Asturias

[EnLinea Media]

This small, lush, mountainous principality on north Spain's Bay of Biscay is a deliciously under-the-radar haven for savvy travelers fascinated by so many things, including history (with plenty of sites dating back to Visigothic, Celtic, and even prehistoric times); gracious cities (capital Oviedo, seaport Gijón, Avilés, and others); agritourism (an extensive network of farm and countryside lodgings); sports and the great outdoors (from skiing in the Picos de Europa to whitewater and lovely beaches); awesome eating (a distinctive local cuisine complemented by the famous Asturian cider and cheese); and spirituality (Covadonga is one of Catholicism's premier pilgrimage sites). Great prices, too! More info in English: www.Asturias.es, www.AsturiasGuide.com, www.AsturiasPicosDeEuropa.com, www.DeAsturias.com, http://ExperienceAsturias.com, www.InfoAsturias.com, www.LaComarcaDeLaSidra.com (rural "cider country").

[David Paul Appell]

Just a quick toot of my own horn: if you're happen to find yourself in a Barnes & Noble or newsstand, check the July/August issue of Imbibe magazine to catch my piece on the natural sidra (cider) of Asturias, in gorgeous green northern Spain (if it's sold out, you should be able to track it down via the web site, www.ImbibeMagazine.com).

[EnLinea Media]

The latest post in this week's Tripatini Blog, Where Cider Houses Rule touches on the sidra lore of Asturias -- another very tasty reason to explore this part of Spain!