I've found a great company that do short breaks in the Lake District, http://www.goosemirecottages.co.uk/short-breaks . It's not often you get the chance to stay in a cottage for a short break and I love teh Lake District. It means we will have plenty of place for our walking and canoeing gear.
The Vaisseau (french: Great Ship) is a place for children and families to discover science and technology in a playfull way. Here children can learn alot whithout really realising it: they can touch, try out and discover everything and have lots of fun.
Also there are movies, science shows and animations. Everything is kept in three languages (French, English and German), so it is the place to go for native and tourist families.
Arraial do Cabo is lush with marine life. The city is 100 miles from Rio de Janeiro, and scubadiving and lodging are inexpensive. I strongly recommend visiting the city.
Park Slope would be an interesting place to do a social experiment. It's populated by a strange combination of hippies, yuppies, and washed-up writers, but it somehow kind of works. In the daytime, the streets are filled with mothers, baby sitters and $800 strollers, and there's plenty to do. You could spend some time at one of the many coffee shops (http://cupofnyc.com/shops/park-slope for a listing), the best of which is probably Gorilla Coffee on 5th Ave.
If you get bored of coffee and it's nice out, Prospect Park is definitely worth a look. During the summer it's filled with people playing Frisbee and sunbathing.
Buffalo, New York must rank high on the list of misnamed American cities. Say its name to most people and they'll think you're referring to the hairy creature that once dominated the middle of the North American continent. No such animals can be found within the city's environs; instead, unexpected beauty and friendliness abound.
Strictly speaking, Buffalo is geographically closer to Cleveland, Ohio, than it is to New York City. That salient fact helps to explain much of the city's esprit de corps - Buffalo is, in its heart of hearts, a city of the Midwest, and it has far more in common with, say, Chicago, than it does with the great Eastern metropolises. Benefits and drawbacks attend this reality. On the one hand, Buffalo boasts the resources of a much larger city (in part because it used to be a lot larger). On the other hand, Buffalo can feel like a bleak and forlorn industrial wasteland, bypassed by both commerce and industry.
To pass by Buffalo, though, is to miss the hidden gems littered throughout the city. While not generally thought of as a culinary center, Buffalo has made two definite contributions to the collective hardening of America's arteries. Exhibit A: the Buffalo wing. Invented by accident at the Anchor Bar in the 1960s, the chance to dig into the original thing (at the Anchor bar, no less) is one compelling reason to at take a break from the interstate. A second - and less well-known - reason is the beef on weck sandwich. Think of rare, juicy roast beef, piled high on sandwich with a salty bun. It's good. Try it at the Charlie the Butcher's (a local chain). You won't regret it.
Buffalo is also famous for the Bills and the Sabres, as well as the oft-overlooked Albright-Knox Art Gallery, a fine home of many 19th and 20th century masterpieces. Buffalo also boasts a decent nightlife scene, courtesy of State University of New York (SUNY) Buffalo students and Chippewa Street. Also of note - the easy proximity to Niagara Falls, a mere 20 minutes up the highway from downtown Buffalo. Go in the warm weather months, and be sure to ride Maid of the Mist. The Canadian Falls are more spectacular than the American Falls, but both are well worth the trip. Niagara itself is not much to look at - a small, down-on-its-luck (almost literally, given the casinos across the Falls in Canada) city that seems to eke out a living on tourist traffic and border customs control.
In truth, the best time to visit Buffalo (and Niagara) is during the summer. Buffalo is famous for its beautiful park system, and the city plays host to Taste of Buffalo (the second largest outdoor food festival in the U.S., after the Taste of Chicago). In many respects, Buffalo feels like a smaller version of Chicago. Day to day costs are low, people are friendly, and when the weather is pleasant, Buffalo can be irresistibly beautiful. Go for a summer weekend visit. You might be pleasantly surprised by what you find.
