Where your money goes further in Europe

There's something decidedly medieval about Carcassonne.

Europe isn't always inexpensive for the traveler, but there are places where you can stretch those newly acquired euros -- places that are sometimes offbeat but always enjoyable. The European Travel Commission suggests these destinations for a late-summer or off-season getaway:

* Medieval marvel. The walled city of Carcassonne, France,  still dazzles with its fairy tale splendor. The largest fortress in Europe now attracts families , not invaders. Entrance is free, and youngsters can imagine carrying out their own feats of knightly derring-do. The Museum of Fine Arts is also free, with French and Dutch paintings spanning the 17th-19th centuries. Visit www.franceguide.com.

* Musical Manchester. With one of Europe’s largest university campuses, Manchester, England,  is young, edgy, creative, musical,  and easy on the wallet. Lower-priced  hotels and hostels abound and transport is free on the hop-on/hop-off Metroshuttle bus. There are nightclubs, bars, culture, shopping and the legendary music scene.  The Manchester International Festival is going on now, and free festivals and events fill the calendar year round. Check it out at www.visitmanchester.com.

* Filled with flowers. The floral capital of Europe, home to Northern Europe’s greatest portrait painter and ancestral seat of the first settlers of Manhattan, Haarlem in the Netherlands  charms with its cobblestone streets, historic buildings, churches, museums and antique shops and grand mansions.  St. Bavo Protestant Church  boasts an 18th-century organ that was played by Mendelssohn, Schubert, Liszt, Handel and Mozart. The St. Bavo Catholic Cathedral has an acclaimed choir and a pipe organ, with free recitals in summer.  Go to www.holland.com.

* Walled wonder. One of only three cities with complete walking walls, Lucca, in Italy's Tuscany region,  has had walls since Roman times and is still encircled by its medieval ramparts, for three miles surrounding the car-free old city. The tree-lined top is paved for easy walking and biking. One highlight is the Guinigi Tower, the 15th-century seat of Lucca’s leading family, easily spotted by  the oak trees growing out of the top ...  and into the room below. It’s 230 steps to the top for spectacular views in all directions.  Click on www.italiantourism.com.

* Gaudi, not gaudy. In Barcelona, budget travelers can  bunk down in hostels, pensions
or small hotels, and take advantage of all the free and inexpensive attractions of this Catalonia capital, beginning with Park Guell, Antoni Gaudi’s mosaic fantasyland with 84 stone columns and a tiled, sinuously carved bench overlooking the city. At ground level, La Rambla is one of the world’s great boulevards with people-watching galore. The Gothic Quarter’s meandering byways are free to visit, and the Barcelona Cathedral is filled with medieval splendor. City museums, such as the Picasso Museum, are free on the first Sunday of the month. Visit www.spain.info.

* Summer in Slovenia. Kranjska-Gora, near the borders of Italy and Austria, is Slovenia’s leading ski area and the site of the Alpine World Cup. Nestled in the Zgornjesavska Valley amid
the towering peaks of the Julian Alps, laced with alpine lakes and fast-running rivers, it is beautiful in summer as much as in winter. Prices are far lower than at other mountain resorts, too. In addition to hotels,  accommodations runs from tourist farms to Alpine hostels and wellness resorts. Activities include a summer toboggan run, hiking for all levels, cycling, golf, rafting, canyoning and fishing. Go to www.kranjska-gora.si.

* Viking voyage. For about $600, you can sail ancient Viking routes amid the archipelagos, shallow channels and hilltop forts from Västervik, Sweden, to Stockholm or vice versa. With five nights on
board, you’ll learn about  he Viking era and experience shipboard duties including steering, cooking, cleaning, setting sails and navigating. The journey is just  one of many ecotourism tours endorsed by the ecologically-minded Nature’s Best. Visit www.naturensbasta.se.

Fascinating fact

St. Paul, Minn., was originally called Pig's Eye, after Pierre "Pig's Eye" Parrant, a tavern keeper tavern there. But Father Lucien Galtier, the first Catholic pastor of the region,  put a stop to that and gave the settlement its current name.

Still time to snag some really low airfares

You have to act quickly and there are conditions, but three airlines are offering fares starting at $30, one way.  Southwest, Air Tran and Frontier have the offers.

For details, go to www.southwest.com, www.airtran.com and www.frontierairlines.com.

Wednesday's trivia answer: It's Monaco

The most densely populated nation on earth is Monaco, which is a mere .75 square miles and has a population density of 43,780 people per square mile. But if you exclude microstates, then Bangladesh, with 2,200 people per square mile, wins, according to about.com. Macau, which is a region and not a nation, has a density of 48,450. And we know we will get an argument about these statistics.

Not so fast on Four Corners location  

The other day we cited reports that the famous Four Corners marker, where people go to  stand in four states at once, is 2 1/2 miles from the actual junction. But those reports are erroneous, writes Dave Doyle, chief geodetic surveyor for the National Geodetic Survey. For his organization's complete response, click here.

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Blueberry pedicure comes with Maine deal

Through Labor Day, The Cliff House Resort & Spa in Ogunquit, Maine, is offering one free Maine Blueberry Pedicure per room with any three- or four-night package. Those  packages  include Seaside Shopper (a girlfriend getaway), Spa & Golf Combo  and Celebration (recommended for romantic retreats, special occasions like reunions and anniversaries or just a long weekend .) Prices vary. As for the blueberry bonus, which normally costs $70, it is a 50-minute pedicure said to combine the antioxidant benefits of blueberries with the moisturizing properties of a Blueberry Smoothie Mask. 

Visit www.cliffhousemaine.com or call 207-361-1000.

Let's hear it for this flying fellow!

Kudos to Mark Malkoff, 33, who broke a Guinness World Record with 135 flight segments within a month. (The previous record was 128.) We hope he sat back, relaxed and enjoyed his flights, but we wonder about the "enjoy" part.

To learn all about his adventure, click here.