EUROPE

Killarney National Park (Ireland)

The Lakes of Killarney, where Queen Vic even allowed herself a decadent moment
Photo courtesy Irish Tourist Board

Ireland's first park hasn't changed much since 1861, back when Queen Victoria and her ladies-in-waiting gawked at this verdantly dazzling panorama—well, except that the view they so enjoyed is now called the "Ladies View." The park didn't actually become part of the Irish nation until 1932, when it was bequeathed to the country by the aristocrat who owned the land, complete with a resplendent Victorian mansion and its attendant gardens and farms. Today, Killarney conserves the largest areas of natural woodland left in Ireland and has three interlinked lakes within its 25,000 acres. Camping is not permitted in the park itself, but the lively neighboring town of Killarney offers a suite of B&Bs, as well as the requisite pubs for a post-hike pint.

Gateway City: Killarney
Size/Acreage: 25,000 acres
When to Go: Summers are cool (average temperature in July is about 60), perfect for active touring.
Accessibility: Easy
Primary Activities: Cycling, hiking, walking, boating, horseback riding
Inside Scoop: The park provides the ideal cycling-walking-boating combination. Most open boats allow bikes on board, and after crossing the Upper Lake, you can return to Killarney by cycling the Gap of Dunloe or walking the Old Kenmore Road.
More on Killarney:
Official Park Web Site

Pyrenees National Park (France/Spain)

It's all bueno in the shadow of the Pyrenees
Photo © Corel

Since the 12th century, pilgrims have undertaken a spiritual journey through the Pyrenees Mountains to Santiago de Compostela in Spain—where rests the tomb of St. James the Apostle (a route inscribed as a World Heritage Site in 1993). Each year, the spiritual, curious, and adventurous retrace this scenic route on foot, by bicycle, or on horseback. The park's Marcadau Valley was one of the main crossing routes for those on the medieval pilgrimage. (Marcadau—a corrupted version of the Spanish mercado, or "market"—was once an important trading spot for the early pilgrims.) The French-run Pyrenees National Park stretches 60 miles along the French-Spanish border, covering 180 square miles of high-altitude lakes, towering summits, rolling hills, and fertile valleys.

Gateway Cities: Pau, Tarbes, Lourdes, Barcelona, or Bilbao
Size/Acreage: Almost 112,000 acres in the protected central zone
When to Go: Mid-June to late September (the driest months)
Accessibility: Medium
Prime Activities: Trekking, cycling, horseback riding, and rafting
Inside Scoop: The park is adjacent to Ordesa-Mount Perdido National Park, named Spain's first national park in 1981. Although smaller, Ordesa-Mount Perdido is equally beautiful and makes for a rewarding detour.
More on the Pyrenees:
Pyrenees National Park
Ordesa-Mount Perdido National Park

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