Probably one of my favorite places in the world :)
My favorite places to eat though great food can probably literally be found on every block:
- Cal Pep: simple, amazing seafood, probably one of the best meals you'll have in your life
- Cinq Sentits: molecular gastronomy
- El Xampanyet: one of the oldest and best cava bars in Barcelona
- Cafe Viena: one of the best ham sandwiches in Barcelona
- Pinotxo Bar (Boqueria): try the baby squid with white beans!
* For pictures of my fooding adventures, visit: http://flickr.com/photos/aesis/tags/barcelona.
Must visit:
- Parc Guell: Gaudi's imagination run wild - visit his house on top of the hill to get a great view of Barcelona
- Fundació de Joan Miró
- Mercat de la Boqueria: an awesome covered market with lots of fresh produce, hams and great places to eat
i was here for a week and was too much. great and friendly city but not best place to spend time if you're visiting turkey for a little while. better to go to capadoccia and istanbul, etc. top sights: museum of anatolian civilization & old town marketplace in center of city.
in the words of flaubert, i think, Siena has the most beautiful town square in all of europe. great place to hang out and watch the tourists, eat gelato, and write postcards.
three words: old istanbul hostels. very cheap and close to everything. my hostel was Star hostel and liked it a lot. my favorite place nearby: basilica cistern, close to hagia sophia and blue mosque.
You should try to see Iguaçu Falls from the Brazilian side and the Argentinian side. The boat tour is well worth it. Don't bother wearing a poncho- you'll get soaked regardless.
If you're in São Paulo, you need to take advantage of the amazing restaurants. In particular, be sure to go to a churrascaria (Brazilian steak house). There are a lot of good ones but the best is Barbacoa:
http://www.barbacoa.com.br/ho2/home.asp
Finland is... awesome. It deserves to be on anyone's top 5 summer destinations. The summer is mild (temperatures do not get over 25 celsius), the people are usually friendly, the landscapes are fantastic, infrastructures are very good, and it is not as expensive as on would imagine. In fact, Finland is the cheapest of all Scandinavian countries. The best thing to do there is to rent a summer cottage, bring some fishing equipment and have a quiet, peaceful summer. You can find wild berries waiting to be picked almost anywhere (it has been said that only a relatively small percentage of them is actually picked every year). But there are also music festivals in which people really get pissed (Finns can be quite heavy drinkers).
Still within the walls it used to be hundreds of years ago, Valença is a small town that gets most of its income from Spaniards that go shopping there, looking for bargains. I stopped there at night and it was still an interesting experience.
On the border with Portugal, this small town is very charming, with pubs filled with young people that contrast with the old promenade and the alleys that make it feel like a maze. Certainly worth it if you are in Galicia.
It's a nice town. The cathedral is its highlight. But it's a very nice place to walk around also. The market is supposed to be worth a visit, but it was closed when I was there...
Beautiful city but extremely expensive. I stayed at Alba D’Oro Camping. Although the campsite was sweet, it's location was far from ideal. To get from the city to the campsite you had to rely on the hostel's bus. The 20 minute ride wasn't the problem- the price of the bus tickets was
If you like museums, this is the city for you. For those on a tight schedule I recommend visiting the Ufitzi, The Academy (to see the Statue of David), and the Duomo.
The food in Florence in unbelievable so take advantage of it. Avoid really touristy places- if the restaurant has a picture menu, don't eat there.
Be sure to stay at Camp Michelangelo. It's located on top of a hill overlooking Florence. You will have the most beautiful view of the city. Getting downtown is a breeze- you can walk or take the bus.
This is a great place to go relax when the weather is warm. Be aware, however, that there are no sandy beaches, only pebble beaches. Also, make sure you pick a good place to lay down- preferably away from the old topless folks.
Nice has a good nightlife, so save up some energy. I recommend skipping the bars one night and hitting the beach with a bottle of wine.
Look for budget hotels, they are a much better deal then hostels.
Things to see and do:
1) Visit the Anne Frank House
2) Stroll around the Van Gogh Museum
30 Rent bikes- this is the perfect way to explore the city
4) Visit the park- it’s gorgeous; I recommend riding your bike there
5) Go to a coffee shop- if you're in Amsterdam, you might as well. I recommend The Green House; it's located near The Bulldog hostel.
