Ports
Hoorn is a municipality in the Netherlands, located on the IJsselmeer. The city was established in the eighth century and later developed into a major trading center. Hoorn still has a lovely old inner city with many well-preserved historical houses and buildings that harken back to its prosperous history. Several small museums are worth a visit. You can explore the flat surrounding countryside dotted with small villages by bicycle, or easily reach Amsterdam from here by public transportation.
Cascais is a popular port town in Portugal with a large yacht harbor and several sandy beaches in and around town. Surfing, windsurfing, sailing and kitesurfing are popular in the region, and nearby cliffs are a great destination for a hike. The town proper offers everything you need to recuperate from your exertions: restaurants, taverns and all the urban sophistication you might miss when at sea. You can visit Lisbon from here for a day trip, but Cascais itself is also well worth a visit.
