Austria

In this European wonderland, the hills are alive, as Julie Andrews famously sang in 'The Sound of Music'. With the snowcapped Alps as a backdrop, meadows carpeted with flowers, shimmering lakes and winding roads, the outdoors in Austria are exhilarating. Perhaps this surreal setting has something to do with the number of musical geniuses this country has produced. Austrian cities are equally inspiring and fun to explore with lavishly decorated palaces, gilded concert halls, towering churches and an infectious joie de vivre.