Llandudno promenade, North Wales, UK by Denis Egan

Llandudno is a relatively small town with just 20,000 residents, but often swells during spring and summer months from visitors that are keen to see what Llandudno is all about. In this article, we’ll give you a few ideas for things to do and see whilst in Llandudno for a day. Whilst we always suggest staying a few days to get the full experience, visiting the town is always worth going to, no matter when or for how long.

Hopefully you will be in the town in the morning, meaning you can start the day with a spot of breakfast in one of the hotels in Llandudno overlooking the bay or one of the towns many friendly café’s. After you’ve stocked up on some energy, it’s time to start enjoying the town.

In the morning, you should get yourselves over to the tram station at the base of the Great Orme. From here, you can jump on the tram which will give you a scenic, easy and pleasant ride up to the summit of the Orme. You can also drive up- or even walk instead, but you must know it can take a while due to the steepness of the hill. Once you reach the top, you can take in the breathtaking views, ramble through the land, visit the Bronze Age Copper Mine and get a bite to eat or something to drink at the Summit Complex. Kids will love the opportunity to play in the park at the summit and with a mini golf course; you can’t go wrong with a visit to the Great Orme.

Llandudno Pier, North Wales, UK by Denis Egan

Heading down the other side of the Orme will take you back to the main town. We’d recommend taking a wander through Happy Valley and visiting the Victorian Pier as the next point of call. The pier is famous and remains a prime attraction of the town and is home to a range of shops, amusement arcades and bars & eateries. After you’ve checked this out, you could take a wander across the promenade, trip to the artificial ski slope and toboggan run, sit on the beach, browse the extensive selection of shops located on Mostyn Street, Parc Llandudno Shopping Complex and the Victoria Shopping Centre. You can even see if there’s something on at Venue Cymru, where an exceptional range of shows take place throughout the year, allowing the locals and visitors of Llandudno is enjoy some world class entertainment.

Llandudno can be seen in a day, but as you can now see, should most definitely be given a little longer. To experience Llandudno properly, book in at a hotel in Llandudno, providing the perfect base to your memorable adventure.

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Accommodation in Val d’Isere

Val d’Isere offers a great selection of accommodation options, suitable for every budget; self-catering apartments offer a cost effective way to enjoy your trip, although food at the supermarket or eating out can be expensive. For the mid-range budgets the resort is home to more than 30 hotels, many of which are 4 and 5 star rating with a handful of lower spec options too.

But to do Val d’Isere properly luxury chalets are undoubtedly the way to go. This Alpine resort is the undisputed king of ski chalets with hundreds of luxury chalets replete with designer furnishings and mod cons such as LED televisions, first class en-suites, saunas and hot tubs. These chalets also offer breathtaking views and, due to the central locations boasted by many of them, easy access to the ski slopes, restaurants and nightlife.

Skiing in Val d’Isere

Val d’Isere features hundreds of ski trails in the snowfields surrounding the resort. Ninety nine ski lifts capable of moving 135,000 skiers to the top of the slopes each hour also ensure that skiers are able to quickly access the pistes, which cater to every skill level.

Nursery areas with gentle slopes can be found towards the centre of the resort. Here, new skiers can practise and learn the basics of skiing. While experienced skiers can skip past the nursery areas and head straight to the Solaise and Bellevarde areas where leisurely trails can be found with plenty of variation.

Seasoned skiers will want to head to the Olympique area in Bellavarde which features a number of challenging black pistes and fast downhill runs, including the hair-raising downhill runs that were created especially for the 1992 Winter Olympics.

Famous for its high quality snow and reliable snow fall levels Val d’Isere is busiest around Christmas and New Year with thousands of skiers flocking to the area to enjoy the fresh snow. January is a quieter time to visit and the snow quality is arguably better than in December. February sees the slopes fill up with families – French and English (particularly over English schools’ half term week) families. While March quietens down as a result of the declining snow quality, due to the warmer days. April is often the snowiest month of the year and the snow can even keep falling into the month of May although with warmer air temperatures and faster melting snow skiing tends to be somewhat off the cards by this point.

Food and drink in Val d’Isere

Val d’Isere features a number of eateries where a quality meal can be enjoyed. From cafes and delis offering tea, coffee and croissants throughout the resort to gourmet restaurants such as ‘La Table de l’Ours’, Val d’Isere’s only Michelin starred restaurant, serve fine gourmet delights. Mountain restaurants, such as the Bellevarde restaurant located at the top of the Bellevarde Mountain, serve food and wine to weary skiers looking for a relaxing recline over lunch. Featuring stunning views and warm fireplaces, these mountain restaurants are the ideal place to relax before indulging in some afternoon skiing.

Nightlife in Val d’Isere

Val d’Isere is famous for its vibrant nightlife offered among its array of bars, pubs and clubs, with such a large après ski community the partying beings from around 4pm everyday – even earlier on bad visibility days – and shows no signs of stopping until well into the early hours.

Probably most famous place for après ski is La Folie Douce, on the piste with a live DJ every day you won’t want to leave. Located towards the centre of Val d’Isere, Café Face, Le Saloon Bar and La Belle Etoile offer chic and comfortable surroundings to enjoy a drink and meet other skiers after a day on the slopes. Partygoers looking to dance the night away will want to head to Dick’s Tea Bar, Le Graal Nightclub and Doudoune Club. Featuring guest appearances from major DJs from around the world, these clubs offer loud music, huge dance floors and relatively affordable drinks.

It’s easy to see why Val d’Isere is known as the world’s best ski resort. With fantastic skiing, exquisite accommodation, world class restaurants and a vivacious nightlife, Val d’Isere is the ideal location for a holiday – and to enjoy some excellent skiing at the same time.

This post is from VIP SKI, the specislists in luxury ski holidays, providing chalets in Val d’Isere and many other Alpine resorts.

Photos courtesy of VIP SKI: https://www.vip-chalets.com/

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Teggs Nose is on the western edge of the Peak District. There are so many stunning views along this walk, including views of the park and across the beautiful Cheshire plains.  On clear days you can sometimes see as far out as the Welsh hills and Liverpool. The walk on average should take a round 1 – 2 hours, so if you’re looking for a great walk but not a long distance one, then Teggs Nose is perfect.

2. Hadrian’s Wall Walk (Northumberland)

This is an extremely long trek, it is 84 miles long. However if this sounds all a bit too much for you, there are many shorter and circular walks and routes available, so you can still take in the breathtaking scenery and culture, without the week long hike.

Hadrian’s Wall, England / quisnovus

3. Ilkley Moor (West Yorkshire)

Ilkley is a former spa town, but it is also known as ‘Walkers are Welcome’ town, due to their stunning walks and their commitment in welcoming walkers. You’ll find not only breathtaking views, but many carved pre-historic rocks found on the moor. The walk will take approximately 4-5 hours dependant on walking speed.

4. The Roaches (Peak District)

The name Roaches means rocks, as this walk is a bit of a rocky one, but the views are truly memorable. For example, tucked away under one of the overhanging rocks is a former game keeper’s cottage, which is partly built in the cliff face, this is now a drinking spot for climbers.  The walk will take on average around 4 hours, so you will be able to squeeze it in on a Sunday afternoon.

5. Powis Castle (Wales)

A truly magnificent castle built around 8oo years ago. It is surrounded by 26 acres of gardens and that is why this castle is on our list. It was recently voted the best place to walk in an online national trust poll. The gardens are breathtaking and truly magical.  This walk will only take approximately 2 hours, so more like a leisurely stroll than a long distance hike.

6. The Three Peaks (Yorkshire)

The Three Peaks is the classic walk of the Yorkshire Dales, and it is a classic for a reason. It dominates the skyline of the western side of the Yorkshire dales, and hosts a splendid array of views, nature and complete serenity. This walk will take you anything between 8-14 hours as it is around 23 miles in length, so you may want to take advantage of the B&B’s nearby for a quick snack and a snooze.

Yorkshire Three Peaks / Peter Burgess

7. Ingleton Falls (Yorkshire)

The Ingleton Falls offer some of the most spectacular waterfall and woodland scenery in the country. This walk is approximately 4.5 miles long and will take on average around 2-4 hours to complete it. This walk will lead you through ancient oak woodland via stunning views and geological features.