I recommend staying at The Bulldog- don’t be intimidated by the fact that this hostel is in the red light district- it is quite awesome. The hostel has a pub and a great lounge area downstairs. The beds are comfortable and there are lockers in all of the rooms.
Campos do Jordão is packed during the month of July. Many restaurants and stores open exclusively during this month to take advantage of the influx of tourists.
Make hotel reservations early- many places are booked months in advance.
During the day you should enjoy the outdoors- horseback ridding, hiking and fishing. The more adventurous should check out the trips offered by the local tourism agencies.
I highly recommend using Altus:
http://www.altus.tur.br/index.php
jennyhicks reviewed Lake District
I've found a great company that do short breaks in the Lake District, http://www.goosemirecottages.co.uk/short-breaks . It's not often you get the chance to stay in a cottage for a short break and I love teh Lake District. It means we will have plenty of place for our walking and canoeing gear.
ReplyTjara reviewed Strasbourg
Le Vaisseau
The Vaisseau (french: Great Ship) is a place for children and families to discover science and technology in a playfull way. Here children can learn alot whithout really realising it: they can touch, try out and discover everything and have lots of fun.
Also there are movies, science shows and animations. Everything is kept in three languages (French, English and German), so it is the place to go for native and tourist families.
website: http://www.levaisseau.com
Replyluisbr reviewed Arraial do Cabo
Arraial do Cabo is lush with marine life. The city is 100 miles from Rio de Janeiro, and scubadiving and lodging are inexpensive. I strongly recommend visiting the city.
Replyavishai reviewed Park Slope
Park Slope would be an interesting place to do a social experiment. It's populated by a strange combination of hippies, yuppies, and washed-up writers, but it somehow kind of works. In the daytime, the streets are filled with mothers, baby sitters and $800 strollers, and there's plenty to do. You could spend some time at one of the many coffee shops (http://cupofnyc.com/shops/park-slope for a listing), the best of which is probably Gorilla Coffee on 5th Ave.
If you get bored of coffee and it's nice out, Prospect Park is definitely worth a look. During the summer it's filled with people playing Frisbee and sunbathing.
Replyproud toolbox reviewed Buffalo
Buffalo, New York must rank high on the list of misnamed American cities. Say its name to most people and they'll think you're referring to the hairy creature that once dominated the middle of the North American continent. No such animals can be found within the city's environs; instead, unexpected beauty and friendliness abound.
Strictly speaking, Buffalo is geographically closer to Cleveland, Ohio, than it is to New York City. That salient fact helps to explain much of the city's esprit de corps - Buffalo is, in its heart of hearts, a city of the Midwest, and it has far more in common with, say, Chicago, than it does with the great Eastern metropolises. Benefits and drawbacks attend this reality. On the one hand, Buffalo boasts the resources of a much larger city (in part because it used to be a lot larger). On the other hand, Buffalo can feel like a bleak and forlorn industrial wasteland, bypassed by both commerce and industry.
To pass by Buffalo, though, is to miss the hidden gems littered throughout the city. While not generally thought of as a culinary center, Buffalo has made two definite contributions to the collective hardening of America's arteries. Exhibit A: the Buffalo wing. Invented by accident at the Anchor Bar in the 1960s, the chance to dig into the original thing (at the Anchor bar, no less) is one compelling reason to at take a break from the interstate. A second - and less well-known - reason is the beef on weck sandwich. Think of rare, juicy roast beef, piled high on sandwich with a salty bun. It's good. Try it at the Charlie the Butcher's (a local chain). You won't regret it.
