Runway to Rail: Amsterdam and Venice - Geneva - Paris

Easygoing, liberal Amsterdam is 'different.' Its citizens, bubbling along happily in their multiracial melting pot, are not so easily poured into the restrictive molds of trade and industry. More important, you can enjoy Amsterdam, its culture, history, and beauty, without stretching the limits of your credit cards. Few skyscrapers mar the clarity of the sky, and the populace mostly walks or bikes from place to place. The historic center recalls Amsterdam's Golden Age as the command post of a vast trading network and colonial empire, when wealthy merchants constructed gabled residences along neatly laid-out canals.

Visit Dam Square, Anne Frank House, Bloemenmarkt, Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh Museum, Canal Belt, Jordaan, Red Light District and so much more!

With sumptuous palaces and romantic waterways, Venice is straight out of an 18th-century Canaletto masterpiece. No matter how many times you have seen it in movies or on TV, the real thing is more surreal and dreamlike than you ever imagined. Its landmarks, the Basilica di San Marco and the Palazzo Ducale are exotic melanges of Byzantine, Gothic, and Renaissance styles. It is full of secrets, ineffably romantic, and - at times - given over entirely to pleasure. You must walk everywhere in Venice; and where you cannot walk, you go by water.

Explore Piazza San Marco, stroll across the Rialto Bridge, get lost in the endless canals, admire the Basilica Santa Maria della Salute, visit the San Giorgio dei Greci, walk around the Jewish Ghetto, learn about Venice's musical history, tour Venice's unique architecture at Campo Santa Maria Formosa, celebrate one of Venice's many festivals, go window shopping, and so much more!

Chic Geneva, the soul of Switzerland's French speaking territory, is home to some of the world's most luxurious and exclusive stores and extravagant restaurants. Filled with parks and promenades, the city becomes a virtual garden in summer. At the heart of the city is the huge Cathedrale St-Pierre, and some of its world-class museums include Musee d'Art et d'Histoire and an impressive gallery of East Asian art. Last but not least, Geneva is home to dozens of international organizations among them the United Nations European headquarters and the International Committee of the Red Cross.

Explore the Old Town, Lake Geneva, Jet d'Eau (Water Jet), Cathedral of Saint-Pierre, Jardin Anglais (English Garden) and Parc de la Grange, Jardin Botanique (Botanical Gardens), Place du Bourg-de-Four, Palace of the Nations, Art and History Museum, Ariana Museum, Quai du Mont-Blanc, and so much more!

Paris is regarded as one of the most dynamic cities in Europe, and for good reason. The city assaults the senses, demanding to be seen, heard, touched, tasted, and smelled. Gaze at impressive monuments and savor its gourmet cheeses, chocolates, wines, and seafood. Paris is relatively small as capitals go, with many of its major sights and museums within walking distance of each other. A world of discovery awaits in every hidden corner and at all the famous sites, there is so much to explore.

Visit the Eiffel Tower, Louvre Museum, Arc de Triomphe, Notre Dame Cathedral, Jardin des Tuileries, Latin Quarter, Avenue des Champs Elysees, Musee d'Orsay, Place de la Concorde, Sacre Coeur, and so much more!