Museums, pre-1800's architecture, quaint eateries, and a walking city
Apr 25th, 2010, 10:20 AM
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 146
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Museums, pre-1800's architecture, quaint eateries, and a walking city
If this describes a trip you have taken, please tell me about it.
I am looking for an idea of where to go for about one week. Oh, another requirement, this place needs to have summer time temperatures that don't often exceed the upper 70's (F) with low humidity.
I like to eat outside where one can "people watch". If this place has easy access to trains which would permit a round trip one or two day trip to mountains with scenery, that would enhance my stay.
Budget is moderate. I live in the United States.
I am looking for an idea of where to go for about one week. Oh, another requirement, this place needs to have summer time temperatures that don't often exceed the upper 70's (F) with low humidity.
I like to eat outside where one can "people watch". If this place has easy access to trains which would permit a round trip one or two day trip to mountains with scenery, that would enhance my stay.
Budget is moderate. I live in the United States.
Apr 26th, 2010, 03:53 PM
#4
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 963
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I don't think Toronto meets the "low humidity" requirement. I've never been, but Quebec City comes to mind with the pre-1800's architecture. Not sure what the temp/humidity is like there in the summer though.
Apr 26th, 2010, 04:09 PM
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 146
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
tid--I agree, Charleston is a fabulous city
suze-no, it needn't be in the US. Please recommend the European cities you think fit the bill
ShelliDawn-Quebec City sounds interesting, thanks for the idea. I am headed to Nova Scotia this summer (driving there) and will consider a route that takes me through Quebec City after doing some research
Hannah-I haven't been to Santa Fe for about 20 years and was only briefly there then. I might check it out the next time I am in the southwest. Thanks
Keep ideas coming!!
suze-no, it needn't be in the US. Please recommend the European cities you think fit the bill
ShelliDawn-Quebec City sounds interesting, thanks for the idea. I am headed to Nova Scotia this summer (driving there) and will consider a route that takes me through Quebec City after doing some research
Hannah-I haven't been to Santa Fe for about 20 years and was only briefly there then. I might check it out the next time I am in the southwest. Thanks
Keep ideas coming!!
Apr 26th, 2010, 04:29 PM
#7
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 6,822
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Museums? Some of the country's finest, from art to ancient artifacts to diseased body parts.
Pre 1800's architecture? Absolutely, streets and streets of it in the downtown area, plus more in the neighborhoods.
Quaint eateries? Of all varieties, with loads of sidewalk cafes.
Walking city? Designed to be that way, it's walkable for hours and hours and easy to find your way around.
2 Day-trip by train to the mountains? Everything from the World Famous Horseshoe Curve to historic railways chugging through small towns--although there's also loads of lovely scenery of the non-mountainous kind that's a bit closer.
Errrrmmmmm...high 70's, low humidity in the summer? Soooommmetimes--but it's a bit of a gamble.
Sometimes late August is good.
Where? Philadelphia!
Pre 1800's architecture? Absolutely, streets and streets of it in the downtown area, plus more in the neighborhoods.
Quaint eateries? Of all varieties, with loads of sidewalk cafes.
Walking city? Designed to be that way, it's walkable for hours and hours and easy to find your way around.
2 Day-trip by train to the mountains? Everything from the World Famous Horseshoe Curve to historic railways chugging through small towns--although there's also loads of lovely scenery of the non-mountainous kind that's a bit closer.
Errrrmmmmm...high 70's, low humidity in the summer? Soooommmetimes--but it's a bit of a gamble.
Sometimes late August is good.Where? Philadelphia!
Apr 26th, 2010, 04:42 PM
#10
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 146
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Amy-I have had Philadelphia on my "need to see" list for YEARS. I think I will try to get there this fall.
suze-I was just reading about Lac Leman on another thread so do want to check that out. Did you find Venice to be extremely expensive? A friend of mine took his daughter to Venice and lamented that a quick calculation of the charge for the boat ride on the canal X the number of rides probably given yearly netted the boatman a higher annual salary than my friend had as a professor of mathematics!
suze-I was just reading about Lac Leman on another thread so do want to check that out. Did you find Venice to be extremely expensive? A friend of mine took his daughter to Venice and lamented that a quick calculation of the charge for the boat ride on the canal X the number of rides probably given yearly netted the boatman a higher annual salary than my friend had as a professor of mathematics!
Apr 26th, 2010, 04:48 PM
#11
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 6,822
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Do come, Ignutah! Be sure to post any questions about it over on USA--there are a ton of threads on Philadelphia already there, too, of course, but just get me started on it and I can go on for a long time.
For the type of travel it seems you like, another recommendation would be Salzburg, or one of the nearby villages with lovely train rides into Salzburg; check out Untours, one of my favorite ways to travel: www.untours.com The Swiss villages are great, too, like Meiringen, although not so much of the museum scene--but Swiss train rides are great!
For the type of travel it seems you like, another recommendation would be Salzburg, or one of the nearby villages with lovely train rides into Salzburg; check out Untours, one of my favorite ways to travel: www.untours.com The Swiss villages are great, too, like Meiringen, although not so much of the museum scene--but Swiss train rides are great!
Apr 26th, 2010, 05:38 PM
#12
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 146
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Salzburg...what a lovely idea. I like mountain scenery and villages even more than museums. I will check it out.
And, I love train rides (I have just started a thread over on USA as I am thinking about taking a train from Atlanta to Philadelphia!!)
And, I love train rides (I have just started a thread over on USA as I am thinking about taking a train from Atlanta to Philadelphia!!)
Apr 26th, 2010, 05:44 PM
#13
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 6,822
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Here's some pictures of the Untour I was on in Austria in 2003; we stayed in Pfarrerfen, a nice train ride out from Salzburg:
http://travel.webshots.com/album/115491557HbDEdt
You can do one week Untours now, but then it was two week only; such a lovely time.
(PS: There are some Philadelphia pix on that site, too!)
http://travel.webshots.com/album/115491557HbDEdt
You can do one week Untours now, but then it was two week only; such a lovely time.
(PS: There are some Philadelphia pix on that site, too!)
Apr 26th, 2010, 06:49 PM
#14
No, I did not find Venice overly expensive. The vaporetto system it's cheap. Just kick around, do lots of walking, self-guided walking tours, stay out of high-end restaurants and find a reasonable place to stay, it's possible. I've been there twice, both in August, loved it, but it was hot.
My Lac Leman favorites, I was shown by a friend who lives there, on multiple trips, I can highly recommend Lausanne, Vevey and Montreux. but depending your travel dates, it too can experience an occasional heatwave.
Amsterdam, if you go with Europe, might be the best recommendation, closest to your requirement, I can make.
My Lac Leman favorites, I was shown by a friend who lives there, on multiple trips, I can highly recommend Lausanne, Vevey and Montreux. but depending your travel dates, it too can experience an occasional heatwave.
Amsterdam, if you go with Europe, might be the best recommendation, closest to your requirement, I can make.
May 2nd, 2010, 02:19 PM
#15
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 424
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
You may want to consider Basel, Switzerland. The small city is in the northwestern portion of the country and straddles the Rhine River. The region is home to at least 30 museums ranging from paper-making to fine art to puppets to excavated Roman settlement.
The excellent Swiss train system will take you to Zurich, Luzern, Bern--and villages and mountains--conveniently and efficiently. You can reach the Basel train station by tram, bus, and airport bus.
Completed in 1225, the munster is one of the main sights in the very walkable old section of the city.
Outdoor eateries? Yes. There was one where, if we looked across the river in one direction, we were looking at France; in another direction, there was Germany! Plenty of other outdoor choices, too, from vendors at the market in Marktplatz to our splurge favorite, Au Violon.
The excellent Swiss train system will take you to Zurich, Luzern, Bern--and villages and mountains--conveniently and efficiently. You can reach the Basel train station by tram, bus, and airport bus.
Completed in 1225, the munster is one of the main sights in the very walkable old section of the city.
Outdoor eateries? Yes. There was one where, if we looked across the river in one direction, we were looking at France; in another direction, there was Germany! Plenty of other outdoor choices, too, from vendors at the market in Marktplatz to our splurge favorite, Au Violon.
May 10th, 2010, 06:18 AM
#17
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,718
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
To me, Quebec City or Montreal seems like exactly what you are looking for. Quebec City is very much like a small walled city you would find in France. Montreal is much larger, but still has the cafe ambiance, some interesting architecture, and a European feel to it. Go over to the Canada forum for lots of info.
May 14th, 2010, 03:35 PM
#18
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,675
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
When I read your first posting, the small city of Leuven in Belgium immediately popped into my head. I'm not sure whether it meets your mountains within a day criterion, but it meets all the others. And you're a short train ride from Brussels if you need more museums.
May 15th, 2010, 08:52 AM
#19
Join Date: Aug 2003
Posts: 32
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Italia! I train in Italy every year since i wont drive or take the bus unless I have instructions written in Italian!
use a hub city and go any where. rome: museums and restaurnts that would take a year to try, train to Umbria, the beach, North or South!
Florence: you may never want to leave. a walking city with more art than anywhere else, good food, and trains to everywhere
Smaller towns: Luca, no CARS, you walk or bike everywhere, on the main train line; Pisa, VENICE and live in the most unusal setting, no cars or buses but the train station is right at the main canal.
any of the beach resorts on a train line would be great but fewer museums: Sorrento was wonderful and you can take ferries to the towns on the Amalfi coast
Have not explored the east coast of Italy but I still have a few years left.....................
Spent time in Nice too, the string of port towns connected by the rail road is wonderul and always a view of the sea.
buono viaggio www.hometoitaly.com
use a hub city and go any where. rome: museums and restaurnts that would take a year to try, train to Umbria, the beach, North or South!
Florence: you may never want to leave. a walking city with more art than anywhere else, good food, and trains to everywhere
Smaller towns: Luca, no CARS, you walk or bike everywhere, on the main train line; Pisa, VENICE and live in the most unusal setting, no cars or buses but the train station is right at the main canal.
any of the beach resorts on a train line would be great but fewer museums: Sorrento was wonderful and you can take ferries to the towns on the Amalfi coast
Have not explored the east coast of Italy but I still have a few years left.....................
Spent time in Nice too, the string of port towns connected by the rail road is wonderul and always a view of the sea.
buono viaggio www.hometoitaly.com
May 17th, 2010, 12:57 PM
#20
Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 603
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Bergen, Norway and it definitely won't be too hot. Norway in a Nutshell can be done in one day or even better, two days spending a night in the fjord.
http://www.fodors.com/world/europe/norway/bergen/
If you like fish, you will be in food heaven.
http://www.fodors.com/world/europe/norway/bergen/
If you like fish, you will be in food heaven.
