Some of my best friends and I have been putting our heads together trying to plan a perfect extended Weekend Getaway for us to take some time next spring. My friend Erin is dying to return to Paris so that’s already on the itinerary, but now we’re trying to figure out where else to go!

So, as I was glancing through some of my travel notes and travel books/blogs I realized that the perfect place for four close friends to visit after a no sleep stay in Paris would be the placidly beautiful, Santorini (and no, this has nothing to do with the fact that Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2 was partially filmed there).

Santorini consists of several villages located among a group of islands known as Cyclades in Greece. Aside from its white walled villages, Santorini is probably best known for its many beaches and its picture perfect sunsets that lure people in from neighboring towns and cities. However, as much as I enjoy relaxing, I tend to prefer a bit more adventure when I go traveling and Santorini has all kinds of activities for those with similarly restless minds. For example, Santorini is located on an active volcano which is open to public tours where you can see everything from smoking holes to recent lava flows. And if that’s not up your alley then you can drink your way through the villages on a number of different wine tours or take your camera on a hike to see the Faros lighthouse atop a rocky cliff or take a quick boat ride to the Palia Kameni hot springs and bathe in the turquoise blue waters.

So with a little luck and affordable airfare hopefully my friends and I will be venturing off to Santorini in the very near future! Until then, we can admire it from these stunning images:

• Who wouldn’t want to take a donkey taxi ride?! •

• Palia Kameni hot springs •

• Faros Lighthouse •

• Black Pebble Beach •

Have you ever been to Santorini?

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photos via flickr & tumblr