After a crazy, overworked winter my husband and I hope to get away for 10-14 days in late April or May. Where are your favorite spots in Europe that time of year? We always love Paris, England's countryside, but are open to ideas. Must include some walks.

There are so many as that is my favourite time of the year in Europe (followed very closely by September/October)! But one of my favourites would have to be Sicily. It is pretty, extremely interesting, packed with fabulous ruins, warm temp, gorgeous towns and nice walking.

If you like England you would LOVE Scotland and Wales. Prime walking country.

Sicily sounds good as do your other suggestions. Where in Wales?

I've been to Germany (N. Bavaria) in April, Belgium/Amsterdam in May, UK in May, and Switzerland in late May.

I really enjoyed my trip to Germany most out of the above, because of nice weather, lots and lots of spring flowers in bloom, and the best part is the spargel season (white asparagus) - which is also available in Belgium and Austria.

All over Wales but I would say our favourite areas are north (just like our favourite areas in England are Northumberland and North Yorkshire with the moors). Snowdonia is stupendous - there are excellent walks along the sea as well as in the more mountainous regions.

White asparagus is also available in the Netherlands - we have a farm just down the road. Yummy!
Late April/early May is bulb time in the Netherlands.
Bike rides acceptable? lots of bike rides you could do through the bulbs. Or go to one of the islands for a few days, some are car free, others allow cars, but plenty of walking to be done. Or go to Limburg for a few days and explore the "Dutch Mountains" by foot.
The Betuwe region fruit trees may be in bloom, also worth seeing.

I personally would love to go to Sicily in Spring.

The Dordogne in May when the orchards are in bloom.

Oh go go go to Amsterdam or a nearby town. The trip we took one year to Keukenhoff to see the tulips was just wonderful. Besides the formal gardens there are also the tulip fields - rows and rows of color. We rented bikes - wonderful flat ride thru the fields and little towns. Then we went to Brugges where the lilacs were out. We tried to get some friends of ours to go again with us this year but they want to stay home and lament all the money they no longer have from the demise of the stock market. Really , the tulip display at Keukenhoff was one of the most beautiful garden sights I have ever seen and we live in Atlanta where every year the azaelas put on quite a show.

hi travelrene,

April /May is an ideal time to come to Cornwall - we usually have some good weather round about then, the gardens look gorgeous, and the wild flowers are at their best. Devon would be [almost as] good then too.

outside the UK, i would think of crete [again, wild flowers abound] or Andalucia.

regards, ann

I vote for Netherlands too, in mid-April. You can go on a guided bike day-trip through the tulip fields or do it yourself. If you do it yourself, rent a bike next door to the Heemstede-Aerdenhout train station in Haarlem. A fairly easy bike ride out of town (get a map!) and to the vast tulip fields. Stop off at Keukenhoff Gardens. The rest of the country is wonderful for biking too... flat as a pancake, with bike rental places near many out-lying train stations.

For a guided tour, try "Let's Go" www.letsgo-amsterdam.com

Amsterdam is great at that time of year too. You may or may not want to be around for the craziness of the Queen's Birthday on April 30.

We're headed to Wales, Scotland and England in Apri so we hope the weather is good.

However, our previous trips to Europe in May have been to Germany, Austria and Switzerland. We've always had pretty good weather.

Can highly recommend the Salzkammergut area (Wolfgangsee, Hallstatt), Berchtesgaden, Mosel and Rhine River area and Austrian Tirol.

14 days split between Umbria and southern Tuscany is my choice.

Stay in an apartment and rent a car to explore the many small, beautiful villages/towns/cities and spectacular landscapes.

2 great places to stay-

Umbria- http://www.lecasegialle.com/

Tuscany- http://fontebertusi.it/

I prefer May over April.

Normandy in April and May when the apple blossoms are in bloom. Unforgettable.

Your ideas are great. So hard to choose . . .

Always good ideas on this post . . .how to choose is the problem.

I would second Sicily or doing the flowers in the Netherlands-either way you cannot go wrong.

For a change of pace, how about Turkey? A fascinating country with great architecture and scenery. I've been twice and loved it.

You can walk all over Istanbul and many towns in Cappadocia. These two areas are must sees.

Last year I went to S. Italy and Sicily in April, two years ago it was Greece. Both were great choices. This year I'm spending April in E. France.

We've made several trips to Italy in April and May and have had very good weather almost always.

Last year we went to Orvieto, Assisi, and Rome, with an overnight in Paris on the way home.

Two (or three?) years ago we flew to Milan and went to Verona, Bologna, and Venice.

We are looking forward to our first trip to Croatia this May!

Byrd

Byrd, if you love Italy, you will really love Croatia!!! It is a wonderful country.