Mont Blanc, Isere, Chartreuse – the monikers of world-famous, erstwhile Winter Olympic arenas abound around Grenoble. It's hardly a surprise that this southern French city is hailed as the gateway to the Alps, trodden by countless skiers and boarders who make their way to the groomed pistes of nearby of Chamrousse and apres-mad Alp d'Huez. Come summer, and Grenoble tour guides will lead you to the trailheads of the beautiful Parc Naturel Régional du Vercors with its sculpted, totem-like mountains. The city itself is packed with wide boulevards and pretty parks, topped by the Bastille Hill (where it's possible to ride a cable car to the spot of the first ancient settlement here), and comes with excellent museums dedicated to 15^th century history and the French Revolution. A local crowd of students also adds a hedonistic edge, with hearty alpine taverns and international sports bars booming throughout the whole season.