Many may recognize the name of this Atlantic island of Portugal more as the classic sweet wine it produces than as a destination. But on the other hand, at least a million Brits, Germans, other Europeans, and sundry travelers per year do well appreciate the charms of Madeira, the European Union's farthest-flung outpost. Made up of five islands settled by the Portuguese beginning in 1419 - Madeira itself, along with much smaller Porto Santo and the three Desertas islands - this archipelago with a semi-tropical climate that's mild year-round  (temperatures low 60s to low 70s Fahrenheit/16-23° Celsius), has in addition to gorgeous scenery... keep reading