European Birthday Celebrations
If your young adult has never been to Europe, this birthday is the perfect start to introduce them to the continent. For first timers, you may want to choose one of the larger and well-visited cities. My daughter is a December baby, so weather played a major factor in narrowing down our choice. After much consideration, Lisbon, Portugal made the most sense. The city is the most western capital in all of Europe. And because it’s located on the northern shore of the Tejo River where it intersects with the Atlantic Ocean. The climate benefits from the Gulf Stream making it one of the warmest cities to visit during a winter vacation.
A temperate climate combined with its recent rebirth has made Lisbon a parent and adult-kid friendly panacea. It has just the right balance of deep cultural roots, stunning historical architecture; palaces, castles, churches, museums and a bar ‘hop till you drop’ nightlife. Bairro Alto is the graffiti ridden hot spot for all night fun. Lisbon is built on many hills so not to miss are the panoramic views of the city which are easily accessed by traveling to the top via elevadores or funicular.
The other big draw is the opportunity to stay at a Pousada. Pousadas are a collection of luxurious accommodations built within the frameworks of renovated castles, former Monasteries, convents and fortresses. Each Pousada reflects the local region or area from their design, furniture, décor and food and vary from authentic historic design, to charming folk type feel, to nature oriented with ample outdoor spaces.