8. The New Forest (Hampshire)

Exploring the New Forest means exploring wetlands, grassy plains and woodland. There are a wide range and variety of walks and routes available, so you can make them as short or as long as you like and if you prefer a guided walk, this is an available option to you or even a small group of you.

9. The Ridgeway Path (Avebury)

The Ridgeway Path is Britain’s oldest road. If you want to get away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, the Ridgeway path is perfect, as it’s peaceful and serene. Even though the Ridgeway Path is 87 miles long and can take up to 2 weeks to complete, there are day trips and shorter routes available, catered around different people’s ability.

Cotswold Way / Joe Calhoun

10. The Cotswold Way (The Cotswolds)

This specific walk has existed for over 30 years and is extremely popular. It is a long distance walk, stretching a whopping 102 miles long. Although this may be off putting if you don’t like long distance walking, there are a lot of different walks available, so you can break the walk up into a collection of different days to suit your capability and your commitments.  It passes through many picturesque villages and leads you to many stunning historical sites.

So there you have my list of the top ten walks in England, can you think of any I’ve missed? Or have you been on adventurous treks around the world and you’d love to share – please feel free to comment!

Kate Dawson is a keen writer who blogs for Optegra on a regular basis. Optegra are specialist eye care providers who provide many treatments such as cataracts treatment for a number of eye conditions, such as glaucoma.

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Campeggio Valle Gesso

If you are looking for a secluded spot to spend quality time with your family in the great outdoors, Campeggio Valle Gesso might just be the place that you are looking for. Located in the woods in Northwest Italy on the border with France, this campground offers plenty of shade with beautiful views of the Alps. There is a children’s playground for the little ones to enjoy, and swimming pool for everyone to relax in. If you want to maximize your relaxation, there is no better way to do it than by getting a hydromassage, which is offered on site! For the older kids with more active tastes, the campground also offers cycling routes that can challenge even the most experienced riders.

Campsite Tenuta Primero

Located on the coast of the Adriatic Sea on the Friuli-Venezia Giulia province of Northern Italy, this campsite offers sandy beaches and sun bathing for a true vacation experience. This campsite also offers a children’s playground and swimming pool. In addition, you can also swim in the Adriatic Sea if you choose so! In addition to this, you have guided walks, golf, a disco, and a beauty center at your disposal. When it comes to dining, the campground offers a restaurant with an extensive menu and a grocery store with a wide selection of products if you choose to cook. Campsite Tenuta Primero is truly luxurious and accommodating.

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Campsite Eden

Campsite Eden is the water enthusiasts’ paradise. Located in Northern Italy’s Lombardy Province, it is situated on a lake Lago di Garda with a beautiful pebble beach and offers a huge option of activities for your water loving family. If all you want to do is relax, you can choose to simply swim in the pool they offer or in the lake. Activities are endless! The campground offers scuba diving, snorkeling, wind surfing, sailing, water skiing, and you can even take your own boat in the lake! Out of the water, you can walk or cycle on the marked trails. Anything you choose to do, you will have a blast here.

This post was published for Al Fresco Holidays – An outdoor holiday provider.

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1. Visit Rialto Bridge

If breathtaking views are what you are searching for head straight for Rialto Bridge. A visit to this breath will yield views of the Grand Canal. Best of all, it won’t cost you a dime to take in the scenery.

Rialto Bridge, Venice, Italy / Photo by admin

2. Window shopping

Even if you don’t have a dime to spend in the expensive stores in Venice, window shopping can be an enjoyable experience. Many of the shops look like glass museums and are beautiful works of art.

3. Take a walk

Take a trip back to the 15th century by taking a walk down the winding streets of Venice. There will be countless sites to see along the way so be sure to bring your camera along.

4. Visit the churches

While some churches in Venice do charge a fee for entry to help maintain the property, others are free! San Vidal is free and open to the public. Not only will you see the magnificent structures of the churches, but many of them boast famous historic artwork.

Church in Venice, Italy / Photo by admin

5. Free concerts in the churches

While visiting the churches in Venice, look for signs that announce free concerts. Many times the churches will offer concerts or music for free of charge. Plan your trip accordingly.

6. Take an island trip

It will cost you a little money to get to the islands but once you get there, exploring the islands is free. Sightseeing in areas such as San Michele or exploring is free. You can also visit Murano Island, the birth place of famous murano glass and learn more about the World’s finest glass sculptures.

7. Visit the festivals

If you are Venice during a festival, this can provide tons of free entertainment. From a parade of boats to the Festival of San Marco to Carnevale di Venezia wearing handmade masquerade mask, choose to plan your visit during a festival to help save you money when trying to find things to do.

Festivals in Venice, Italy / Photo by admin

8. Museo della Musica

Choose to visit the museum of music to view a collection of instruments and find information about making violins. If music is a passion of yours, this is sure to be a free venue that you will love.

9. Visit the Jewish Ghetto

This is the historic area where the term “ghetto” came about. Walk on the very same roads as the thousands of Jews who were forced into segregation. You can see the areas where they lived and also visit synagogues in the area.

10. Visit the Parks of Venice

While you will certainly find more stone in this beautiful city, there are a few parks that still have some greenery. Take a stroll through the parks or have picnic. Spend the day relaxing and enjoying the beautiful surroundings.

11. Tour the Art Galleries

While many of the galleries will cost you money to visit, there are some that are free of charge. The Contini Art Gallery is one of the galleries that you can enjoy for no cost to you.

12. Visit the beach

Visiting the beach in Venice can be quite expensive if you don’t look for areas that have free access. Walk along Lido until you find a point of entry that won’t cost your money.

If you are planning a trip to Venice in the near future, use the list of 12 free things to do in Venice to help you make the most of your trip without spending tons of money. While Venice is an expensive city, if you know where to go and what to do, you can spend very little money enjoying the beautiful city. The sites and scenery of the city alone are enough to appease even the pickiest of tourist. What will you do in Venice?

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Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Cristian Bortes

Funicular Kaprun – Kitzsteinhorn peak has the highest mast in the world with a height of 120 meters. Kaprun ski resort, which is situated at an altitude of 2000 m can be reached only by cable car from the village below. Once there was also a funicular train, which led through a tunnel in the rock, but it had an accident on 11 November 2000, when the fire occurred inside the tunnel and claimed the lives of 155 people and only 12 survived.

Kaprun ski resort with Kitzsteinhorn glacier is ideal place for winter holidays but offers a wide range of sporting activities even in the summer. The charming town of Kaprun is situated at an altitude of 786 metres above sea level and forms a gate to the National Park Hohe Tauern.

During the winter holidays you can try many fun activities in Kaprun. You can take nice walks around, ice skating, snowshoe hiking, sledding or a horse drawn sleigh ride through the winter wonderland. This charming place offers a wide range of accommodation from comfortable hotels, through apartments and guest houses to chalets.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Cristian Bortes

The big advantage of this resort is that you can ski all year round on Kitzsteinhorn glacier. Glacier at a height of more than 3000 meters is ideal for skiing also in the warm season. A huge number of beautiful slopes for beginners and advanced skiers attract also snowboarders. If you arrive with the cross-country skis, you enjoy a beautiful trail with a total length of 200 km.

Zell am See and Kaprun are the popular resorts in the sports centre of Europa Sportregion. 58 most modern lifts and funiculars will take you to the tops like Kitzsteinhorn (3,203 m) or Schmittenhöhe (1,965 m). There are already 130 km of beautiful slopes waiting for you. It is ideal both for lovers of the fast and also quiet skiing. There are also pleasant, not too difficult slopes, ready for families with children.

Season on the Schmittenhöhe, which is slightly lower than the Kitzsteinhorn glacier, lasts from December to May.

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Tree Top Walk is the longest trail of that kind in the world, with a total length of 1300 metres. You can enjoy unspoilt nature at a height of 8-25 meters above the ground. The experience of walking through mixed forest is extended with three stations with a rope adventure elements, the swaying bridge, trapeze and the beam, which thrill not only children but also adults.

Walkway ends with 44 meters high observation tower, from which you can enjoy breathtaking views of the surrounding nature. In clear weather you will even be able to see the north ridge of the Alps.

