If ever we wanted the weather to be perfect, it was while hiking around the five lands of the Cinque Terre, and we couldn't have been more fortunate. Only one of the four coastal walks connecting the towns was officially open but a second one was walkable. This was fantastic because, while the first was a traffic jam of older, slow walkers, scrambling through the narrow windy paths, the second walk was almost deserted and more scenic.

The towns themselves were charming to walk through and, as they were perched on rocky outcrops over a pristine blue ocean, they were isolated and picturesque.

We found it a lovely place to visit and worth spending a few more dollars to actually stay in one of the towns instead of daytripping it since you get to see them without the crowds after sunset.