Latvia

A country in transition, intent on shedding its stalwart old-Soviet image, the Latvia of today is vibrant and mesmerizing. Refreshingly unpretentious, Latvia manages to tantalize even the most jaded traveler. Bustling R?ga, with its pumping nightlife, cobbled streets and marvelous art-nouveau architecture, is one of Eastern Europe’s most fun cities. Away from the capital, the pace slows. Historic villages, miles from anywhere, sit frozen in time. Despite growing popularity, Latvia is still one of those places where you can embrace the unbeaten path and become an intrepid adventurer exploring virgin terrain. From crumbling castles in Sigulda, to J?rmala and its alluring resorts on the edge of the ice-blue Baltic Sea, it’s very easy to just get away. Natural offerings are also a prime draw, like Gauja National Park in Eastern Latvia, a pine-scented paradise. Summer is an especially magical time here – twilight comes near midnight and by 4am it’s light again. After long, dark winters, Latvians seem determined to soak up as much light as possible and the whole country exudes a frenetic, turbocharged energy. Beer gardens pop up in even the smallest villages and revelers slug pints well into the night.