Agios Nikolaos, Crete, Greece

Tucked away in eastern Crete’s Gulf of Mirabello, the laid-back town of Agios Nikolaos grew up around a picturesque saltwater lake connected to the sea by a narrow channel. Steeped in myth, the lake is said to be bottomless as well as the legendary bathing spot of the goddesses Athena and Artemis. These days, you’ll find terrific tavernas serving freshly caught seafood lining the stone path that encircles the lake. Snug beaches such as Kitroplatiea and Amnos break up the town’s waterfront, providing marvelous views across the glittering gulf. A few minutes up the road, the chic resort village of Elounda boasts a marina where colorful fishing boats bob in the waves. From here, cross a narrow spit of land to reach the Spinalonga Peninsula, a nearly uninhabited wilderness rimmed by numerous hidden, unspoiled beaches. Just off the peninsula’s northern shore, Spinalonga Island is protected by a commanding 16th-century Venetian fortress, an unexpected reminder that even this quiet corner of the world was not immune to the imperial ambitions of centuries past.