Europe

Crete could certainly fit into a leisurely, ferry-hopping beach holiday through the Greek islands, but that's giving short shrift to a place that is so rich with history, archaeological treasures, and an intrinsically Mediterranean landscape. Greece's largest island, it has seen burgeoning tourism (and the companion development of major resort areas, particularly on the north coast), but remains a land of remote villages where Zorba the Greek would feel right at home. In summer it's very hot and the number of visitors can be overwhelming in July and August, but a sense of timele...

Location: France What's Cool: Taking an au naturel sculpture class ----------------------------------------- Travelers looking for an authentic nude beach experience should go to Centre Hélio Montalivet, the birthplace of the international naturist movement. Established in 1950, this nude beach resort on France's Atlantic Coast provides a safe and legal wilderness setting for nudists and their families. Within the complex are more than 1,800 camp sites, 172 bungalows, shops and facilities for art classes, yoga, soccer and more. No other nude beach or camp on earth rivals Mont...

Visit Omaha Beach in June these days and you'll find holiday cottages, sunbathers and swimmers merrily splashing their day away in the clear waters of the English Channel. If you'd been here at dawn on 6 June 1944, though, the scene would have been a little different: the sea was red with the blood of over 2000 Allied troops who died here, the beach torn apart with bombs dropped by Allied planes supporting their landing, and the gently rising hills above the beach littered with the bodies of the German forces defending the beach.

Location: Crete, Greece What's Cool: Hiking the beach's rocky outcrops ----------------------------------------- With its cobalt blue waters, sun-bleached cottages, ancient ruins and red sandstone cliffs, Crete's Red Beach is picturesque to say the least. Made famous in 1968 when hippies from across Europe flocked to its shores, the resort at Red Beach has remained a naturist favorite for its rustic charm and its tolerance (nudity is allowed everywhere except the dining room). Visitors to Red Beach will find the area's ancient caves interesting, as well as sunken bits of his...