Buffalo is also famous for the Bills and the Sabres, as well as the oft-overlooked Albright-Knox Art Gallery, a fine home of many 19th and 20th century masterpieces. Buffalo also boasts a decent nightlife scene, courtesy of State University of New York (SUNY) Buffalo students and Chippewa Street. Also of note - the easy proximity to Niagara Falls, a mere 20 minutes up the highway from downtown Buffalo. Go in the warm weather months, and be sure to ride Maid of the Mist. The Canadian Falls are more spectacular than the American Falls, but both are well worth the trip. Niagara itself is not much to look at - a small, down-on-its-luck (almost literally, given the casinos across the Falls in Canada) city that seems to eke out a living on tourist traffic and border customs control.
In truth, the best time to visit Buffalo (and Niagara) is during the summer. Buffalo is famous for its beautiful park system, and the city plays host to Taste of Buffalo (the second largest outdoor food festival in the U.S., after the Taste of Chicago). In many respects, Buffalo feels like a smaller version of Chicago. Day to day costs are low, people are friendly, and when the weather is pleasant, Buffalo can be irresistibly beautiful. Go for a summer weekend visit. You might be pleasantly surprised by what you find.
Replyilanat reviewed London
The most amazing city in the world.
ReplyYou can find anything, anywhere, anytime.
Definitly a must seeing place!
aesis reviewed Barcelona
Probably one of my favorite places in the world :)
My favorite places to eat though great food can probably literally be found on every block:
- Cal Pep: simple, amazing seafood, probably one of the best meals you'll have in your life
- Cinq Sentits: molecular gastronomy
- El Xampanyet: one of the oldest and best cava bars in Barcelona
- Cafe Viena: one of the best ham sandwiches in Barcelona
- Pinotxo Bar (Boqueria): try the baby squid with white beans!
* For pictures of my fooding adventures, visit: http://flickr.com/photos/aesis/tags/barcelona.
Must visit:
Reply- Parc Guell: Gaudi's imagination run wild - visit his house on top of the hill to get a great view of Barcelona
- Fundació de Joan Miró
- Mercat de la Boqueria: an awesome covered market with lots of fresh produce, hams and great places to eat
luisbr reviewed Angra dos Reis
Angra dos Reis is a resort area near Rio where Caribbean-like islands dot a jade-green ocean. A yacht ride around Angra dos Reis is always amazing.
Replycasandra reviewed Ankara
i was here for a week and was too much. great and friendly city but not best place to spend time if you're visiting turkey for a little while. better to go to capadoccia and istanbul, etc. top sights: museum of anatolian civilization & old town marketplace in center of city.
Replycasandra reviewed Siena
in the words of flaubert, i think, Siena has the most beautiful town square in all of europe. great place to hang out and watch the tourists, eat gelato, and write postcards.
Replycasandra reviewed Istanbul
three words: old istanbul hostels. very cheap and close to everything. my hostel was Star hostel and liked it a lot. my favorite place nearby: basilica cistern, close to hagia sophia and blue mosque.
Replyavishai reviewed Ramat Aviv
Kind of a boring suburb of Tel Aviv, but it has a lot of chic shops and is overall a pretty nice neighborhood.
ReplyMarcela reviewed Foz do Iguaçu
You should try to see Iguaçu Falls from the Brazilian side and the Argentinian side. The boat tour is well worth it. Don't bother wearing a poncho- you'll get soaked regardless.
ReplyMarcela reviewed Brussels
Brussels is just another big city. There's not much to see or do and the set up of the city is not very conducive to tourists.
ReplyMarcela reviewed São Paulo
If you're in São Paulo, you need to take advantage of the amazing restaurants. In particular, be sure to go to a churrascaria (Brazilian steak house). There are a lot of good ones but the best is Barbacoa:
Replyhttp://www.barbacoa.com.br/ho2/home.asp
Arthur reviewed Republic of Finland
Finland is... awesome. It deserves to be on anyone's top 5 summer destinations. The summer is mild (temperatures do not get over 25 celsius), the people are usually friendly, the landscapes are fantastic, infrastructures are very good, and it is not as expensive as on would imagine. In fact, Finland is the cheapest of all Scandinavian countries. The best thing to do there is to rent a summer cottage, bring some fishing equipment and have a quiet, peaceful summer. You can find wild berries waiting to be picked almost anywhere (it has been said that only a relatively small percentage of them is actually picked every year). But there are also music festivals in which people really get pissed (Finns can be quite heavy drinkers).
