The Dolomites | Italy

One of my favorite places on Earth the Italian Dolomites and especially the Val Gardena village of Selva is my idea of a ski and cycling (and culinary) paradise. This monumental mountain range in northeastern Italy is one of the world’s most beautiful locations for outdoor adventurers, from winter skiing to summer cycling, mountain climbing, hiking and more.

Much of the region was the Austrian Tirol until annexation by Italy after World War I, and the distinctive local cuisine reflects these roots; expect lots of speck, sauerkraut, knödel and strudel. From valley to valley, village to village, you’ll still encounter mostly German, some Italian with a lilting accent, as well as Ladin, an umlaut-heavy language native to this remote region. But though road signs are posted in two or three languages, the otherworldly beauty of the Dolomites needs no translation.