The Best Tourist Spots in Switzerland
June 29, 2013 by 3 Comments
Switzerland is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world, revered for it pristine beauty. Switzerland is a favorite destination for all kinds of tourists, be it families or couples on honeymoon. Europe is always occupies a special place amongst visitors, but it is only here you will come across mountain villages, world class hotels, and of course, the Alps. There are plenty of attractions in this city, but there are some spots which are simply mind-blowing and should be visited. Let us have a look at the some of the must see tourist’s spots in Switzerland.
1) The Chillon Castle
The Chillon Castle is the most easily recognizable castle in Switzerland. It is located on the shores of Lake Geneva and comprises of 100 buildings. The castle, which dates back to 11th century, was the former residence of the savoy nobility. There are three courtyards and four large halls all of which offer breathtaking vies of Lake Geneva.
2) Grindelwald
This lesser known village is very beautiful. It has many hills and is famous for winter sports. The best time to come here is during the winter, as one can participate in snow sports. Though, [Read more…]
Help Your Kids Have A Fun, Safe, And Hassle-Free Experience In The Airport And On The Plane
June 27, 2013 by 2 Comments
Tips For Having An Enjoyable Airport and Flight Experience With The Kids
- Let your children help pack their own bags so they can pick out a couple of things that they really want for entertainment. It might be a book, an electronic device, or even one of the many travel games that are available.
- When you get to the airport, let the children be responsible for their own bag or small backpack containing their chosen goodies. The smaller the child, the smaller the pack, but everyone carries their own. If the children are carrying their own stuff, they get to feel grown-up and it’s less for you to carry. You will be more hands-free to direct them safely onto trains, escalators, etc.
- Security – Herding children through security isn’t as hard as it might seem. If you have more than one adult to help manage them, then it’s no problem at all; you just send the children through one at a time to the other adult who has gone through first. It’s another story if you are the only adult traveling with more than one child, but you can do it. Send the children through first so they don’t follow too closely behind you and you are forced to do the whole walk-through dance again. Older children should be able to put their own carry-on through the x-ray. Remind them that they are in charge of their own bags. Above all, explain to the children how the security check works before you get there and remind them again while you are standing in the line. Knowing what to expect will make it go much smoother.
- Pre-Board and In-Flight Entertainment – As with a road trip, this is time spent as a family unit and should be welcomed and cherished because it allows time together and the opportunity to play loads of family games like traditional I-Spy, the wonderful Alphabet Game, and “I went to the shop yesterday.” You can also make up new games, which is a game in itself!
- Ground Transportation – Bring a stroller and gate check it. We recommend an inexpensive umbrella-type stroller for use in airports with toddlers. Toddlers tend to get really tired with all the walking that is often required. They may want to walk anyway, in which case you can use the stroller to hold your carry-on bags. It’s easy to fold up and bring through security. Of course, [Read more…]
Top 5 Vacation Ideas for Outdoorsy Families
June 25, 2013 by 4 Comments
Outdoorsy families usually have it pretty good when it comes to vacation options. However, because there are so many options it can be hard to choose just one. In addition, some families might have younger children, which makes it a challenge to come up with a vacation destination where the littlest ones won’t be absolutely miserable. On top of all that, it is important to choose an outdoors destination that will also be fun for the parents too – so it is crucial that you make your vacation both parent and children friendly, or else it might be a bust. Here are the top 5 vacation ideas for outdoorsy families.
Camping at Yogi Bear Park
- Camping is a great option for the whole family, because it is extremely cost effective. Taking your children overseas or even a few states over can be incredibly expensive. With plane tickets and hotel accommodations you are looking
- at thousands upon thousands of dollars. However with camping, all you need is a few backpacks and some tents and you pretty much have everything you need. Because you have kids you probably don’t want to go too far, so sticking around basecamp might be your best option.
- If you are looking for something a little more extreme why not head to [Read more…]
7 Foodie Destinations in Southern France
June 21, 2013 by Leave a Comment
One of the things people look forward to when visiting the South of France is sampling some of the area’s gorgeous cuisine, which is known the world over for its Mediterranean flavors and sophisticated French ‘Je ne sais quoi’. Depending on which area you’re headed for, there are regional specialties and ‘must tastes’ which will make your trip all the more delicious.
If you spend any amount of time in the absolute South of France, namely the regions of Languedoc-Roussillon and Provence-Alpes-Cote d’Azur, you’ll certainly taste the Basque and Spanish influences, with juicy tomatoes, spicy sausages and peppers all very much in evidence. Aromatic herbs, olive oil and colorful fruit and vegetables make the cuisine typically Mediterranean and absolutely delicious.
Market Veggies
Languedoc-Roussillon is chilled out and relaxed, with a sunny climate and plenty of beaches. You can explore quaint coastal towns and ports, find Roman and Greek historical monuments and ruins and medieval castles, all dotted around picturesque towns like Montpellier, Perpignan, Nîmes, and Carcassonne. Traveling through this region offers you a truly European tour, both in terms of culture and cuisine.
Provence-Alpes-Cote d’Azur is the place to go for beaches combined with culture; the Alps, wetlands and vineyards also help make up a landscape that also features hilltop towns, medieval villages and fashionable areas populated with art galleries and music festivals.
Provence-Alpes-Cote d’Azur (Provence)
Being so close to Italy, Provence can’t help but be heavily influenced by its neighbor. You’ll find some of the most beautiful villages in France here, especially as you venture further inland.
