Independent Black Forest locales dating back to medieval times, in 1971, Titisee and Neustadt (along with Rudenberg) banded together to form Titisee-Neustadt. (A few years later, nearby towns Langenordnach, Schwärzenbach and Waldau also joined the union.) Long known as a spa town, Titisee sits on the banks of the lake of the same name. Legend says the name came from Roman Emperor Titus, who was so taken by its beauty that he named it after himself. The area is great for hiking and winter sports.

Fairytale villages, thermal baths, casinos and pine and birch-blanketed mountains beckon travelers to southwestern Germany's Black Forest. Scenic drives and train trips showcase the best of the area. Skiing, hiking, mountain climbing, boating and ice-skating are popular activities. Baden-Baden's Roman-Irish baths, 19th-century performance hall, casino and fresco-adorned Pump Room are much visited. Gothic masterpiece Freiburg Cathedral and its famous Boys' Choir also draw visitors.

Unassuming Brussels is the capital of Belgium, Flanders and Europe. Medieval Grand-Place, is indeed grand, with many 17th-century buildings and daily flower markets. Reopened in 2006, the Atomium, Brussels' Eiffel Tower, provides great views, inside and out. Architecture fans should visit Musee Horta, home of Belgian master architect Victor Horta. St. Gery's clubs and bars are packed year-round. Seafood eateries abound in Ste. Catherine. Walk, rather than get snarled up in traffic, in the narrow streets.