Surrounding Venice and cradled by the lagoon are a string of low-lying islands which make a nice escape from the hubbub — especially if you can linger after the tourists return to the city. Regular ferryboats and water taxis connect Venice with nearby lagoon communities like Murano, famous for glass, and Burano, with its lace shops and photogenic Crayola-colored houses. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.