Snow-capped mountains, crystal clear mountain lakes, crisp mountain air – the alpine countryside of central Europe is calming and invigorating at the same time. You travel along the "Romantic Road" of Germany, stopping to visit beautifully preserved medieval towns. Drive beside the Rhine River and through the Black Forest.

In Lucerne, your hotel overlooks the lake, and when you take the cog rail to the top of Mt. Pilatus, you have a magnificent view of the entire lake and the surrounding Alpine range. There are ancient castles standing guard over valleys and villages of timeless houses beautifully decorated with colorful murals and wood balconies covered with bright flowers.

Stay in the enduring city of Salzburg; float across the alpine landscape in a hot air balloon. In Vienna, your hotel is a former palace; shop along Kärtnerstrasse and Graben before stopping at an old-world coffee house to order one of those delectable pastries for which the city is famous.

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