Despite being active retirees, we may only a couple more years where we can comfortably (and safely) drive a car for sightseeing. I'd like some ideas for must-do driving trips in one or more countries. In which countries or areas does a car get you to more back roads and small villages than via public transportation? For instance, Ireland is this year's trip and many have said that a car can really get you off the beaten path there. Sometimes we combine train and car travel. Usually when going into a big city, we park remotely and train in.
Other places we've driven in include most of France, Tuscany, Scotland, England (Midlands, Yorkshire, Cotswolds), Norway, Sweden, Iceland, Italian Dolomites, Bavaria/Rhine/Mosel/Eifel areas of Germany, Spain (Granada, white hills towns, Sevilla, Lisboa). We're very lucky to have been able to travel like this. Someday we'll graduate to cruises and tour-led trips. But for now, I'm the tour guide and he's the driver. It works for us.
We thought about northwestern Italy/Switzerland, Eastern Europe. Suggestions for our bucket list? Thank you!