Aranjuez is the home of Palacio Real (Royal Palace), the spring residence of Spanish kings since the late 1880s. The beautiful gardens surrounding the palace are just as famous as the residence and are the inspiration for “Concierto de Aranjuez” by Joaquin Rodrigo, one of Spain’s most significant composers of the 20th century. During the summer, join the local tradition of eating dinner in the picnic area next to the Tagus River. UNESCO designated Aranjuez as a World Heritage landscape in 2001 and a very large casino was built in 2005.

San Lorenzo de El Escorial is home to the Monastery of El Escorial, a World Heritage site. This huge complex was built as a monument to commemorate the Spanish victory over the French in the battle of Saint Quentin. Construction lasted 21 years and when it was finished in 1584, the Monastery was the largest building in the world, with 24 km (14.9 mi) of corridors. The building includes a library, Kings' Courtyard, Basilica, and the Palace of Felipe II. The Kings' Pantheon is the burial place for most of the kings of Spain since Carlos I. The Monastery is decorated with works by the most prominent Italian and Spanish painters of the time. Look for works by Titian, Bosch, El Greco, and Velázquez, especially El Greco’s painting of "The Martyrdom of St. Maurice.”

Encircled by some of the best-preserved defense walls in Europe, ancient Avila seems straight from the Castile region's medieval past. Nighttime illumination only adds to the allure of the turrets, fortified palaces, and cathedrals of this storybook World Heritage city.

The old Burgundian university town of Leuven offers a range of adventures for overnight visitors or day-trippers from Bruges and Brussels. Tourists will find everything from gastronomic tours to architectural gems like the Gothic Town Hall. Nature lovers won’t be disappointed. The Kruidtuin Botanical Garden’s herbal gardens are the oldest in Belgium, and Heverleebos, a “city wood,” offers a respite for urban dwellers. The exploring is easy in Leuven, on foot or on one of the ubiquitous bikes.

With four of the state's most popular beaches, Narragansett is a favorite summer destination of Rhode Island residents. Scarborough State Beach alone has 2,325 feet of sandy beach frontage. Once a wealthy community rivaling nearby Newport, the rich history of Narragansett is still visible. The Towers, spanning Ocean Drive, is the only remaining section of a luxurious casino built in 1883. Having survived numerous fires and vicious nor'easters, The Towers is the town's most enduring landmark.