top travel destinations

Nice is in the south of France. The Queen of the French Riviera
which the French call " la Cote d'Azur" (AzureCoast or Blue Coast). It is a wonderful city with lots of charm and character; a mixture of French and Italian cultures where the people are easy-going and friendly even if you don't speak French.

Although you might think it is a summer resort
you can visit Nice at any time of the year and still have a good time. If you happen to go in the winter
you will be surprised to see flowers in their numerous parks and gardens. Nice has a Mediterranean winter
so the temperature stays around 40 to 50 degrees during the coldest months but if you like skiing
ski resorts such as Valberg and Isola 2000 can be reached by car in one or two hours. If you go in the summer
get ready to share the city with lots of tourists. The popular streets where most restaurants and cafes are
can get crowded
but they can be a lot of fun if you enjoy people watching; and since most of the streets are closed to traffic
it is not hard to just walk around and enjoy the upbeat atmosphere.

Nice has a major airport and its close location to the city makes getting there a cinch.

Finding a hotel should be easy
since there are plenty of accommodations for all kinds of budgets. The author is a frequent guest of the Meridien Hotel
a 4 star hotel located on the Promenade des Anglais
facing the Bay of Angels (Baie des Anges).

-Things to see in Nice:

-Promenade des Anglais. The Victorian English residents of the 1800's provided the funds to build the beautiful boulevard
hence its name. It is a wide avenue that follows the bay's coast line and it's lined with beautiful palm trees and flowers.

-Hotel Negresco. Beautiful and glamorous
it is located at 37 Promenade des Anglais and if you are not rich enough to stay there
you must go and see it.

-Old Nice. Winding narrow streets with Italianate buildings painted in earthly colors
describes this old part of the city. You will enjoy strolling. people watching and quaint little shops full of charming provencal crafts.

-Marche aux Fleurs. Located on the Cours Saleya
the flower market is Open Tuesday through Sunday
7
but if you decide to go
check with your hotel for the hours of operation. You can also have lunch or dinner there
where a large variety of restaurants set up tables and chairs outside where you can dine in a pleasant and fun atmosphere.

-Marc Chagall Museum. If you like modern art
you can catch a glimpse of the painter's most important collection. The hours of operation vary depending on the season so check with your hotel clerk before you go.

Nice is so well located that you can take half-day and full-day trips either by car or by public transportation.

Easily reached towns by car or public transportation are: Monaco
Eze
Grasse
St Paul de Vence
Cannes and St Tropez.

-Monaco- A symbol of glamour and elegance
Monaco sits on a beautiful stretch of the Mediterranean coast. Its most famous town Monte Carlo
has much to offer with its casinos
boutiques and exotic gardens. Don't forget to visit the village of Monaco
located high on "the rock" as it is affectionally called by the locals. It is a charming town with shops and cafes and a wonderful view of the sea.

-Eze- This small medieval village perched on a hill is a must see. Both tourists and artists flock to Eze during the summer months because of its picturesque setting and magnificent vues. If you are staying in Nice
you can make it a half-day trip or just stop there for lunch and continue to Monaco for a full-day trip. If you are feeling rich
have lunch at the Chevre d'Or. The restaurant offers fine cuisine and breathtaking panoramas. The restaurant is only open for lunch.

-Grasse- Considered the perfume capital of France Grasse is a small hilly town with beautiful parks and panoramic views. I you go to Grasse
you must visit the perfume factories. The biggest is Parfumerie Fragonard. An English speaking guide will show you the process of extracting the perfume from hundreds of pounds of flower petals.

-St Paul de Vence- A picture perfect medieval town
sitting on top of a hill
St Paul de Vence has been painted by many artists and photographed by thousands of tourists. It is located 19 miles from Nice. Enjoy a meal at the famous Colombe d'Or Restaurant or sip a beer at an outdoor cafe while watching a local game of petanque.

-Cannes- Cannes sits on the shores of La Napoule bay
sorrounded by a backdrop of Mediterranean hills. While Nice has the Promenade des Anglais
Cannes has la Croisette Boulevard
an elegant promenade
lined with palm trees and and gardens. Cannes hosts the famous Cannes Film Festival every year and it is most favored by celebrities. So if you go
make sure to do a lot of people watching
because you never know...

-St Tropez- Once a small fishing village
St Tropez is now a summer place for the jet set. Its setting on the southern shore of France
made it attractive to turn-of-the-century artists who were then followed by writers
poets and eventually movie stars and their fans. It is now internationally famous.

So get your tickets
book your hotel and go to the south of France. I promise you will have an unforgettable experience.