valley. With excellent weather for Hot Air Ballooning, rides are possible
almost all year round. The one hour Napa Valley Hot Air Balloon flights begin in
the morning when the winds are gentle, air is cooler and the Valley shines like
a jewel due to the rising sun. It is one of the most romantic and adventurous
ways of exploring the beauty of the Napa Valley and enjoying the spectacular
views of the region. Most balloons launch early in the morning from the
Yountville area. Several companies offer Hot Air Balloon rides and the package
usually consists of the ride first followed by a glass of traditional Champaign
and authentic breakfast after the ride. Depending upon the package, the cost of
the ride ranges anywhere from $195 to $260 per person.

Napa Wine Train:
Being one of the most famous attraction of Napa Valley, the glorious wine train
journey begins at Napa to St. Helena and back to Napa. Since this Wine Train
offers breathtaking views, relaxed atmosphere, elegant surrounding along with
food and wine, it is one of the best ways to explore the Napa Valley which is
one of the top wine producing areas in the world. The three hour round trip
covers 36 miles of Napa Valley vineyards along with the options of Brunch, lunch
and dinner. There are three seating arrangements all serving gourmet food and
premier wines. One of the settings is a open air arrangement where you can enjoy
the beautiful views of the Napa Valley Wineries along with outstanding food and
sparkling wine. This elegantly decorated wine train is also an ideal place for
celebrating any occasion with friends and family.

Along with the above famous attractions of Napa Valley, there are several Art
Galleries and Museums also, the most popular is the Volakis
Gallery in Yountville. There are several other things to do like Bicycle tours,
Kayaking & Boating, Shopping, Spas, Golf Courses and hiking trails to add
some more fun and adventure to your trip. 

Stockholm is the capital of Sweden and a famous tourist destination located in
the eastern coast of the country near Malaren lake and the Baltic Sea. The
Stockholm archipelago which stretches over 80 kilometers is a popular attraction
of the city, consisting of thousands of islands, rocks and islets. The best time
for tourists to visit Stockholm is during summers when the days are pleasantly
warm with evening slightly cool. The average temperature in the month of July is
18°C and -3°C in January. Majority of locals work in service industries like
technology and finance.

Tourism is an important part of the economy and with several famous places to
see, tourists can have a good time in the city. It also has many historical
buildings starting from the 15th century. Stockholm also has an extensive public
transport system and is well connected by rail systems, roads, ferries and air.
Stockholm-Arlanda Airport is the largest airport of Sweden. You can buy tickets
to several tours, tourist destinations and museums at the Stockholm Tourist
Centre. A great way to save money during your trip is to buy The Stockholm Card
which includes admission to several museums, transportation, tourist attractions
and many other famous sights of the city.
*

Famous
places to see in Stockholm are:

1. The Stockholm archipelago:
This is one of the most beautiful sites of Stockholm and it stretches over 80
kilimeters consisting thousands of rocks, islands and islets. The best place to
enjoy this natural wonder is City Hall, the Royal Palace, Vaxholm town or simply
take the tours in ferries or small ships. Many of these islands have restaurants
and stores and others are just lush green
piece of land and others are totally deserted. Grinda, Moja and Sandhamn are
famous tourist destinations.

2. Gamla Stan old town:
It is a picturesque old town with several old buildings and reflects the
historic past of Stockholm.

3. The Royal Palace:
Built in the 17th century, this is a beautiful architectural attraction. This is
also the official Swedish Royal residence and is one of the most glorious
palaces in Europe. The guard ceremony takes place every Wednesday and Saturday.

4. Royal Djurgarden:
The popular island of Djurgarden is densely packed with a variety of
entertainment options like world class restaurants, museums and wooded green
space.

5. City Hall (Stadshuset):
This City Hall is made up of red bricks and stands on the King’s Island (Kungsholmen)
since 1923. The most famous tourist attraction in this building is the
magnificent Golden Hall whose walls are covered with handmade mosaics. Guided
tours are also available to various halls like the Nobelhall and the Blue Hall.
 

6. Museum of National Antiquities:
It contains a treasure of archaeological artifacts many of which were recovered
from the tombs and caches of treasures from the Vikings.