Both the trail and also the tower are barrier-free. Admission is €8 for adults, €6 for children of 6+ years, family ticket costs €19. The trail is open year round except for Christmas Day, every day from 9:30 am, according to an annual period closes at 15:30, respectively, at 18:00 or 19:30. In bad weather, such as storm or hurricane, the trail is closed.

For further details visit the official site of The world´s longest tree top walk.

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Sella Ronda is rare, about 37 km long ski slopes around the circuit on the Sella massif and the Kronplatz. It offers not only the great skiing but also breathtaking views of the most beautiful parts of the Dolomites, and therefore great opportunities for photography. You can pass the circuit in both directions. Following Orange mark in a clockwise direction (senso orario) – a route is 36.6 km long. Or the second option is to go in the opposite direction (senso antiorario) following green mark. This route is 38.7 km long. Each of these two destinations offer something else. Orange one offers a range of challenging slopes and is therefore suitable for more experienced skiers. Sella Ronda route takes all day to an average skiers, including the breaks for refreshments and relaxation. The circuit can be passed also within 3 hours, thanks to the local Express lifts.

Sella Ronda ski area offers in total 550 km of slopes, for all levels of skiers. There are many opportunities for the curving, freeride, alpine skiing and cross country skiing. Transport is provided by 215 lifts, whose carrying capacity is 240 000 persons per hour. Starting point to the Sella Ronda area are: Campitello and Canazei from Val di Fassa, Arabba, Colsfosco, Corvara and Val Gardena. There are also many amusement parks for children and snowboarders. You can also enjoy night skiing – in Val di Fassa (Pozza di Fassa).

In Sella Ronda there are ski school, nursery school, you can rent or buy ski equipment here. There are lots of accommodation possibilities and refreshments. There is also a range of other activities like skating, tennis, squash, bowling, paragliding, tobogganing, and much more. High season usually lasts from December to April. If you go to the Sella Ronda ski area, you must buy a lift pass Dolomiti SuperSki because special pass only to the Sella Ronda does not exist. SuperSki Dolomiti Ski Pass is wider and offers a total of 1,200 km of slopes.

Sella Ronda ski area is also famous for the race Gardenissima, which is the longest giant slalom in the world. The race was attended to not only professionals but also amateurs.

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Riomaggiore, Cinque Terre, Italy by Artur Staszewski

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Typical tower houses, each in different colour, have about 3 to 4 floors. They have two entrances: the front and rear, which allows direct access to upper floors. In the upper part of Riomaggiore there is the Church of San Giovanni Battista, built in 1340 by Antonio Fieschi, bishop of Luni. Just above the church there is the Castle of Riomaggiore, which dates back to the 13th century. It dominates the village from the hill. Interesting is also the 16th century oratory of the Disciplinati also called “church of the Confraternita dell’Assunta”.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Richard, enjoy my life!

But the most beautiful and famous part of Riomaggiore is Via dell’Amore – a hiking trail across the charming countryside leading to the near Manarola. The trail has been closed at the end of the 80s because of a lot of landslides. Thanks to the financing of the European Union in 1995 some renovation works were begun and finally the “Via dell’Amore” was reopened and you can now admire the breathtaking views from the trail.

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Vikos Gorge is 20 km long and 400 m wide but at some places it is only a few meters wide. Its walls are high in some places over 1000 meters. Due to its size, the Vikos Gorge ranked the world’s deepest canyons and is listed in the Guinness Book of Records.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Onno Zweers

Part of the Vikos Gorge is covered by the National Park Vikos-Aoos, which was founded in 1973. Except of canyon, there is also Tymfi mountain, river Aoos and several villages. The main part of the gorge stretches from village of Vikos to the village of Monodendri. The river Voidomatis flows through the canyon which constitutes the breathtaking scenery. Along the gap there are several view-points, offering breathtaking views. In the local unspoilt countryside there are many species of plants and animals such as bears, deer and foxes, which are protected by park.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Onno Zweers

The area around the Vikos Gorge is ideal for many sports. Among others, climbing, mountain biking and of course hiking, which is the most popular. It is better to hike with a guide as it is very easy to get lost here. There are ongoing organized excursions, including a tour through the Zagori picturesque villages and famous stone bridge.

You can get to the Vikos Gorge e.g. by public bus transportation service. The journey from Athens to Zagori takes about 7 hours.

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