Canyoning, Paragliding, and Hiking - Switzerland's Jungfrau Region Has More Than Just Skiing - Video

The 'Jungfrau' Region of the Swiss Alps, so named for the 13,669 ft. (4,166m) peak that looks down on the numerous lesser prominences and valleys spanning its base, is home to some of the best skiing in Europe. Yet, despite being home to what many consider the best skiing in the world - including this year and next year's Ski World Cup in Jungfrau's town of Wengen, the region refuses to be pigeonholed as just a "ski destination."

In addition to skiing, snow tubing, and sledging, the Jungfrau Region offers a perfect environment for numerous other mountain sport activities, including paragliding and BASE jumping, hiking, and canyoning.

The area's craggy landscape and deep valleys seem to posses an almost irresistible lure for folks who like to throw themselves off terra firma and into the secure embrace of a parachute harness. Watch in the video below as a band of BASE jumpers from the UK wax poetic while they tackle both the Eiger and the cliff face overlooking the valley between the villages of Lauterbrunnen and Stechelberg, one of the deepest in the Alpine chain:

World's Best Hikes According to National Geographic

Though it's just a tease for many, National Geographic has put out a list of "epic trails" to hike.

Santa Cruz Trek in Peru's Cordillera Blanca 

National Geographic - World's Best Hikes: Epic Trails

Hey, it can't hurt to dream, and with a little planning, it's not hard for you to take the initiative to turn your dream into an epic hike!

What To Order: Switzerland - Rösti

Home to the Matterhorn and precision watchmaking, Switzerland is one of Europe's finest travel destinations.

Iconic Matterhorn in
the Swiss Alps

Officially the Swiss Confederation, Switzerland offers something for every traveler - Europe's best skiing and winter sports, haute cuisine, fine arts, an abundance of tours, river cruises, and adventure sports, fine wines and chocolate, cosmopolitan shopping venues with the most exclusive name brands, and the list goes on.

All of that notwithstanding, finding an authentic "Swiss" dining experience in Switzerland may be harder than expected. A result of its original formation as a confederation, Switzerland has 4 official languages (German, French, Italian, and Romansch) and strong regional identities that espouse sister countries' culture and cuisine as much as they do the Swiss national identity.

However, one dish that is authentically Swiss and can be found in every region of the country is "rösti." Made of pan-fried shredded potatoes, rösti is often available with a meat as an main dish or as an á la carte addition to an entrée.

Originally a breakfast dish eaten by farmers in the Bern region, rösti is now considered by many Swiss to be a national dish.

Finding rösti on a menu will likely come as a welcome sight for travelers shell-shocked by the high food prices in one of Europe's priciest countries, and rösti will also be a refreshing choice for many travelers because of its similarity to dishes in their home countries: 'hash browns' in US, '干煸土豆丝' (gan bian tudou si) in China, 'boxty' in Ireland, and 'aloo tikki' in India, to name a few.

Swiss rösti, still hot in the skillet

Frankfurt in Five: One-Day Travel Guide to Europe's Financial Center

Traveling Europe is an incredible experience, but there are so many countries with so much to offer that choosing an itinerary can be overwhelming - even just narrowing down a manageable list of countries, let alone cities, can be a monumental task! Germany has always been an important fixture in the European landscape, as much today as in the days of Charlemagne, and Germany should certainly be on any first-time visitor to Europe's short list.

Frankfurt's skyline - new and old meet

Here is the bare bones, brass tacks list of how to get the most out of a one-day visit to Frankfurt, Germany's financial and transportation hub on the Main River.

The Städel, overlooking the Main River

1. Museum District - Start your morning off by visiting some of Frankfurt's more than 30 museums, at least 20 of them located in close proximity to each other along the banks of the Main River, in an area known as the 'Museumsufer' (Museums Riverbank). Some of the museums include:

• Städelsches Kunstinstitut und Städtische Galerie, more commonly known as the Städel, one of Europe's most important art museums
• Museum of World Cultures
• Jewish Museum Frankfurt
• Bible House Experience Museum
• Historical Museum Frankfurt

Full list of Frankfurt's museums

"World's Ten Best Ethical Destinations" - Your New Adventure

The world is a lot different than it was 50 years ago - travel destinations are easier to reach and information about those destinations is much easier to obtain. In addition, the prevalence of responsive consumer markets around the world means that we are able to make statements about what is important to us by how we spend our time and money, especially when it comes to travel.

Riga, Latvia's capital, decked in snow

One group that seeks to help concerned travelers make educated decisions for "ethical" travel decisions is Ethical Traveler, a non-profit that produces an annual report of their "World's Ten Best Ethical Destinations." Their report considers a combination of factors, focusing primarily on social welfare, environmental protection, and human rights.

"We urge you to visit these destinations, and explore the wonderful sights, cultures, and activities they offer," says Ethical Traveler's 2013 report, which has just come out. "Each country selected as a Best Ethical Destination also offers the opportunity to experience unspoiled natural beauty, and to interact with local peoples and cultures in a meaningful, mutually enriching way."