ATHENS -- You might have seen the pictures on calendars, or even television shows highlighting the sights from the Greek Islands. Well, I'm here to tell you, those beautiful white churches with blue domes are even more amazing in person.

I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to take a week off to travel to Greece. Because of limited time, we picked Santorini and Athens as the two destinations to see. You can get a direct flight from Denver to Philadelphia. Then a straight flight from Philly to Athens. After about a nine and a half hour plane ride, you'll just need to take another quick 45-minute plane ride to the island of Santorini.

Greece is a hotspot for summer vacations. We lucked out and booked our airfare about a month and a half in advance for cheaper-than-normal price. Our hotels were also booked at the right time because a week after we were there, the prices more than doubled for one night. So you'll want to plan ahead.

First stop, Santorini. We stayed at the Katikies Hotel in Oia, which is located in most northern part of the island. While many tourists might choose Fira, the capital, to stay because of the busy nightlife, Oia is considered the most famous of all villages on Santorini.

It's known for its quiet life and beautiful sunset, along with picture perfect backgrounds that truly represent the island at its best. Katikies Hotel gets 5 stars from us. There's no room with a bad view. The infinity pool with the Aegean Sea in the background is absolutely breathtaking. The service is excellent. They really make you feel at home.

We decided to rent an ATV to explore the entire island. You can drive from the north end to the south end in about four hours or so, with stops to sightsee and just enjoy. ATVs are very common and you must wear helmets because it is the law there and it's safer.

Most tour buses and taxis know tourists usually rent ATVs as a mode of transportation, so the roads are shared. Just move to the right so they can pass you, since most roads are two-way.

This was the best thing we could have done to save money and really experience the local life of the island. We made a stop at the longest black sand beach in Perissa. There's a line of bars/restaurants that opens to the ocean view. Jo Jo Beach Club is the spot we fell in love with. The music, the people, and the atmosphere was fun. It also had a beautiful pool in the bar, so you can take a dip, then walk across the street to the black sand beach. There's a fee ranging from 7 to 9 euros to hang out on the beach. You'll get a spot with a nice lounge chair and umbrella.

All the way to the southern part of the island you'll find the red sand beach. It's more secluded. You'll need some tennis shoes to walk over a rocky cliff to get to the beach. But once you're there, it's beautiful. It's very quiet and a good place to stop and take some breathtaking photos.

Throughout Santorini, we also came across several vineyards. Wine is big on the island. They're very different from the traditional vineyards you might see in the states. The vines are shorter and stay closer to the ground. The wine is also sweeter.

One of the most fascinating things we saw exploring the island are these windmill houses. They are exactly that. Old windmills, made into a home. You can see the pictures to get an idea.

Greek food is very fresh. A lot of fresh seasoning and not very heavy. In Oia, there's a boardwalk you can walk along to find many different restaurants and shops. It's ever busier at night. You walk along the Aegean Sea and there's not one bad place to take pictures. Bring a light jacket because when the wind picks up at night, it can be a little chilly.

Weatherwise, visiting Santorini in early June was perfect. It was mid 80s every day with a light breeze. But weather around that time in Athens, that's another story. Get ready for some heat!

After a short 45-minute flight, we arrived in Athens. We stayed at King George Hotel in Syntagma Square. It's very centrally located and much like a big city, it has a lot of things to see and do. The tomb of the unknown soldier is also right there in the square. The changing of the guards is a must see in front of the parliament buildings. It takes place every hour. Many tourists come by to watch it on Sundays. The soldiers unique uniforms along with the formation is quite interesting to watch and take pictures of.

It just so happens, there was a tourist strike while we were there. We weren't sure if we'd get to the Acropolis tour on Friday, so we decided to take a tour of our own. It turned out to be a fun, adventurous walk around the city.

We used the Lonely Planet book on Greece and followed the walking tour. While we didn't pay tickets to go inside many of the sights, we were still able to take pictures from outside and enjoy a tour at our own pace. Be careful with the hot weather though. It was about 90 degrees when we did the walking tour and it felt more like 100+. So carry plenty of water with you in your backpack.

That afternoon, we also decided to see the National Archaeological Museum. That's where we saw the statue of Zeus, or the Poseidon. It's a smaller museum, but worth it for a break from the heat and to learn a little bit of Greek history.

On Friday, the strike was over. So we signed up for the halfday Acropolis tour through our hotel. I'm glad we decided to do that because the tour included an air conditioned bus to take us around all the sights, along with tickets to let us inside the Acropolis, and we had an excellent tour guide to give us a history behind everything we saw. The tour included the temple of Zeus, the Acropolis, among other sights in the city.

Nightlife in Athens was a lot of fun. If you have time after a nice dinner, take a taxi to the Gazi district. It's the newest, hippest place to people watch and to be seen. There are plenty of restaurants, cafes, and bars to choose from. It's where the locals hang out and the atmosphere is very lively. We really enjoyed it.

Seeing Santorini and Athens in a week was a trip of a lifetime and I highly recommend you put this on the list of places to go for vacations. It's relaxing, fun, and you get a chance to see and appreciate Greece. Umpa!