![]() Nevertheless, I know that there are other intricacies to take note of and other ways to make this list even more accurate (like making the # of visitors relative to the country’s population, etc.). Those tourists must also spend a night in the said country, and not just make it as a day trip.Īlso, you might think that most of the countries below have made it to this list because of their small geographical size, but then we can argue that Mont Saint-Michel which has an area of only 0.97 sqkm has over 3 million visitors annually! (Imagine that…) It helps to note that even if you may deem a country listed below as crowded, remember that the World Bank only counts tourists who have traveled to the country for no more than 12 months (so it does not count immigrants, foreign residents, etc.). Of those, to me, from the Dolomites to the rolling hills of Tuscany to Sicily and including the Ligurian, Tyrrhenian, Mediterranean, Ionian and Adriatic seas around the peninsula and islands, Italy truly has it all.NOTE: This post is based on World Bank’s date data for international arrivals, and the 20 countries below were on the bottom of the list. But I have to admit that the scenic variety, both natural and human influenced, of Spain, France and Italy is breathtaking. I still feel most comfortable in Norway and Scotland. I much preferred places like Scotland and Norway because of their seeming lack of people and development.Īs time has gone by, I've come to appreciate the thoughtful and considerate development I see in some countries. On my first trip to Europe, the UK and Scandinavia in 1977, I was struck by how developed and populated every place I went was. And I must admit that I like it when she shows us who's really boss. I'm pretty sure our planet is the same age all over, but how Mother Earth has changed in the past and continues to change every day, as well as how humans interact with her, certainly affects scenic beauty. (Plus in addition to the stunning scenery it has the most art and some of the best cities/towns.) But you asked if I had to pick just one country and be 'wowed' then I think Italy wins. I think its a lot easier to narrow the US down to 10 most scenic states than it is to pick 10 most scenic countries in Europe. I'm also curious which are you ten most scenic states. California does have both coast and mountains. You have to travel a lot further in the US to see such variety of beautiful scenery. Maine and Florida have beautiful coasts but no mountains, Colorado has Alp like mountains but no coast. By contrast, most US states, while some having absolutely stunning scenery, most don't have that kind of variety. Italy, for example, the size of a just one US state has breathtaking mountains, gorgeous coast, and lovely bucolic areas like Tuscany. And some of those countries have incredible variety in a very small geographic area. I've been to 33 European countries (though definitely not to all areas of all of those) and I can't think of one country that doesn't have some very scenic areas. With all that, and this might not be the most scenic of all time, but the Cote Granit Rose, with the pink colored fantastical rock formations along the northern coast of Brittany in France, was a wonderful surprise a couple of years ago, and if it’s not the most scenic, it sure ranks among the best. Variety in terrain seems to be a plus, or expansiveness of an ocean or sand dune, and bonus points for spectacular sunsets or sunrises. For someone walled in a crowded big city, the vast cornfields of Iowa, or rolling hills of French vineyards could be the embodiment of Scenic. ![]() Actually, for someone with a spectacular mountain view out of my living room window, mountains are still amazingly scenic. Mountains, perhaps highlighted with snow in the crags and couloirs, are different for people used to expansive ocean beachside views or flatlands. Never mind bugs and humidity, but the scenery is nothing like at home. Tropical locales, with seemingly exotic palm trees and other lush vegetation, warm weather, and fresh seafood make for a real change of pace, and the views are treasures. For a person who’s lived in landlocked places a long time, a vast expanse of water, whether an ocean or a great lake, is pretty stunning. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Details
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |