Hiking Maryland Heights Overlook

If you are planning to visit Maryland Heights during a weekend, your best bet is to come to Harpers Ferry National Historic Park. Leave your car at the park visitor center and use their shuttle to come to the Harpers Ferry (what is called Lower Town). From the bus stop you will have to walk about half a mile to the beginning of the trail. Obvious minuses of this option is that you will spend more time on getting to the trail and will pay park entrance fees (which are not high - only six dollars). On a positive side, in addition to hiking Maryland Heights, you will have a chance to look at the Harpers Ferry Lower Town - a very picturesque and interesting place by itself. Dec. 5, 2007

Destination Saint-Tropez

If you are trying to find information on the Internet about St.Tropez, you will quickly learn that the whole knowledge about this community and town evolves around very few topics: (1) it's a place for rich people (including movie starts, supermodels, etc.) to go and spent money with their multimillion yachts; (2) the place became popular after Brigitte Bardot "put on a bikini" to star in "And God Created Woman" (1960); (3) the name of the town originates from the Torpes - a Nero's centurion who refused to forsake his religion and was beheaded in 1055. I would like to offer a different view of St. Tropez.
Part I - Destination Saint-Tropez - Marina
Part II - A day in St. Tropez - Streets and La Citadelle.
Dec. 2, 2007

InterContinental Amstel Hotel

As any other European capital, Amsterdam offers many hotels to choose from when you travel to this city. However, when it comes to luxury hotels, the choice is not that great. If you take into account the service and food offered, there are even fewer options and among those few blessed, there is one undisputable leader - InterContinental Amstel Hotel. Nov. 29, 2007

Hotel Residence de la Pinede

We stayed in the Residence de la Pinede in mid September 2007, and our experience was very good. There are few hotels in the world that can compare to this small luxury property less than 10 minutes walk from St. Tropez center with everything this opulent French Riviera resort can offer: from sea excursions and helicopter rides to luxurious hotels and gourmet restaurants. Nov. 23, 2007

CityNIghtLine: The Night Train

We are standing on the platform of Zurich Central Railway Station waiting for the CityNightLine train. All my life I liked trains: so reliable and powerful with their compartments of solid wood and polished brass. My imagination goes further - red plush..., silk curtains, but I hold myself back - it is not a vintage train like in Wild Wild West movie; it should be more contemporary nowadays. Nov. 19, 2007

Skyline Drive in Shenandoah National Park (Virginia, USA)

The Skyline Drive is 105 miles long and runs from north to south along the crest of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Shenandoah National Park, Virginia (from Front Royal to Rockfish Gap). Nov. 17, 2007

D'chez eux, Restaurant in Paris

It's hard to believe, but this classic French bistrot in Paris is not mentioned frequently in travel guides and reviews. However, if you have not had a chance to visit this restaurant, do yourself a favor - you will not regret it - go there! Nov. 17, 2007

Les Chalets de Philippe

Les Chalets de Philippe is a cluster (a hamlet) of seven dwellings located in Chamonix, a small town and commune in Eastern France, in Haute-Savoie département, at the foot of Mont Blanc. And, as the name implies, these chalets are owned and operated by Philippe (Philippe Courtines, to be precise). But to say just this, is to say nothing about this unique and extraordinary place. I wanted to find a word or phrase that would explain vividly the essence of this place instead of giving you a dry account of room sizes, sleeping capacity and services available at Les Chalets de Philippe. Oct. 19, 2007

Service-Compris - Individual Catering Service in Chamonix Valley (France)

When you are traveling and staying in big cities in hotels, your options for getting food are usually limited to restaurants, cafes and similar places. It is fast and convenient; it is possible to find places offering food in different prices ranges and offering different cuisines. Often, restaurant experiences are part of your traveling adventures and often are a source of great enjoyment (or disappointment). But we forget that there are alternatives - one of them is an individual catering service, and it can be as exciting as any great restaurant. Oct. 1, 2007

Ritz Paris - Another side of the Hotel

Ritz Paris hotel is often considered as one of the best hotels in Paris. That's what you can find in Frommer's traveler guide about this hotel: "The Ritz is Europe's greatest hotel, an enduring symbol of elegance on one of Paris's most beautiful and historic squares." A bit below, the guide continues saying that "each guest room is uniquely decorated, most with Louis XIV or XV reproductions; all have fine rugs, marble fireplaces, tapestries, brass beds, and more." Well, our recent experience showed that this is not entirely true. Sept. 28, 2007

Paris Vacations: Part 6 - Day Five: City of Paris - Left Bank

While visiting Notre Dame de Paris and La Conciergerie we already had a chance to see a small piece of the left bank. But that was just to wake up our appetite for more exploration. Our next day in Paris we devoted entirely to this area. Sept. 14, 2007

Paris Vacations: Part 5 - Day Four: City of Paris - Right Bank

Museums are good if, as everything else, are taken in moderation. Indeed, we felt that after two days of immersion into French history and culture, it was the time to look at the city itself, its people and everyday life. How do you do this? You just walk, mix with crowds and watch. So, our next day we decided to explore the right bank (La Rive Droite in French) of the city. Sept. 14, 2007

Paris Vacations: Part 4 - Day Three: Versailles and Musee d'Orsay

While planning your visit to the Château decide on how much time you want to spend there - this place is big, both literally and figuratively. It occupies 2,000 acres of grounds with 12 miles of roads and more than 200,000 trees. There are 50 fountains; the total area covered by roofs is 26 acres! The palace has more than 550,000 square feet with more than 700 rooms decorated with 22,500 paintings, drawing and engravings and 2,100 sculptures. Art collections at the Musée d'Orsay are extensive, but of course it's not as big as Louvre or Versailles. According to the official data, the museum has 680 paintings on its floor with the total of 5,026 art objects cataloged. Well, 680 paintings only - but what kind of paintings! Sept. 11, 2007

Paris Vacations: Part 3 - Day Two: Musee du Louvre, Notre Dame de Paris and La Conciergerie

As planned, the second day was devoted entirely to museums. The first on the list was Louvre - one of the oldest and largest art galleries and museums. And, of course, being in Paris without visiting Louvre was just not possible. La Conciergerie, as a place, is not that large - visitors enter the Conciergerie at the Hall of Men-at-Arms, a massive Gothic hall and remarkable 209 feet long, 90 feet wide and 28 feet high architectural structure. But mostly, La Conciergerie with its recreation of actual prison cells and other facilities remains a grim reminder of the darkest days in France's history. Sept. 2, 2007

Paris Vacations: One Week of Fulfilling Dreams

What can I possibly write about Paris? List of places to visit with brief description of each of them? Or, some blurb about restaurants and bistros that are allegedly better than others? Hardly, there is any motivation for doing this - so much reference material has been published - just choose from a variety of colorful guides the one that appeals to you more and buy it and find in one place enough information not for one trip to Paris but for a dozen. Read this account of a personal experience in planning and visiting Paris.

Part I - Coming to Paris
Part 2 - Our Hotel: First Steps
Part 3 - Day Two: Musée du Louvre, Notre Dame de Paris and La Conciergerie
Part 4 - Day Three: Versailles and Musée d'Orsay
Part 5 - Day Four: City of Paris - Right Bank
Part 6 - Day Five: City of Paris - Left Bank

Sept. 1, 2007

Paris Vacations: Part 2 - Our Hotel: First Steps

Part 2 of Paris Vacations article describing first steps in the city and most important Le Bristol, our hotel in Paris Sept. 1, 2007

Great Falls Park and Great Falls of the Potomac River

Many people consider the Great Falls of the Potomac to be the most spectacular natural landmark in the Washington D.C. area. This dramatic scene makes Great Falls Park, located just fifteen miles from the Nation's Capital, a popular site with local residents and tourists from around the world who are visiting the Washington area. Aug. 11, 2007

Traditional Dining Places in Paris

Here is the list of several off the beaten track, mostly inexpensive restaurants with main courses prices from 10&ero; to 35€. The list is a result of a research based on personal experiences. Many of these places do not appear in travel guides. In fact, if they do, that would be a very strong factor for not including one or another restaurant into the list. We have tried to select places visited by locals.

Aug. 11, 2007

Great Falls Park - Part 2: Great Falls Park Destinations

Great Falls Park can offer not only spectacular views, but also many trails variety of different experiences. This part of the article describes what to do at the park including the exploration of Difficult Run. Aug. 11, 2007

Overall Run Falls - Virginia Highest Waterfall

Overall Run Falls is the highest waterfall in the Shenandoah National Park and in Virginia. It consists of two drops, where the upper one is 29 feet and the lower is 93 feet. Both are located near each other and can be accessed using the same trail. As all other waterfalls in Virginia, it can be best described as a cascading type; nevertheless, the lower drop and surrounding area with an overlook is very picturesque and worth visiting. Be prepared for rough terrain and steep hikes. Aug. 11, 2007