7. Skansen:
Skansen is literally an open-air museum, here the historical buildings from the
18th and 19th centuries can be seen, many of which have been relocated from
around the Sweden. There is also an aquarium, Monkeys exhibit, Skansen Zoo and
more.

Other popular attractions include the Public Library, Globe Arena (Globen),
several Churches and Museums. Stockholm is certainly a very popular tourist
attraction loaded with many natural wonders and famous places to see and enjoy.

Gothenburg is a famous tourist destination, located in in Southwestern Sweden
and it is the second largest city in Sweden. It was founded by the King Gustavus
Adolphus in in 1621. It is the largest sea port of Sweden and also has a large
student population (over 60,000 students) due to the presence of two
universities including the University of Gothenburg. It has also been known by
the names of Goteborg and Gothembourg.

The climate is generally mild and experiences quite a lot of rain, best time to
come here is during summers. Most people reach here via Gothenburg-Landvetter
airport, Gothenburg central rail station, tram or bus. Most famous tourist
attractions of the city are the amusement park Liseberg (over 3 million annual
visitors), Gothenburg Opera, Museum of World Culture, Gothenburg Museum of Art,
G?teborg Botanical Garden, Southern Gothenburg Archipelago, Gothenburg Film
Festival (February) and Gothenburg Book Fair (in September).

SAVING SOME MONEY:
The best and most economical way to see famous tourist attractions is to buy a
Gothenburg City Pass which gives entry to most museums, tourist attractions,
free tram rides, free bus, grand house passes, free parking ( otherwise the
parking is expensive ) and more. A tourist office is located at the Nordstan
shopping center which will issue these passes ( or visit goteborg.com).
Gothenburg has a very good network of trams all over the city and many bicycle
paths.

Famous tourist attractions of Gothenburg:

1. Liseberg:
Equipped with a variety of rides, it is the biggest amusement park in
Scandinavia. This famous amusement park is a major tourist attraction and more
than 3 million visitors visit Liseberg annually.

2. Gothenburg Opera House:
This popular attraction is located in the Packhuskajen quay in central
Gothenburg, it is a modern opera house.

3. Skansen Kronan:
Built in the the 17th century it is a famous hilltop fortification. At one point
it was a prison and now contains the military museum.

4. Indoor Fish Market:
This popular building is located near the harbor and is also known as “Feskek?rka”.

5. The Famous Gothenburg Museums:
Art Museum, City Museum, Universeum, Maritiman,Natural History Museum, World
Culture Museum, Kviberg Military Museum, Volvo Car Museum and many more.

6. Haga:
This popular city has many beautiful wooden houses from the 19th century. It
is located close to Skansen Kronan.

7: Churches and Cathedrals:
These historic buildings are a popular tourist attraction of Gothenburg. You can
plan to see these famous buildings - Christinae Church, Crown House, Gothenburg
Cathedral and Oscar Fredrik Church.

8. Famous Parks:
Gothenburg Botanical Garden, Slottsskogen (including a zoo and old houses) and
Tradgardsforeningen rose garden.

9. Southern Gothenburg Archipelago:
This beautiful archipelago is connected by ferries/tram from the mainland. This
is a great picnic area where you can enjoy local resturants or just swim in the
ocean.

10. Other Famous Attractions:
Elfsborgs fortress (built in 17th century) , Tjoloholm Castle, shopping centers
(NK or Arkaden) and Gothenburg University.

Summers is the best time to enjoy Gothenburg, you can visit the parks, inner
city, Liseberg, along the river, the Archipelago or in the Haga area.

Salzburg city is a very popular tourist destination among the tourists visiting
Austria, especially famous for its baroque architecture in the Salzburg’s “Old
Town” (Altstadt), it was also listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site
in 1997. Salzburg is geographically located on the banks of the Salzach river
close to the Alps. The famous fortress “Festung Hohensalzburg” was built in 1077
and was later expanded by many rulers. Even though the population of Salzburg
city is of more than 150,000 individuals, this local population gets outnumbered
in the peak tourist season. It is also the birthplace of Wolfgang Amadeus
Mozart.

