Smart Travels with Rudy Maxa Season 4

We conjure a bit of magic when we visit the Georgian city of Bath and follow tales of Camelot into South Wales. In Bath, we marvel at ancient Roman spas and peek into the high society of Jane Austen's day. The landscape of Wales' Wye River Valley offers a wealth of scenic riches.

Friendly and feisty, Scotland makes us feel right at home. In Edinburgh, we climb the ramparts of this city's famous castle, shop for kilts, visit mysterious Rosslyn chapel and thrill to a spooky ghost tour. Then we head to historic St. Andrew's to practice our swing on the world's most famous golf course.

A Mediterranean marvel, Barcelona simmers with beautiful beaches, medieval mazes, eye popping art, and hypnotic architecture. From tapas bars, to surrealist art, to Modernist structures, we'll feast on Barcelona's delights. For the best beaches, we head north to the coves of Costa Brava.

The Spanish capital Madrid welcomes us with grand plazas and sparkling fountains. First stop is the Prado, one of Europe's great museums and home to Goya, El Greco, and Velázquez. Tour El Palacio Real, the seat of the Spanish empire, and the Monasterio de las Descalzas Reales that contains a hoard of art treasures hidden away in the center of the city. Day-trip to the imperial city of Toledo with its twisting streets and narrow alleyways.

From a fairy tale fortress to the gentle Pyrenees, Rudy takes in the castles and peaks of this magical region. We tour the largest fortress in Europe, Carcassonne, and sample the local stew, Cassoulet. Your itinerary includes an unforgettable stop at Carcassonne, the largest fortress in Europe, replete with romantic castle ruins. In the high country, explore one of the world's natural wonders, a mountain amphitheater with cascading waterfalls.

The world's finest wines, sweeping vineyards and fine food couple with a river valley dotted with castles. We sample the best Bordeaux then cruise the lovely Dordogne and Lot rivers with stops at chateaux, ancient watermills, and perched villages.

The Swiss Alps reverberate with cowbells, accordions, and laughter. We make our home base in the year-round playground of Interlaken, the "town between two lakes." Then we sail across glacial Lake Brienz, famous for its beautiful woodcarving.

Hot-spiced cider and strains of "O Tannenbaum" warm our hearts as we head to Europe for Christmas. Switzerland has a special glow this time of year and we find plenty of good cheer in the bright Christmas markets and toasty ski lodges high in the crisp mountain air.

We leave the eternal city behind by way of the famous Appian Way to explore the environs of Rome. First it's the majesty of Emperor Hadrian's villa and the wine and lakes of the Alban Hills. Next, it's south to the ancient seaport of Ostia, Rome's Pompeii.

Europe's best kept secret, the Croatian coast of Dalmatia dazzles with stunning white stone cities and azure waters. We begin in Dubrovnik, then island hop up the coast, snorkeling, swimming, sunning, and reveling in the Mediterranean scenery.

We can jet to Europe in a day and visit four cities in less than a week. It is great to take your time, but sometimes you only have a day to visit. How can you be part of the international jet set and still get a taste of "old" Europe? Find out here.

As more travelers return to Europe for multiple visits, many are on the lookout for another dimension in travel. Occasionally, they want to skip historical sites and museums in favor of a trip, or a day, just for fun, and here, Rudy does exactly that.

For a totally different view of Europe, Rudy shows smart travelers how to organize a trip around a theme. Rudy discovers surprising and fresh takes on Europe as he sets out on a music lover's tour. From Italy to the French Pyrenees to Ireland's County Clare to Norway, join Rudy as he shares his favorite musical moments in destinations that are worth a special trip.