French Riviera in Summertime

The French Riviera is a must see if you are touring around France. It has something to offer everyone, but is the most beautiful during the summer when the beaches are lined with picturesque blue and yellow umbrellas. A few of the most accessible and best towns to visit are Cannes, Nice, and Monaco. I visited all three but enjoyed Nice the most, so let me offer you my thoughts on Nice.

By far the largest tourist destination of the three cities I listed, Nice can often be portrayed as too commercial or overly crowded. In some areas, you may find that true. But Nice has authentic charm and can offer solitary relaxation if you know where to go. The old town of Nice will have you oohing and awing around every corner as you weave through narrow cobblestone streets lined with cafes, boutiques, and specialty shops. Much of the old town finds its charm in the mix of French and Italian history that you can find out more about if you take a guided tour. A tour is definitely recommended for Nice because the major sights don't have any plaque descriptions of their historical significance. Walking in the old town you may pass by a gelato stand called Fenocchio, which offers 100+ flavors and its definitely worth trying some of their unique ones like avocado or lavender. If you go during the height of summer then you'll see that a gelato break is a great way to cool off a bit.

A must see in Nice is the flower and fruit market in the old town that happens 6 days a week, and the other day is a flea market. Make sure to check out the lavender and soaps at the market. The region is known for lavender and you'll see it everywhere. Buy some fruit, bread, vegetables or whatever you'd like and then take a walk to the end of the old town where you'll find stone steps leading to the top of a hill. This spot is a great place for a picnic! It has the best panoramic views of Nice and has a beautiful waterfall just below the top. It's a great spot to take some photos!

If you're looking for a place to relax, then head past the hill beyond the old town to a smaller sandy beach in VilleFranche Sur Mer. You'll notice that the beaches in Nice are pebbles, and that's not always the most comfortable. Not to mention, few people venture toward this other beach. The best way is to get there is by taking the bus, which has a stop right behind the hill for the picnic and view of Nice. You can also arrive by train, and I believe it's only one stop away. Local tip: take an umbrella and beach mat, and your TravelRest Pillow! The TravelRest came in handy in the French Riviera because sandy or pebbly, the beaches were still uncomfortable. The TravelRest pillow gave a little bit of extra comfort to laying on such a stiff surface. 

The reason I preferred Nice to Cannes and Monaco is because there is much more to see and do. Cannes is a beautiful day trip, with big label shopping stores and cafes and a nice sandy beach. If you love to shop, then Cannes is definitely your spot. The beach is taken up mostly by hotels and private beach clubs, so public areas are limited. Monaco is also a wonderful day trip, and the number of mega yachts and expensive cars are enough to keep anyone wide eyed. If that doesn't thrill you then, there's a fun garden in the outskirts of Monaco that has a huge array of cactus and other plants. Some small museums and art exhibits are scattered throughout too. But be prepared for a larger budget in Monaco, because nothing is reasonable there. 

Bath, England: Roman Baths and Fashion History

Bath, England has much more to offer than meets the eye. You could easily spend 4 days there and still not see everything. Two of my favorite places when I visited Bath were the Roman Baths and the Fashion Museum. These are popular tourist attractions for a good reason. If you ever visit Bath and decide you want to see both, then there are combined tickets for these two attractions that will save you a little bit of money.

The Roman Baths are absolutely spectacular. You could spend about half a day there and feel like you got the full experience. It would be easy to speed through it in about an hour an a half, but you can't learn anything in that time frame. The museum and exhibition has you literally walking on the old ruins and leads you through each room in succession, to provide an accurate experience of bathing during Roman times. There are free guided tours that are wonderful, as well, so be sure to catch one of those! If you can't make a guided tour then opt for an audio guide. It will really help you understand the history, the ruins recovery and discovery, and the impact on civilization around Bath. 

The Fashion Museum is also a spectacular display of clothing and trends through time, with both high fashion labels and clothing without a brand. It shows how fashion has developed and sometimes has special exhibitions. When I went, the Laura Ashley exhibit was showing. Keep in mind that this museum displays mostly women's fashions, with some men's pieces here and there. This would be a fun museum for anyone whose interested in fashion from now going back to the 16th century. 

There is also a free walking tour of the city that meets outside the Roman Baths, and you can find out more information about this tour at the tourist info center in the adjacent square to the Baths. This tour was informative and fun, and the tour guide offered stories about old residents of Bath that you won't forget. This is the best way to see all the main attractions, as it is actually FREE! No tips accepted :)

Staying in Bath:

Hostels are an easy way to travel, and if you choose to travel by hostels then I have a recommendation for Bath. Don't stay in St. Christopher's hostel. It was noisy, dirty, didn't have a kitchen. In fact, I figured out that they don't clean and change the sheets after each person, they turn them inside out. There aren't too many hostels in Bath, but I'd opt for a cheap hotel or bed and breakfast somewhere in the city. You're much more likely to have a clean bed and room, and better service than any hostel.