Day Trip: Granada

Even before reaching the city of Granada, its beauty is evident as the landscape transforms into a lush hilltop paradise. Two-and-a-half hours by car from Seville, Granada is charming, offers great shopping and is easily explored on foot. The city was the final Muslim colony in Spain until it was conquered by Catholics in 1492, but remnants of the past remain; Albaicín, a Muslim neighborhood, is a must for all visitors. The main purpose for a visit to Granada is to see the Alhambra: an expansive ancient town built in the 13th century that includes a military palace, private residences, convent, medina and much more. Towering above modern day Granada, Spain's most popular tourism site, which in turn inspired the Taj Mahal, is a feat of Arabic styling with luscious gardens and abundant fountains fed by the nearby Sierra Nevada mountains. For those who would like to spend the night in Granada, the best choice in town is the centrally-located Hotel Hospes Palacio de Los Patos.