Northern Spain in $520s-$580s RT

Barcelona's Gaudí masterpieces are cool and all, and I must admit walking the hillside of Sacramonte with sweeping views of the Alhambra is nothing short of magic. 

But if you're anything like me, sometimes the best trip unfolds when you step off the tourist trail. And truthfully, there's nowhere quite like Spain's moody north. 

On the shores of the Cantabrian Sea sits a region known as Asturias. A swath of lush green valleys feels worlds away from Spain's potent sun down south. 

We're talking mist-shrouded cliffs, cows, and cider houses. Winding roads that lead to quaint fishing villages and jagged mountains that rival Europe's most majestic peaks. 

Translation? Pack some rain gear; you could easily mistake this area for Ireland.