One October day in a village along the Rhine River in Germany, this question was presented to me. I looked up at the steep hillsides, full of ripened Riesling grapes just waiting to be picked. Wondering when I would again be in Germany at precisely the day of harvest, I agreed to set my alarm for sunrise and join the local workers on their annual task of hand-picking the Riesling grapes. All I asked in return was a bowl (or two) of homemade goulash and a glass of last year’s Riesling to wash it all down.

The village of Bacharach, Germany and the Rhine River

The story of this Riesling harvest experience was published last weekend in the travel section of the Toronto Star under the title ‘Getting Your Hands Dirty’. Many people travel to Germany for its beer – but few plan a trip to Deutschland solely to drink wine or take part in the harvest. While I didn’t step foot in Bacharach, Germany looking for an adventure, I certainly found one. Here’s a preview of the opening of the article:

BACHARACH, GERMANY—My dirt-covered boots hit the hiking trail in investigation of an unusual aroma. Despite my perch on a hilltop overlooking the Rhine River snaking through the mountains near this lovely town, all I could think about was this curious smell. Discovering its origins began to consume me and like a resilient search dog, I kept following the scent, hoping it would grow stronger. Towards the village, it began to intensify, saturating my nostrils. I couldn’t identify the unfamiliar scent, but its luster drew me straight to an open door.

Vines of Riesling grapes

This is how I met Hans, a friendly wine maker who also owns a charming guesthouse in the village of Bacharach. If you aren’t interested in participating in the harvest, there are plenty of restaurants here to sample the wine without doing the grunt work. I also enjoyed the fragrant hiking trails, the beautiful architecture, and spending a couple nights in the castle hostel that is perched on top of a hill overlooking the entire village.

The time I spent in Bacharach is a perfect example of how travel changes you. Not only do I now look at Riesling wine in a new way — and chuckle to myself about being yelled at by the big German foreman when I missed a few bunches of grapes — but I also gained a new way of traveling in this small town in the Rhine Valley.

In trips past, a scent may have drawn me to the door of a winemaker like Hans, but I wouldn’t have crossed the threshold. Ever since the rich results of this experience, I hesitate less to walk right in.

Sunday was the warmest day of the year so far, and in celebration, we decided to get out of the house and into the sun. After a short 30-minute drive south of the city, we were breathing the fresh air of County Wicklow. With my camera in hand, we set out for Sally Gap. This scenic mountain pass is a spectacular sight – and there’s rarely more than a few other nature-lovers around.

If you’re interested in seeing the wildlife of Ireland, head to this area to see plenty of sheep having their daily munch at the side of the road. And this time of year, expect to see cottonball-white newborn lambs running in the fields alongside their mothers – it’s a beautiful sight.

After our scenic drive – we wanted to get out of the car and into the sun. Johnny Fox’s Pub is well-known in Ireland, and for good reason. This atmospheric pub is filled with knick-knacks that would make your grandmother smile. For an affordable treat – skip the expensive fish dishes in favor of the rich fish chowder. It’s served with brown bread and is a great accompaniment to that pint of Guinness. After your meal – take your pint outside into the sun or listen to the live band that’s always playing on Sunday. 

This area is also great for walking. No trip to Dublin is complete without a bit of time spent outdoors – so here are 3 of my favorite choices for a Sunday walk in and around Dublin:

1. The South Wall, Ringsend: One of these days I’ll remember to bring my camera on a walk to the South Wall so you can see how spectacular it is. Jetting out into Dublin Bay, this man-made wall provides fantastic views of greater Dublin – you can see everywhere from the Sugar Loaf to Howth from this one-hour stroll.

2. Sandymount Strand: Accessible to Dublin city center by bus or DART train, Sandymount Stand is a beautiful place for a stroll. There’s a path along the beach or you can head down onto the beach itself, which sometimes is incredibly exposed when the tide rushes far out. Nearby Sandymount Village is a great place to grab a coffee or snack afterwards.

3. Dun Laoghaire Pier: Hop on the DART to Dun Laoghaire and take a walk along one of the two piers. If you hang out for a few minutes towards the end of the pier – you might just see a seal swimming around in the chilly water below. Watching the sailboats come in and out of the picturesque marina, you’ll be glad you left the city center to see a different side of Dublin.

* Call to Readers: Is there anything you would like to know about Dublin, Ireland, visiting the Emerald Isle, etc? Post your questions and I’ll get back to you with some inside information*

This weekend I’m going on a mini-holiday. A quick weekend getaway out of the city. Where am I going you ask? Up to the far northwestern corner of the country to Donegal? Not this time. Down to the dramatic cliffs of the Ring of Kerry? I might wait until spring to plan that one.

Friday evening after work I’m heading only 30-minutes south of Dublin to Powerscourt in Wicklow – the Garden of Ireland. On assignment for Luxury Travel Magazine, my country escape will bring me to the Ritz Carlton, Powerscourt. All week I’ve been dreaming of river walks, an afternoon spin on a bicycle, and of course – the spa. I’m hoping the weather will cooperate – but if it doesn’t – spending more time in the spa isn’t a bad consolation prize.

To top my weekend off, this hotel is home to the only Gordon Ramsay restaurant in all of Ireland. I’ll work up my appetite with Saturday afternoon activities and then sit down to a meal where local ingredients are showcased in (hopefully!) new and interesting ways. And all this with the beautiful Sugar Loaf mountain as a backdrop.

Sometimes my travel dreams are big dreams (the Maldives, the trans-Siberian railroad..) and sometimes, it’s nice to get out of the city and arrive at your destination in less time than it took to pack.

What are your favorite escapes close to home? Share your thoughts with fellow travelers below – and be sure to check back for my full report of what promises to be a fantastic five-star weekend.

Maybe this posting of photographs from across Europe will inspire you to book the trip of a lifetime.

Westminster Abbey, London, on a blue-sky autumn day.

Looking for somewhere a bit more exotic?

Church in central square, Hvar, Croatia, during sunset.

Have you been thinking about taking an adventurous vacation? Hike the five villages of Cinque Terre in Liguria, Italy.

View approaching Vernazza, during a hike from Monterosso.

Or maybe a cultural city break will entice you to book the flight?

View down on the river in Budapest

Or maybe rent an apartment and spend a week cooking with local, fresh ingredients?

Market in Vienna, Austria

Check back for more photo travel inspirations, and make 2010 the year you visit somewhere you’ve always dreamed of going.