Alicante

If your idea of excitement is strolling through the palm-lined avenues of what feels like Europe's most gloriously oversized backyard garden, Elche's Palmeral is your kind of quirky indulgence. A UNESCO-protected palm forest-yes, palm forest-in southeastern Spain, this leafy outpost practically begs you to stroll leisurely beneath 200,000 date palms that whisper secrets from Moorish farmers who planted their ancestors over a thousand years ago. Early morning or late afternoon is prime time, when the famously relentless Spanish sun eases up, casting Instagram-worthy shadows across the pathways. Budget-wise, entry is often free, but stash aside a few euro coins for that essential cafe con leche and sweet, sticky date pastry at the charming kiosks nearby. Bring comfortable shoes, sunglasses, and a healthy skepticism about how one place can take trees so seriously. Is it the most adrenaline-pumping moment of your life? Perhaps not. But where else can you casually sip coffee beside botanical history, quietly pondering how Europe's largest palm grove ended up in a small Valencian city you've probably never heard of? At the very least, your friends back home will envy the sheer randomness of your travel exploits.