- Head to L’Art Glacier in Ansois if you’re an ice cream aficionado – this ice cream parlor at the foot of the Luberon Hills has over 60 flavors, including lavender, gingerbread and even Lily of the valley.
- Being the seafood capital of France means that Marseilles, also France’s oldest city, offers the discerning traveler some amazing fish dishes. Try the bouillabaisse in any of its varieties; Bouillabaisse du Ravi, which traditionally contains six different types of fish, or Bouillabaisse du Pêcheur, which is lighter with just three. If you enjoy a garlicky fish stew you could also try Bourride. Another fishy specialty is Brandade de Morue, which originally comes from Nimes – a delicious puree of salt cod, cream, garlic, olive oil and potatoes, which is often served in restaurants as a starter.
- Venice is a real foodie mecca, choc-full of patisseries to satisfy any sweet tooth and restaurants to die for. Just 20 miles inland from Nice airport, La Terrasse du Clemenceau is popular with locals and serves a delicious Salade au Chevre Chaud, or goat’s cheese salad, as well as fresh pizzas best enjoyed on the terrace outside. The rabbit, or ‘lapin’ is also highly recommended by previous diners.
- Le Passage is a cosmopolitan eatery, set in a sympathetically and very tastefully renovated factory building in downtown Aix en Provence. You can sample dishes from three different kitchens – one traditionally French, the O-Zen Buffet World/Fusion [Read more…]
Paris daytrips: Great places to visit within 90 minutes of Paris
June 20, 2013 by 2 Comments
France is a country of sophistication, culture, cuisine, and fashion. No tour of Europe is complete without a visit to France, or its capital city, the beautiful city of love, Paris. Of course, Paris is full to the brim with attractions and sightseeing opportunities, but if you want to get away from the crowds and explore what’s around Paris, perhaps just for a day trip, there is no shortage of places that will keep even the most demanding traveler entertained.
Les Fermes de Gally
Les Fermes de Gally are two working farms complete with garden centres, workshops, a gift shop, and farmer’s markets, located just outside of Paris. One farm is in Sartrouville, 25km northwest of Paris, and the other is in Saint-Cyr-l’École, which is 40km southwest of Paris. Les Fermes de Gally are fun, which will keep the kids happy with goats, pigs and rabbits to make friends with and an ‘Insect Trail’ (there’s an additional fee to enter the farm).
It’s a good choice for a day out for families and children from the age of three upwards. At Sartrouville you’ll find a Nature Club for children from 8-10, and at St. Cyrs there are five corn mazes to navigate. You’ll find authentic French produce in the markets and gift shops, and lovely places to stop for a bite to eat, serving freshly cooked locally produced food.
The Palace of Versailles
Enjoy a little culture with a day trip to the largest palace in Europe. It’s very popular, with up to ten million people visiting every year, and even with a full day you won’t manage to see everything. There are hour-long tours to the opera house and Marie-Antoinette’s private chambers.
You can walk around the beautiful park free of charge, or if you’re feeling active, you can hire a bike, set off along the Grand Canal and eat at the Potager du Roi (King’s Kitchen Gardens). Plan ahead and avoid the queues with ‘The Passport’, which gives you access to all areas, or one of the less extensive passes that includes ‘The Palace’ and ‘Hidden Versailles’. Get to the palace by SNCF train or travel by car; it’s around 30km from the city.
Cité des Enfants
The Cité des Enfants is just outside Paris, and is part of the Cité des Sciences et de l’Industrie – an enormous interactive science museum complex designed to introduce children to science and technology with fun activities and exhibitions, plus a Planetarium and the Geode 3D giant screen cinema. If you book tickets online for Cité des Enfants, you’re assigned a 90-minute slot and directed to an area of the museum suitable for your child’s age. If you check the website before you book, you can select a package – some also include admission to the Geode, others to [Read more…]
Off the Beaten Path, Fun For Families in Florida #FamilyTravel #Travel
June 19, 2013 by 1 Comment
Sometimes, you just want to get back to nature. Or at least out of the super-touristy areas. A few of our favorite things to do in central Florida that are not of the theme park variety include;
The Central Florida Zoo, which houses over 400 animals, including the newest River Ottter exhibit, as well as the Massey Services Insect Zoo, the ZOOM Air Adventure Park (extra fee required), and a splash park, where you can bring your bathing suit and get a break from the harsh Florida heat.
Complete with picnic areas, snack and drink stands, gift shops, and stroller rentals, as well as a full park for your kids to burn off some energy, this is one park you don’t want to miss.
[Read more…]
Net Zero 4G Hotspot – Great for Travel @NetZero_4G
June 17, 2013 by 4 Comments
While traveling, one of the most daunting tasks can be finding a wifi connection. The internet might be the only way to reach friends and family, or maybe just update your Facebook status. There are many options available to have a constant wifi connection, most of which are quite expensive. There is one option which really stands out as not only easy to use, but also cost effective.
The Net Zero 4G Hot Spot is pretty sweet. This new device acts like a router for the Net Zero 4G cellular network. Any wifi enabled device can connect to the special portable secured wireless network. This network can give the user 4G speeds anywhere there is a signal. This might not sound very quick when compared to a wired broadband connection, but keep in mind a broadband connection is usually only available at home or work.
The device is easy to use. All you have to do is turn on the device on. Which can be powered via the internal battery or wall adapter. Once powered up, the device searches for a signal and up to eight devices can connect to one Hot Spot. The signal [Read more…]
