Swansea

Swansea, the birthplace of poet Dylan Thomas (1914-53), adores its native son. It honors him throughout the year, especially at the Dylan Thomas Festival in October and November. But Swansea no longer seems like a place that would inspire poetry. Heavily bombed in World War II, it was clumsily rebuilt. Today there's little to recommend it apart from a couple of good museums. However, the surrounding countryside tells a different story. The National Botanic Gardens and Neath Abbey make for interesting diversions, and the stunning Gower Peninsula contains some of the region's best beaches.