Europe's Charm at Your Doorstep

We're high in the Italian Alps, in Castlerotto -- a town I love because it's right in the midst of mountain splendor, yet doesn't have that empty ski-resort-in-the-summer feeling. Our hotel -- the Cavallino d'Oro -- is a great example of the Italian/German mix characteristic of this region (the Dolomites, in the far north of Italy). Our group is just finishing up breakfast before loading up the bus. And just outside the door of our hotel is the cobbled town square. For our tours, we favor hotels where the charm of Europe is literally at your doorstep. On our My Way Alpine Europe Tour (which I'm leading now), we spend a dozen nights in unforgettable mountain towns in the Alps of Austria, Italy, Germany, Switzerland, and France.

This is Day 59 of my 100 Days in Europe series. As I lead tours, research my guidebooks, and make new TV shows, I'm reporting on my experiences and lessons learned in Vienna, the Alps, the Low Countries, England, and beyond. Find more on my travel blog.

(This post originally appeared at blog.ricksteves.com/castlerotto.)