In August I had the great pleasure of soaking up some unparalleled views in the Dolomite Mountains in northern Italy. It's been a dream destination of mine since I first saw a picture of this incredible mountain range when I was in 7th grade. It lived up to all of my expectations and while I'll always be biased towards mountains, I'm convinced it's one of the most beautiful places in the world. My friends and I based ourselves in the small picturesque mountain town of Selva di Val Gardena. On day one Mother Nature delivered some lingering fog in the morning and followed up with a brewing storm that ominously made its way up the valley. We chose to hike close to town rather than risk getting hit while up on a high alpine meadow. Even so, the immediate views were idyllic. The next day we were met with gorgeous sunshine. After taking a 10-minute cable car partway up Seceda Mountain, we hiked around this incredible, windy, and colorful landscape and soaked up jaw-dropping views in every direction. On day three we took another cable car up to the Alpe di Siusi, Europe's highest high-altitude alpine meadow. In the US, I've typically trekked quite a few miles (and days) into the backcountry to get views that compared to these ones. It was mind-blowing to reach some of these views with minimal physical effort (and time). There are a few cable cars to choose from and a variety of trails to hike depending on the level of difficulty you're up for. Therefore, even those who are less physically able have the ability to access these views and even enjoy them over beer and a pretzel at a mountain hut . It was awe-inspiring on so many levels. Italy is already exceptional; it had nothing left to prove. However, visiting its mountainous northern region sealed the deal for me; it's now my favorite country to explore.
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