As mentioned earlier, the Old Town of Salzburg is a World Heritage Site.
Salzburg is well connected with the rest of the country with rails, it is also
well connected with many towns from Germany and Italy. You can also reach here
by air (Salzburg Airport- SZG), buses or drive in your own car. The famous
Salzburg Music Festival is organized each year in July and August attracting
tourists from all over the world. The best way to get around is by taking the
city busses and then walking around. To save money during your trip, do consider
a Salzburg Card if you are planning to stay for a few days. It includes
free admission to most of city’s attractions, public transport and discounts for
tours and events. 

Famous tourist attractions of Salzburg are:

1. Salzburger Hellbrunn:
Loaded with natural beauty, it has several clever fountains, castles and
beautiful gardens. It also has a children’s playground, Stone Opera Theatre and
an overall good place for picnic.

2. Hohensalzburg Fortress:
It is located on top of a mountain and is clearly visible from most of the city.
From this famous fortress you can enjoy the breathtaking views of the Salzburg
city and the Alps. There is also a museum of medieval weapons, executioner
chamber and even hosts public concerts in the evenings. It is one of the largest
castles in Europe.

3. Mozart’s birth house:
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was born on 27 January 1756 in this famous house and the
house also hosts a popular museum devoted to Mozart’s family.

4. Schloss Mirabell:
This has a beautiful castle with gardens and the world’s most beautiful wedding
hall (Marble Hall).

5. The Untersberg:
A famous mountain near the city, tourists can take a cable car which takes them
over 1300m to the Geiereck peak.

6. Casino of Salzburg:
Slot machines and other games. It is located in the Schloss Klessheim Palace and
was once used by Adolf Hitler.

7. Visit the Salt Mines:
There are many salt mine tours available in the city. The name Salzburg itself
means “Salt Castle” because once in the 8th century there were barges carrying
salt on the Salzach river.

Other famous tourist attractions include:
Salzburg Zoo, Toy Museum, Museum of Modern Art, Museum of Natural History, Anif
Castle, St. Sebastian Cemetery , Salzburg Cathedral, Residenz State Rooms,
Salzburger Freilichtmuseum GroBgmain (an open-air museum) and Stiftskirche St.
Peter.
 

Graz is the second-largest city in Austria (after Vienna) and a popular tourist
location, it is also the capital of Styria region. Graz is located in south east
of Austria, on the banks of Mur river. Graz’s “Old Town” is a World Cultural
Heritage Sites as it is one of the best-preserved cities of Europe for its
unique architecture and buildings. The average annual temperature of Graz is
about 9°C. It is also a famous center of education with its six universities of
over 40,000 students. 

It is believed that the oldest settlement in Graz dates back to the Copper Age.
It is about 200 km southwest of Vienna ( about 2 hours commute) and due to its
geographic location it receives more sunshine per year and less rain. It is also
the birthplace of California’s Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger (Thal region), who
is also a popular Hollywood actor. Graz is well connected by air, rail, road and
bus. Within the city you can easily use the trams, local buses, taxi’s, bicycles
or your own car.

Famous tourist attractions of Graz:

1. Old Town: The UNESCO World Heritage organization added this “old town”
to it’s list in 1999 for the architecture of its buildings. The the old town has
over 1000 buildings ranging from Gothic to Contemporary. Popular places to see
in the old town are Schlo?berg hill, Uhrturm clocktower, Neue Gallerie Museum,
Schlo?bergbahn, The Landhaus state parliament, Landeszeughaus armoury,
Schauspielhaus theatre, Dom cathedral, Rathaus toontown, Burg castle, Gemaltes
Haus building, Kunsthaus museum, Murinsel artificial island and Buildings,
courtyards.

2. Schlo? Eggenberg - A palace and a museum.

3. Osterreichisches Freilichtmuseum Stubing - An open-air museum of old
farm houses.
 

4. Herz Jesu Kirche - Largest church in Graz.

5. Ruine Gosting vista point.

6. Lurgrotte - A large cave system.

7. Styrian Tuscany ( or the Steirische Weinstrasse) is a wine growing
region of Graz.

8. Graz has several museums featuring paintings, sculptures, arts,
science, nature, history, literature and religion.

9. Opera House Opernhaus.

Best time to visit Graz: April to September (summers)