KRAKOW:   One hour drive. Krakow was the Polish capital for 500 years. Poland's third city and lively university town, has a wonderfully preserved old centre of cobbled streets and narrow passageways. It boasts the striking Royal Castle with(Wawel) Europe's largest medieval square. The castle contains the crown treasury and armoury. Amongst the treasury is the 13th- century sword used for centuries in the Polish coronation ceremony, and other Royal memorabilla including jewellery and shoes. In the adjoining armoury are historic weapons from all over Europe.  Krakow also has a recently built water park available for the children.

ZAKOPANE:  One hour drive. Polands mountain town lies below the Tatra mountains. Whatever the time of year there is much to do including great places to walk, ski, bike, raft, bungey jump, parascend, eat and drink. It is best to visit on a weekday as the main road from Krakow is less busy.

TATRA NATIONAL PARK: Accessible by foot. Hiking is only recommended in Summer unless you are an experienced mountain climber for fear of avalanches.Climbers can only go with a certified mountain guide.     

AUSCHWITZ: Two hour drive. Symbol of the Holocaust and national persecution for the Poles.

SALT MINE: 45 minutes drive. Wieliczka is Poland's oldest working mine and has been working for 1,000 years. The mine contains a labyrinth of passageways and chambers total length 124 miles. 2.5 miles are open to the public. There are three chapels with unique salt sculptures also a subterranean sanatorium for patients suffering from asthma and allergies. 

GORCZANSKI NATIONAL PARK: Established 1981 it covers 6,763 ha. It includes part of the Gorce mountains which are among the most picturesque in Poland due to dense forests, lush meadows, deeply cut valleys and panoramic views.The Park is accessible through 70Km of marked trails with some suitable for mountain bikes.Plant flora in the region consist of some 950 species. The Gorce are home to Carpathian stag,deer,wild boar, fox, wildcat,marten,hare,skunk,ermine,badger,lynx, bear and wolf. Also some 90 species of breeding birds including eagles. 

ROZNOWSKEO LAKE:  One hour drive. Popular lake for watersports.

KRYNICA: Popular tourist destination with its springs. These are used for bathing and drinking cures for health complaints. Cable car for access to the top of the mountains for walking and sking.

Pieninski National Park: 50 minutes drive the park was founded in1955 and covers 2,346 ha. A natural feature is the Dunajec River Gorge one of the most beautiful in Europe. A major tourist attraction is rafting down the Dunajec River through the gorge which lasts 2-3 hours.  The forests are at there most beautiful in the fall and provide a home to many animals resident in the park and numerous colonies of bats which live in the limestone caves during winter. There are two castles on the edge of the park and these are visible from many spots in the park.