Here comes the summer sun

When it comes to booking the annual sunny beach holiday, it can be tempting to go back to that seaside resort in southern Spain that you''ve been visiting for a few years. You may know it like the back of your hand, but chances are it''ll be too late to think of somewhere else to go and you''ll stick to the winning formula.

But beaches swarming with other tourists aren''t all that a sunny summer break can offer you. Of course there''s absolutely nothing wrong with lying in the sun with some trashy fiction to keep you company, but if you''re after something more varied then there are plenty of options.

La Rochelle in the Bay of Biscay is one such great destination. This south-western French city is so close to the sea that it is practically sitting on top of the water, and is connected by a bridge to the outcropping island of Ile de R?; if you fancy making the trip out there, it really feels like you''re completely surrounded by the sea.

It can also lay claim to offering a great mixture of typical beach holiday and enlightening cultural trip. Founded officially in the tenth century but with a history that extends back to the time of ancient Gall, the city''s architecture has been exquisitely and lovingly maintained and restored on a regular basis.

The main place of interest is the city''s centre, called the ''Vieux Port'' or Old Harbour. Lined with waterfront restaurants, cafes and bars, the city walls are also open in the evening for people to walk along and enjoy the sights of the city by night.

If you''re looking to go a bit further than France, though, then there is a seemingly endless list of other possibilities for innovative summer holidays across Europe. Anyone with an interest in culture and ancient civilisations won''t want to give the Greek Islands a miss, especially Crete.

With historic communities dating all the way back to 2700 BC, Crete has been a cultural nucleus for millennia, containing remnants from Byzantine, Arabic and Venetian influence. It''s not all museums and history books, though, and you can still kick back and take the sun on a beach if you''re a bit tired of museum cruising.

Beach holidays can be great times to completely vegetate and forget that you need to move further than wherever the sun cream is at any given moment. But if you''re tired of that kind of break, then why not look into the countless sunny but culturally rich destinations which you could be visiting.

Article Source: http://www.casinoarticlessite.com

#Pen name# is a professional travel writer who was inspired by Thomas Cook''s diverse range of sun holidays to compose this article.

Please Rate this Article

5 out of 54 out of 53 out of 52 out of 51 out of 5 

Not yet Rated