Exploring Liechtenstein.

Think about Liechtenstein if you ever start to find your trip arrangements a bit out of control. Looking somewhat like someone accidentally dropped a toy nation in the middle of Europe and everyone politely agreed not to touch it, this small alpine principality lies quietly between Austria and Switzerland. Liechtenstein, which has a population smaller than that of many universities, offers the unusual opportunity to see an entire nation in the same time it usually takes to search for parking at a major city museum.

The capital, Vaduz, is usually the first stop, mainly because it is charming and also because you can walk across it faster than you can drink a latte. The town exudes a clean, contemporary vibe and a kind of quiet confidence as though it knows it is little but declines to fuss over it. From Vaduz Castle, high atop the city, the Prince of Liechtenstein oversees everything. You can't enter since it is a real home, but it does provide fantastic images. Try only to forget how a castle on a cliff compares to your own living situation. That never works.

Liechtenstein offers rather unexpectedly fast access to the outdoors. As if the nation chose its national pastime to be gathering stunning views, the hiking routes are carefully maintained and clearly marked. As the Rhine Valley stretches out below, the Alps rise dramatically around you in a way that makes you feel like a somewhat underprepared hiker, even if you are wearing sneakers. Travellers seeking the grandeur of the Swiss Alps, free from inadvertently running up the rent for lunch, will find it ideal.

Liechtensteiner food is warm and substantial for lunch. Imagine sweet pastries meant to undermine even your most ambitious fitness goals, cheesy dumplings, and crunchy schnitzel. There is also some really excellent wine. Bottles from the princely vineyard taste a lot more expensive than you'd think they would for such a small nation. Though you still struggle to pronounce the word with confidence, this is the sort of wine that makes you believe you grasp terroir.

Tourism here follows a calm, unhurried beat. There is nothing too ambitious, and nothing is huge. Local people are welcoming but not too talkative; the museums are small but well thought out; the landscape carries the bulk of the weight. It's the kind of spot where you can stroll about for an afternoon, profess yourself to be a temporary specialist on microstates, and yet be back at your hotel in time for a leisurely meal.

Liechtenstein is not ultimately a destination one travels for bragging rights. This is the nation you find when you want a vacation from the crowded, noisy bucket list destinations. It is exquisitely scenic, quiet, and clean. How often can you say you explored a whole country before lunch?