ReplyArthur reviewed Valença
Still within the walls it used to be hundreds of years ago, Valença is a small town that gets most of its income from Spaniards that go shopping there, looking for bargains. I stopped there at night and it was still an interesting experience.
ReplyArthur reviewed Tui
On the border with Portugal, this small town is very charming, with pubs filled with young people that contrast with the old promenade and the alleys that make it feel like a maze. Certainly worth it if you are in Galicia.
ReplyArthur reviewed Santiago de Compostela
It's a nice town. The cathedral is its highlight. But it's a very nice place to walk around also. The market is supposed to be worth a visit, but it was closed when I was there...
ReplyMarcela reviewed Pula
Don’t bother going to Pula- there's not much to do/see there. The tourism industry still too young and almost everything is geared towards families.
ReplyMarcela reviewed Split
One of the coolest places I've ever been to. I didn't run into a single American while I was there.
The people in Croatia are extremely friendly and will go out of their way to help you.
Stay somewhere in Old Town.
ReplyMarcela reviewed Venice
Beautiful city but extremely expensive. I stayed at Alba D’Oro Camping. Although the campsite was sweet, it's location was far from ideal. To get from the city to the campsite you had to rely on the hostel's bus. The 20 minute ride wasn't the problem- the price of the bus tickets was
ReplyMarcela reviewed Florence
If you like museums, this is the city for you. For those on a tight schedule I recommend visiting the Ufitzi, The Academy (to see the Statue of David), and the Duomo.
The food in Florence in unbelievable so take advantage of it. Avoid really touristy places- if the restaurant has a picture menu, don't eat there.
ReplyBe sure to stay at Camp Michelangelo. It's located on top of a hill overlooking Florence. You will have the most beautiful view of the city. Getting downtown is a breeze- you can walk or take the bus.
Marcela reviewed Nice
This is a great place to go relax when the weather is warm. Be aware, however, that there are no sandy beaches, only pebble beaches. Also, make sure you pick a good place to lay down- preferably away from the old topless folks.
Nice has a good nightlife, so save up some energy. I recommend skipping the bars one night and hitting the beach with a bottle of wine.
Look for budget hotels, they are a much better deal then hostels.
ReplyMarcela reviewed Amsterdam
Things to see and do:
Reply1) Visit the Anne Frank House
2) Stroll around the Van Gogh Museum
30 Rent bikes- this is the perfect way to explore the city
4) Visit the park- it’s gorgeous; I recommend riding your bike there
5) Go to a coffee shop- if you're in Amsterdam, you might as well. I recommend The Green House; it's located near The Bulldog hostel.
Marcela reviewed Amsterdam
I recommend staying at The Bulldog- don’t be intimidated by the fact that this hostel is in the red light district- it is quite awesome. The hostel has a pub and a great lounge area downstairs. The beds are comfortable and there are lockers in all of the rooms.
ReplyMarcela reviewed Brugge
The cutest city I've ever been to. I felt like I was inside a story book.
There's not much to do in Bruges but it's definitely worth a weekend trip.
ReplyMarcela reviewed Interlaken
Interlaken is the most beautiful place I've ever been to.
If you are a low budget traveler, I recommend staying at Funny-Farm. The hostel has a pool, a bar, and a night club.
You can't leave Interlaken without going canyoning!
ReplyMarcela reviewed Campos do Jordão
Campos do Jordão is packed during the month of July. Many restaurants and stores open exclusively during this month to take advantage of the influx of tourists.
Make hotel reservations early- many places are booked months in advance.
During the day you should enjoy the outdoors- horseback ridding, hiking and fishing. The more adventurous should check out the trips offered by the local tourism agencies.
I highly recommend using Altus:
Replyhttp://www.altus.tur.br/index.php
naveen reviewed Worcester
went to school here. avoid. ;)
Reply