For many travelers and tourists, the first thing they usually want to do is visit the most popular attractions.

However, they tend to forget that not every experience has to be enjoyed on a grand scale. Sometimes, enjoyable moments can be found on the road less traveled.

Sailors of the George H.W. Bush Carrier Strike Group (GHWBCSG) had the opportunity to do that on a Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) tour of the ancient town of Aptera and the village of Alikambos, which included a visit to the local winery. For many Sailors, this was an opportunity to experience a side of Greece beyond the popular tourist spots.

"It's easy to run off to the nearest tourist trap and call it good, but I didn't want that," said Yeoman Seaman Brenda Avalos. "I wanted to wander away from those spots and visit the rural areas for a true Greek experience."

Sailors began the tour by going to the town of Aptera, where they walked through the ruins of Roman fortifications when the empire occupied the island of Crete. Apart from soaking up the history of the area, they were awed by the view of the Mediterranean Sea and of Crete itself.

"Walking the grounds where one of the most famous civilizations stood thousands of years ago is nothing short of remarkable," said Aviation Structural Mechanic 2nd Class Josh Boone. "It's a very beautiful area with killer views and lush greenery everywhere."

After the ruins, Sailors visited the village of Alikambos and toured the local winery. There they learned about the winery's history and were invited to sample their selection.

"The process of how wine is made was very informative," said Yeoman 2nd Class Jianhua Li. "I had no idea how complicated the process is. Plus, the countryside on the grounds of the winery is certainly beautiful."

As the day wound down, the tour group was led to one of the larger taverns in the village and enjoyed a bountiful dinner. Sailors passed bread, meats and drinks to one another much like a family would around the table back home. Those feelings, and the memories from this tour happened because they decided to take the road less traveled.

The GHWBCSG is conducting naval operations in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations in support of U.S. national security interests.

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