The Algarve, Portugal's southernmost region where the sun shines year round and temperatures seldom stray far from the 70's and 80's, is a true vacationers paradise. The 90 miles of shoreline is one of the most beautiful in all of Europe; a picture-postcard necklace of small coves, bays and inlets with pristine golden sand beaches, constantly washed by the Atlantic surf.

In much the same way as Tuscany is to Italy and Provence to France, The Algarve is Portugal's land of good living. Here life is laid back and taken at an easy enough pace to be able to savor each moment -- and there is much to savor. It's a region with a rich culture and a colorful history that extends back to the beginnings of time. There are medieval towns and villages to explore, museums to visit and shopping opportunities to be taken advantage of.

Good food and wine are here in abundance and for those who choose, there's a lively night scene, including nightclubs, bars and casinos where lady luck can be tested. Making a good thing even better, the local Algarveans are among the warmest and most welcoming people in Europe. This is truly one of the world's beautiful places where there is so much to see and do, yet no real reason to do anything at all. For golfers, the temptations of this Garden of Eden are even more difficult to resist.