Go Hiking in Snowdonia National Park

If you’re an outdoor lover, you’ll want to spend a day or two hiking in Snowdonia National Park. The park is located on the western shore of Great Britain. It covers more than 800 acres that will thrill with its breathtaking beauty. Snowdonia boasts the highest peak in Great Britain. It also has the biggest lake and is the largest national park as well. Welsh is spoken by a vast number of local people, so it will be a great opportunity to immerse yourself in local culture.

Snowdonia National Park / Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Christopher Owen Jones

You’ll Want to See Swansea

Swansea is the name of a city and county on the southwest coast of Wales. A trip to Swansea will include the scenic Gower Peninsula and the Lliw Uplands. The area was a huge copper producing site in its heyday, and earned the nickname, ‘Copperopolis.’ Swansea has a distinct cultural heritage that is evident in the local dialect, which can be hard to understand at first.

Visit the City of Cardiff

Cardiff is the capital and largest city in Wales. It has numerous attractions that you’ll want to visit, such as St. Fagans National History Museum. This museum is still referred to locally as ‘The Museum of Welsh Life.’ It is comprised of 100 acres of parkland filled with restored, rescued, and authentically furnished buildings from Welsh history. Other must see sights in Cardiff are Bute Park, the Millennium Stadium, and the National Museum and Art Gallery.

Take a Walk in Brecon Beacons National Park

The Brecon Beacons National Park is in the midst of the Brecon Beacons Mountains, in South Wales. There are a number of events in the park which are highlighted by ‘walks’ in the area. They are based on a number of things, including the botanical aspect of the region, as well as the heritage. As you might expect from an area rich in history, there are numerous historical sites to visit within park boundaries.

Brecon Beacons National Park / Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by P – A – S – T

See the Welsh Mountain Zoo

In North Wales, at the far northern reaches of Snowdonia National Park, is the town of Colwyn Bay. The peaks above town are home to the Welsh Mountain Zoo. The zoo has panoramic views of the town and bay that lie below. The scenery is beautiful, as are the gardens within the zoo, which is home to many endangered species of Great Britain. The Welsh Mountain Zoo also houses animals from throughout the world.

Enjoy Family Fun at the Rhyl Sun Centre

When you get tired of being a tourist, you can take some time out to enjoy yourself at a family-friendly venue in North Wales called the Rhyl Sun Centre. It is a huge water complex that includes water rides and slides of various heights and difficulties. There is something for every member of the family. You can spend the entire day there enjoying the water, and then relax while you eat or shop at the Trading Post.

Indulge Yourself at the Portmeirion Village and Gardens

The Portmeirion Village and Gardens are located on a private peninsula near Porthmadog, off the Snowdonia coast. It is a beautiful place filled with beaches, gardens, shops, restaurants, and hotels that cater to fun-loving tourists. It is open all year so you can visit anytime you’d like to. There are woodland walkways for you to enjoy before your return to your room for an evening of dinner and entertainment.

Enjoy the History of the Caerphilly Castle Town Center

Caerphilly Castle is located in the center of town in the village of Caerphilly in South Wales. It spans nearly 30 acres and is a prime example of the architectural marvels of medieval times. The history of the area dates back to the Romans, and has numerous sights of historical interest. The Town Center is a place where you can enjoy the sights of the castle while you visit shops, eat at local restaurants, and soak in the local culture.

Caerphilly Castle / Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Robert Payne

Stop at Beaumaris Castle

The Beaumaris Castle is located on the Isle of Anglesey off the northern coast of Wales. It was built by Kind Edward I as one of the ‘Iron Ring’ of castles in North Wales that were intended to put his stamp of ownership on the area. Despite his plans, the castle was never finished. It remains an impressive site to visit. In fact, it is regarded by some as the finest example of Edwardian castles ever built.

Tweedsmill Factory Outlet

No trip to Wales would be complete without a stop for pure shopping pleasure. There may be no better place to do that than the Tweedsmill Factory Outlet, located in the Vale of Clwyd in the northeastern part of Wales. This huge shopping center has become a tourist attraction in its own right, and you won’t be sorry you stopped by to purchase souvenirs for your friends at home.

Guest post from Casey Lynch. Casey writes about home insurance for HomeInsurance.org.

View 10 Things to Do in Wales United Kingdom in a larger map

The post 10 Things to Do in Wales | United Kingdom appeared first on Best of European Union.

Koufonissia form one of the eleven island complexes of Cyclades islands.

The only inhabited island is mountainous Pano (Upper) Koufonisi. According to archaeological findings, the islands were inhabited since prehistoric times. Excavations have revealed significant findings of Cycladic culture. It was a Bronze Age civilization, which developed here in the years around 3000 and 2000 BC.

Later, it was merged with the Minoan civilization. In the historical development Koufonissia followed the way of the whole Cyclades. The islands were first attacked by the Venetians and later by Turks. The residents then joined the pirate rebels and sailors.

Pano (Upper) Koufonisi island covers an area of 5.7 square kilometres. The population of the island did not exceed 400. Their main livelihood is fishing and sheep farming. Buildings on the southwest coast of the island are typical examples of the remarkable architecture of Cyclades.

Kato (Lower) Koufonisi island is smaller one, covering the area of 4.4 square kilometres. There was a village before, but today only a few, especially fishing families stay here. On this island you can find small picturesque Virgin Mary’s church..

Keros island is uninhabited as well and covers an area of 10 square kilometres. The highest point of the island is in 432 metres.

On the islands you can stay in several quality hotels. The most luxurious is the Hotel Koufonissia (just 150 meters from the beach) or Christinas House.

View Koufonisia – the most popular islands in the Aegean Sea Greece in a larger map

The post Koufonisia – the most popular islands in the Aegean Sea | Greece appeared first on Best of European Union.