World Travel - Fairytale Destinations

If you wish to escape the stresses of life, the bustle of the work week and the noise of traffic, these fanciful destinations will make you feel like you’ve stumbled into a magical world. From an enchanting Alpine palace in Germany to an English landscape so beautiful it inspired Beatrix Potter and JRR Tolkien – these dreamy destinations are so magical, it’s hard to believe they’re real.

Holland's Tulip Fields 

The flowers were imported into Holland in the 16th Century and peaked in popularity in the 17th Century, during the Dutch Golden Age. More than three billion tulips are grown in Holland each year, attracting tens of thousands of visitors each year. It’s a modern pastime to circle the flower farms on foot, bike or via caravan, and the tulips have a rich, storied history. They grew so coveted in the past, that they created the world’s first economic bubble. The most popular fields are located in western Holland between the cities of Leiden and Den Helder. Others are situated near the city of Enkhuizen and in the nearby province of Flevoland. Tulip season spans from March until August, giving travelers plenty of time to view the vibrant display.

Lake District - England

This place is said to be JRR Tolkien's inspiration for the Shire as well as Beatrix Potter's inspiration for Peter Rabbit. Famous poets including William Wordsworth, Samuel Taylor Coleridge and Robert Southey were also inspired by these rolling hills and glittering lakes. The perfect setting for a fairy tale setting. Each year, 16 million visitors come to the 885 square mile Cumbrian National Park for its lake cruises, mountain hikes and awe-inspiring sightseeing. It can seem like stepping into a storybook realm of undulating fells, whitewashed cottages and stonewalled fields where ponies roam.

Preikestolen - Norway
Also known as Preacher’s Pulpit or Pulpit Rock because it resembles a lectern, Preikestolen is a rocky 75 by 75 foot rocky plateau that towers 1,800 feet above the crystal-clear waters below. The steep cliff was formed during the Ice Age about 10,000 years ago, when the edges of a glacier bumped up against the surrounding mountains. Water from the glacier penetrated the crevices of the mountain and froze, eventually breaking off colossal portions. Left behind was the dramatic precipice of Preikestolen. Cracks in the plateau will eventually expand and fragment Pulpit Rock into a pile of rubble. Have no fear, according to geological investigations this will not happen in the foreseeable future.

Neuschwanstein Castle - Bavaria 

This magical palace has everything a fairy tale castle should: a romantic setting, a glowing limestone facade, fanciful turrets and an elaborate interior featuring shining suits of armor. In reality, the castle was originally commissioned as a personal retreat in 1869 by King Ludwig II, the reclusive ruler of Bavaria. Immediately after his death in 1886, it was opened to the public and today more than 1.3 million tourists visit each year. This enchanting Romanesque Revival fortress that rises majestically from the Alpine foothills of southwest Bavaria, is rumored to be the inspiration behind Sleeping Beauty’s Castle in Disneyland and Cinderella’s Castle in Disneyworld.

Krzywy Domek - Poland
Poland’s fantastically topsy-turvy Krzywy Domek, or Crooked House has an undulating roofline and warped windows and doors. This 43,055 square foot building was inspired by the fairy tale illustrations of Jan Marcin Szancer and the work of artist Per Dahlberg. The vertigo-inducing building in the seaside resort town of Sopot houses a shopping center, restaurants and a radio station, and draws thousands of tourists each year to see the modern architectural marvel for themselves. 

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