During the summer of 1980 I was finishing my US military enlistment in the southwestern Eifel region of Germany. I was stationed there for two years. And I saw quite a lot of Europe during that time. But I wanted a very special European vacation before coming home.

It’s a European getaway you should seriously consider doing!

It’s the kind of vacation that’s off the beaten path. You’ll see things most people will never see in their lives. You’ll have unforgettable, life-enriching experiences.

I bought a Eurail pass, sold my car, grabbed my backpack and headed-out for adventures unknown. Oh…a Eurail pass allows you to travel by train throughout Europe. You pay one price and that’s your ticket! And you can get them for several weeks up to three months of travel.

I crisscrossed my way across Europe…staying in youth hostels, and experienced a dozen countries. Youth hostels aren’t only for ‘youths.’ I saw people of all ages in hostels.

Here’s how hostels work…

First…they’re dirt cheap! But every hostel I stayed in was clean and the owners polite. They’re closed during ‘normal’ business hours. So you have to be out before about 9 AM. They open again in the late afternoon. You’ll discover a nice community atmosphere to them. And I met some really cool people in hostels.

One of my favorite places was the small Bavarian town of Garmisch-Partenkirchen. It’s in the German Alps close to the German-Austrian border. Garmisch is truly a picture postcard town.

I walked around in amazement at its utter quaintness. And I loved going to the coffee shops for breakfast. A café au lait and fresh apple strudel like you’ve never tasted anywhere! Of course…being 22 at the time, I was content to sit by the window watching the local frauleins pass by.

During the summer you can hike up the Zugspitze mountain. The most beautiful views of the valley below and the Austrian Alps are probably still there.

A natural train crossroads lies in Zurich Switzerland. I passed through Zurich half a dozen times, maybe. I met a beautiful German girl in the hostel there in Zurich. We traveled together for about a week. But that’s another story…

There was a Clint Eastwood movie made in the 70’s called The Eiger Sanction. It was named after the Eiger Mountain in the Swiss Alps. The Eiger is a very serious mountain.

I went there for several days. And there’s a small town close to the Eiger. But the whole experience was incredible!

Everything about the Swiss Alps and high country can be described with words ending in “est.” The bluest skies…the greenest grass…absolutely the freshest air I have ever had the privilege to experience.

The train passed along valleys, and I’ll never forget looking down and seeing clouds! But we’re talking Swiss engineering here. So the train was solid and quite safe. Not scary at all. Just unbelievably impressive scenery.

I camped out with a very close view of the Eiger. I’m not sure how far I was. Maybe a mile, or so. But I sat there in the opening of my tent…eating something. And I couldn’t take my eyes off that mountain. I had some feeling of being in the presence of something greater.

I spent a lot of time traveling in all the Scandinavian countries.

I’ll never forget the midnight sun in Finland. The crazy guys in Oulu Finland desperately searching for Finnish moonshine. Or the parade of old American cars on a Saturday night far up north above the Arctic Circle in Narvik Norway. I swear…it was like a scene out of American Graffiti.

I could write forever…

Treat yourself and your family! Make your next European vacation something like this and your life will be that much richer.

Ken Thompson, of http://www.writingbyken.com is a freelance copywriter specializing in Direct Marketing and online sales letter copy. Special writing assignments will be considered.