Although COVID-19 and the regulations put in place to control it continue to negate all notion of distant travels, we can still dream of slightly quirky or outright self-indulgent treatments designed to help us put our freshest faces forward when we finally step out into the light. Here is a look at some of the procedures one can undergo, from those that cost close to nothing to those that carry a fancy price tag.

Aside for the odd Easter egg market and celebrations welcoming spring, the Lenten season tends to be rather sedate across much of Germany. In ordinary times, Munich bucks the trend with a festival city residents treasure as something they keep largely to themselves.

To the surprise of no one, the carnival festivities that would normally make this coming week one of the liveliest ones of the winter season have been canceled in 2021. Despite the lack of parades and street parties, the spirit of carnival is so intertwined with local cultures that a number of museums and monuments honor this singular, silly season and all the rites associated with it year round. Here are a few places to feel that carnival vibe no matter the season.

As we continue to abide by regulations aiming to keep Coronavirus transmission at bay, staying home is our new way of life. When it’s safe and sanctioned to venture out into the big wide world once more, our first excursions need not involve any great distances. This week’s look at outings in or near cities with U.S. military installations unites hiking and history.

Continuing efforts to beat back the virus mean we’re implored to stay home for a good while yet. Despite the ongoing closure of museums and cancellation of fests, many of these outings or activities in or near cities with U.S. military installations should still be possible.

With lockdown likely to continue for weeks if not months, trips of any distance or entailing overnight stays remain on the back burner. While travel provides us with our favored means to experience beauty, nature, history and architecture, that longed-for escape into undiscovered realms can also be had while exploring one’s own backyard.

Some travel experiences are worth the taking not necessarily because of their enjoyment factor, but rather the stark differences they present from our own everyday reality.

Does the thought of strapping on skis or snowboards to your feet and careening downhill leave you cold? That need not stop you from enjoying the pristine, snow-draped landscapes of the season.

As ongoing coronavirus concerns keep us locked in wait-and-see mode, here are some of the events, festivals, grand openings and other activities organizers hope to stage in 2021.

What’s on the plate for that special Christmas feast? It’s not just the country you find yourself in that determines the dish. Regions, religions and family traditions will influence what you’re indulging in the days leading up to, on and after the big day itself.

Public events around the world have been canceled in hopes of stemming the global pandemic, but there’s no stopping the forces of nature. One event that all life on earth experiences simultaneously is the solstice. At 11:02 a.m. Dec. 21, the sun in the skies above the Northern Hemisphere will reach its most southerly point of the year, and all those living above the equator will experience the shortest amount of daylight hours and the longest hours of night.

With the most eagerly anticipated events of the season canceled due to COVID-19 concerns, Christmas in Europe looks much different in 2020. While we’ll have to wait another year to stroll past Christmas market stalls, sip mulled wine, or perfect figure eights on the ice rinks, there are certain places where the spirit of the holidays is present year round.

Conduct an internet search for the gems of Europe and you’ll find enticing list of under-the radar destinations promising stunning nature and heaps of charm. But Europe has plenty of gems in the literal sense of the word too.

If you weren’t born Catholic, you could be forgiven for not knowing much about the more than 10,000 saints venerated by the largest Christian church. In the period known as Advent, the four weeks spent in anticipation of the celebration of Jesus’ birth, two saints’ feast days stand out: those of St. Nicholas and Santa Lucia. While we cannot travel this year, we can join these celebrations in spirit.

Long before there was a Boston in Massachusetts, a settlement of the same name arose along the eastern coast of England. The United Kingdom’s Boston, today a city of about 35,000 inhabitants in the county of Lincolnshire in the East Midlands, was by the 12th century already a lively market town. Its name references St. Botolph, an Anglo-Saxon monk reputed to have passed through the area centuries previously.

As the first snows of early winter begin to fall, skiers across Europe are wondering how soon they will be able to indulge in their favorite sport. While it’s still too early to predict how the ski season of 2020-2021 will pan out, we can hope that through a mix of COVID-fighting measures such as caps on the numbers of skiers to the restriction of apres ski gatherings, a snowy day in the Alps might yet be yours.

Do soaring bridges, deep tunnels, improbable outlooks and other amazing builds float your boat? From transportation solutions to tourist attractions, you don’t have to be in the United States Army Corps of Engineers to appreciate some of Europe’s superlative construction projects.

Italian food is wildly popular throughout the world, but spaghetti and pizza make up only a tiny fraction of the thousands of sweet and savory dishes a visitor to Italy might wish to sample. The country acknowledges the value of its culinary traditions highly enough to grant certain products protection and safeguarding by legal means.

Of all the well-recognized labels a monument, city or landscape can bear, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Site designation is among the most prestigious. When a property is recognized as such, travel and tourism content creators are generally quick to highlight its vaunted status as a landmark that a highly respected international body has deemed to be of outstanding value to humanity and worthy of preservation.

Looking for a vacation devoted to physically challenging pursuits? Use your precious time off gaining proficiency in the sport or discipline of your choice under expert guidance. Here is just a smattering of some sporty undertakings that could make for a fitness-oriented holiday.

Napoleon Bonaparte is one of the most celebrated, yet controversial, leaders in human history. Following in the footsteps of “Le Petit Caporal” leads to a number of fascinating museums, battlegrounds and monuments recalling his sway across the continent.

When conditions are again favorable, here are two great places for an October weekend getaway in southern Europe, and some interesting things to do once you get there.

With the newfound freedom of the summer holidays comes a dilemma as old as the ages: a vacation full of culture and architectural wonders, or lazy days on the shore, sand between the toes? Choose your city break wisely and yes, both can be yours.

Now's the time to start planning your weekend. Here's a list of top events happening around Europe on Feb. 28 and beyond:

It's time to start planning your weekend. Here's a list of top events happening around Europe on Feb. 20 and beyond:

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It's a great time to start planning your weekend. Here's a list of top events happening around Europe on May 24 and beyond:

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It's not too late to start planning your weekend activities. Here's a look at events scheduled for Feb. 1 and beyond.

It's not too late to start planning your weekend. Here's a list of top events happening around Europe on Jan. 23 and beyond:

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It's not too late to start planning your weekend. Here's a list of top events happening around Europe on Nov. 15 and beyond: