What are my options for travel from Nice to Cinque Terre. Is train the best? What is the nearest stop? <BR> <BR>Is there a boat or ferry?

I think you are on the right track (pun purely accidental) to go by train. There are a few direct trains from Nice to Genoa, by far the best is IC343, leaving Nice approx. 1000, arriving Genoa approx.1300. This train has Observations Cars for a great view of the coastal scenery.From Genoa there is at least one train per hour to the Cinque Terre region, journey time about an hour. <BR>I don't know of any ferries along the coast, they all seem to go across to Corsica, Sardinia etc. <BR>Make sure you also visit the Portofino area just North of Cinque Terre. A good base town for all may be Santa Margherita or Rapallo, both have train stations. <BR>