The Azores are Europe’s best-kept secret: verdant, tranquil, diverse, exquisitely beautiful, and welcoming. Nine small islands are surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean. All the islands are green. While main towns have some traffic, just a short distance away, men ride horses to their pastures. The islands reflect their turbulent geological past with lava rocks and evidence of volcanic eruptions everywhere. Their “vineyards” are fields of lava stones piled into plots inside of which are the actual vines. The Azores are only four hours from Boston, and truly deserve your visit.