With so many cheap flights to Europe available, it’s hard to decide on just one vacation destination to talk about. However, one city stood out among the rest: Nice, France. So today, I will give you my top three reasons that you should visit Nice this summer.
Location, Location, Location! Nice is situated along the Mediterranean coast in southeast France. While its pebbled beaches may not be very comfortable for those who want to lay out, they are some of the most beautiful in Europe. The azure sea is perfect for water sports such as sailing and sea kayaking.
Fun Events for the Whole Family There are a number of festivals held in Nice during the summer. June offers the Nice en Roller, where hundreds of roller-bladers take over the Promenade des Anglais. This event features racing, freestyle demonstrations and even skating Disney characters! In July, the 60+ year old Jazz Festival takes place in the Parc de Cimiez; and Musicalia, a series of concerts featuring music from around the world, is held on the Promenade des Anglais.
Climate Year-round, the weather is as close to perfect as you could ask for, making any time a good time to visit Nice. Need I say more?
I am a bookworm. I admit it: I would rather spend my evenings on the couch with a good novel and my dog, Daisy, than almost anything else. Two of my favorite books in the classics genre are Wuthering Heightsby Emily Brontë and Jane Eyre written by Emily’s sister, Charlotte. Their other sister, Anne, was also an author who penned Agnes Grey and The Tenant of Wildfell Hall (I haven’t read either, but, but I’ll get around to them someday).
I am also a bit of a history buff with a love for old houses and antiques as well as books. This is why I was thrilled to learn about the Brontë Parsonage Museum in Haworth, England. The museum, run by the Brontë Society, was once the family home. Almost all of the Brontës’ belongings and memorabilia are still here and the home has been beautifully maintained in its original décor. You may visit the study of their clergyman father, Patrick, as well as his bedroom, the children’s study, the servant quarters, Charlotte’s bedroom and brother Branwell’s art studio.
The museum is located in the heart of Yorkshire county and costs very little to enter. If you love books and historical homes as much as I do, you must visit the Brontë Parsonage Museum during your next trip to the United Kingdom. Pick up a cheap rental car at the Manchester Airport and head to Haworth, which is about an hour’s drive north through the beautiful English countryside.
In many waterfront cities throughout the world, a fun and unique way to go sightseeing is by taking a “Duck Tour.” Not your normal tour, they are offered in several U.S. cities, including Boston, Branson, Hot Springs, Miami, Philadelphia, Seattle and even here in Portland, Maine. The Duck is actually a DUKW, an amphibious military vehicle designed by GMC during World War II. DUKW is not a military acronym, but rather a manufacturer acronym coined by GMC: D – vehicle made in 1942, U – Utility, K – All-Wheel Drive, and W- two rear powered axles.
Across the Atlantic, London is among those who offer Duck Tours. And no trip to London is complete without a sightseeing tour, so why not make it an adventurous and unique one? All aboard the duck to see the most popular landmarks of London! While on land, you will be driven past important sights such as Westminster Abbey, Trafalgar Square and Buckingham Palace before the duck takes a dramatic plunge into the River Thames at Vauxhall Bridge.
Once in the river, the tour will take you by Lambeth Palace (the official residence of the Archbishop of Canterbury) and the famous London Bridge. You will also see the Florence Nightingale Museum and Houses of Parliament, which are across the river from one another.
The London Duck Tour is a fun time for the whole family if you’re looking to see more of London together. Book this tour in conjunction with a cheap flight to London with 1-800-Fly-Europe. Call today!
A great time to take a trip to France is during the late spring/early summer. Most of the tourists have yet to arrive and the countryside is in full bloom. Outdoor markets selling local farm goods and fresh produce are now open, the landscape is dotted with the colors of tulips and sunflowers. And the weather? Wonderful! No matter what your French vacation itinerary may be, whether you are visiting the beaches of southern France, touring the Burgundy wine region or browsing through shops in Nice, you will find that the warm and welcoming temperatures are just perfect.
This week, I will be sharing an easy and delicious dessert recipe, straight from the Limousin region of Central France:
Cherry Clafoutis
• 1 tablespoon softened butter
• 1 cup whole milk
• 1/4 cup heavy cream
• 2/3 cup all-purpose flour
• 3 large eggs
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 4 cups dark cherries, preferably pitted
• 1 tablespoon confectioners’ sugar (powdered)
Preheat the oven to 350°. Grease a 9x 9 baking dish with the softened butter.
In a large bowl, whisk together the milk, cream, flour, eggs, sugar, vanilla extract, and salt until it forms a smooth, thin batter. Spread 3/4 cup of the batter onto the bottom of the baking dish place in the oven for 3-6 minutes, or until a film of batter sets. Be sure not to allow the batter to cook completely, it should only just start thickening when removed from oven.
Transfer the dish to a heatproof surface and arrange the cherries over the hot batter. Pour the remaining batter over the cherries and bake for 35-40 minutes, until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean.
Sprinkle the confectioners’ sugar over the finished clafoutis and serve it warm.
What is your favorite season for travel to France?
With so many cheap flights to Europe available, it’s hard to decide on just one vacation destination to talk about. However, one city stood out among the rest: Nice, France. So today, I will give you my top three reasons that you should visit Nice this summer.
In many waterfront cities throughout the world, a fun and unique way to go sightseeing is by taking a “Duck Tour.” Not your normal tour, they are offered in several U.S. cities, including Boston, Branson, Hot Springs, Miami, Philadelphia, Seattle and even here in Portland, Maine. The Duck is actually a DUKW, an amphibious military vehicle designed by GMC during World War II. DUKW is not a military acronym, but rather a manufacturer acronym coined by GMC: D – vehicle made in 1942, U – Utility, K – All-Wheel Drive, and W- two rear powered axles.
