Lisbon to Portsmouth

Discover the world’s last colonial empire, turned bustling cosmopolitan city. Lisbon has dozens of Moorish castles, pastel buildings, and white sand beaches to explore. This Atlantic-coast city perfectly encapsulates Mediterranean charm with its wine, food, and architecture.

Oporto brings together the best of Portugal: warm sunshine, a relaxed riverside setting, grand churches, winding medieval streets, and courtyards filled with geraniums. Perhaps what Oporto is most famous for, however, is its port wine. Crafted in the neighboring Vila Nova da Gaia district, ports from all over the region can be sampled in the lodges just across the river. Wander through historic Ribeira, the recently restored riverside district and UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The least-known of the Canary Islands, densely wooded La Gomera is home to Garajonay National Park, a World Heritage site that protects the largest laurel rainforest remaining on earth. Columbus stopped for water in the little capital of San Sebastian before crossing the Atlantic. He planned to stay four days, but spent a month when he met the lovely Beatriz de Bobadilla. On the sunny southwestern coast in the breathtaking Valle Gran Rey, Vueltas is a hot spot for dolphins and whale watching.

This UNESCO-designated city known as Port of the Moon due the natural shape of its harbor is celebrated for its glorious chateaux, its mouth-watering cuisine and its incomparable wines – Bordeaux is surrounded by the world’s most famous vineyards including Medoc, St-Emilion, Pomerol, Graves and Sauternes. One time the richest community and largest port in France, Bordeaux today is second only to Paris as the country’s most densely populated city.

This UNESCO-designated city known as Port of the Moon due the natural shape of its harbor is celebrated for its glorious chateaux, its mouth-watering cuisine and its incomparable wines – Bordeaux is surrounded by the world’s most famous vineyards including Medoc, St-Emilion, Pomerol, Graves and Sauternes. One time the richest community and largest port in France, Bordeaux today is second only to Paris as the country’s most densely populated city.

This UNESCO-designated city known as Port of the Moon due the natural shape of its harbor is celebrated for its glorious chateaux, its mouth-watering cuisine and its incomparable wines – Bordeaux is surrounded by the world’s most famous vineyards including Medoc, St-Emilion, Pomerol, Graves and Sauternes. One time the richest community and largest port in France, Bordeaux today is second only to Paris as the country’s most densely populated city.

Closer to France but staunchly British, charming Guernsey boasts a diverse culture reflecting the best of both worlds. Pastel-colored houses rise layer upon layer behind St. Peter Port, the island’s picturesque main town. Beyond, you’ll discover a wealth of activities centering around goldsmiths, silversmiths, wood carvers and clockmakers.

Perhaps most famous as the last port that the Mayflower touched before setting sail to America in 1620, this busy seaside city in Devon on the Plymouth Sound is now home to major manufacturing of machinery and precision tools, and is home to both the British Navy and the Devonport naval dockyard.

Chartered in 1439, Plymouth is also the port from which the English fleet sailed against the Spanish Armada in 1588. The historically rich seaport was badly damaged during German airraids in World War II, but has been completely rebuilt and is now one of England’s most prosperous and active port cities.

Portsmouth is a port city and naval base on England’s south coast, mostly spread across Portsea Island. It’s known for its maritime heritage and Portsmouth Historic Dockyard. The dockyard is home to the interactive National Museum of the Royal Navy, the wooden warship HMS Victory, where Nelson died in the Battle of Trafalgar, and HMS Warrior 1860. The Tudor ship Mary Rose is also conserved in a dockyard museum.