Congleton, Cheshire -- Step back in time, over 500 years and marvel at the delights of the picture book moated manor-house named Little Moreton Hall. The drunkenly reeling south front, with its Elizabethan long gallery, cobbled courtyard and Great Hall. Britain’s most famous timber-framed, moated Tudor manor house has a delightful historic Knot Garden, together with traditional fruit trees of apple, pear, medlar and quince, which blossom in May, and produce their fruit in autumn - which is then used in delicious cakes and scones served up in Little Moreton's renowned restaurant.
The splendour of the half- timbered hall became an inn in the 1996 dramatisation of Daniel Defoe's saucy romp Moll Flanders. A National Trust property.

For further information we suggest that you follow this link to the National Trust and search for Little Moreton Hall ....

Northern British Columbia -- In a region where outdoor adventure looms large, an abundance of fuel is required to fire the adventurous spirit. It’s simply a bonus when that fuel proves more than tasty. In Prince Rupert, before heading by boat to cast a line or view grizzlies in their natural habitat, pull up a chair at any one of the port city’s eateries, sure to kick-start your appetite. Cow Bay Cafe, perched right on the pier, provides fantastic views of the waterfront, and casual fare that changes twice daily (check the whiteboard for the day’s catches and veggie options), while Opa Japanese Sushi Bar has, literally, it’s stone’s throw location from the docks to thank for its just-caught-from-the-sea menus. Evenings provide no less appeal at Lush Lounge and Bar, an intimate space that showcases fine dining fresh from the Pacific, not to mention one of the best views in the city. The Crest Hotel’s Waterfront Restaurant also does its part in creatively showcasing local cuisine, happily marrying its menu items with notable BC wines from a fully-stocked cellar. Fuel up and follow this link for further information .....

Nuoro, Italy -- One of the best ways to travel and to know the different aspects of the island landscape is trough a ride on the Trenino Verde. The train runs across a land rich in vegetation, where the railway seems to have always belonged to, just like signalman's houses, stations, viaducts and other railways engineering works. The speed of the train is the right one to allow you to appreciate aspects of the island's landscape as the train proceeds almost on tiptoes in an environment, unreachable by any other way. - June 15th - September 15th, 2010 For further information please follow this link ....

Varen Switzerland -- Experiencing wine is far more than tasting it. Varen wine growers and Pfyfoltru would like you to get to know completely new aspects of the Pfyfoltru juice of the vine. The word Pfyfoltru might sound a bit exotic. That's quite understandable but the term is easy enough to explain: Pfyfoltru is Valais dialect and it means "butterfly". And it is the butterfly that Varen farmers have devoted themselves to. The butterfly stands for a wine growing village and wines that are at one with nature. Every mouthful of Pfyfoltru is a mouthful of nature.

The Varen Wine Week in September • Numerous wine-tasting sessions, lectures, hikes through vineyards and tours of vineyards and wine cellars take place during the Varen Wine Week in September. But the highlight is the Varen Wine Festival. It is a festival for connoisseurs, lovers of wine and of course for potential candidates. So make sure you have time this year. What was once a single week's festivities has now been extended to the last four weeks from 31th August till 26th September. For further information, please follow this link .....

Sion, Switzerland -- In the jewel case of the holiday kingdom, Sion is a rare pearl with a multitude of facets. The old town, which backs onto the Valère and Tourbillon hills, the chateaux, the museums tell us the history of the past. Propelled by modern means of road, rail and air communication, the present has spread into the new areas. Wishing to satisfy as far as possible all those who come for a visit, the town offers a vast range of sports, culture and gastronomy;: golf or walks along the irrigation canals, skiing or mountain excursions; art galleries, internationally known music festivals; a complete range of restaurants and wine cellars, where the wines which have ripened under the Valais sun can be tasted. For further information, please follow this link ....

Bath has some of the finest architectural and historic treasures in Europe, including the Roman Baths and Pump Room and the 15th-century Abbey. If you’re a fan of Jane Austen we’d recommend visiting in September. The lifestyle, glamour and fashions of Austen are brought back to life in this two week long extravaganza of Regency themed events dedicated to the world famous author.

For over 2,000 years visitors have been enjoying this golden city. Designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, Bath has some of the finest architectural and historic treasures in Europe, including the Roman Baths and the Pump Room, 15th-century Abbey and stunning Royal Crescent.

Bath's status as a world-class city has also been further enhanced this year by the opening of Thermae Bath Spa. Britain's only natural thermal spa offering visitors the chance to bathe in the naturally warm waters as the Romans and Celts did over 2000 years ago.

Set in the rolling Somerset countryside, less than 2 hours from London, Bath is a beautiful and unforgettable place to visit. The city has a lively, year-round calendar of festivals, theatre, musical and sporting events. You can easily explore the compact city on foot and discover the diverse range of restaurants and traditional pubs interspersed among some of the best quality independent shops in Britain.

Well worth a visit in Bath ....
Thermae Bath Spa • Roman Baths Pump Room • Bath Abbey • No 1 Royal Crescent • Assembly Rooms • Jane Austen Centre • American Museum • Museum of Costume • Prior Park Landscape Garden • Holburne Museum of Art

Blonay-Chamby, Switzerland -- To travel by steam locomotive, in historic railway carriages through the landscape - you can do this between Blonay and Chamby. The museum railway offers train pleasures extraordinaire and the largest collection of operable meter gauge rolling stock in Switzerland.

The museum railway of Blonay-Chamby is owned by a cooperative that maintains the museum's own narrow gauge railway line and exhibits over 60 historic vehicles ranging from the steam tramway locomotive to the electric streetcar in two halls in Chaulin. The museum is unique especially because the steam locomotives, electric locomotives, electric railcars, tram carriages, railway carriages, freight cars and company vehicles are maintained so that they are operational at any time.

The museum train Blonay-Chamby uses the three kilometer long narrow gauge line between Blonay and Chamby, which was built in 1902. The best-known structure on the line is the 78-meter-long and 45-meter-high viaduct over the ravine of "Baye de Clarens". For more information. please follow this link . . . .

In the country of the first castles of the Loire
The Loire has its source at Mont Gerbier de Jonc, continues through gorges and ends in the famous Val de Loire with its castles of the Renaissance period. At the start, where the river is wild, about fifteen buildings border and overhang it. They are the first castles of the Loire where, unlike those of the kings of France, one can spend the night and stay there.

They were built between the 12th and the 19th century and the owners take great care of them. To ensure the maintenance costs, they have opened them to the public and grouped together around a charter "Night in a Castle in the Loire" which guarantees very good customer welcome and comfort in buildings which have a history and a perfect environment. Some magic places among others ...

La Motte castle in Noailly is not surrounded with brambles waiting for the sword of Prince Charming and yet, it looks exactly like the one of the Sleeping Beauty with its white facade and its turrets. Enough to maintain the myth. The one of Aubépin is characterized by its formal gardens, designed by the great Lenôtre. He also created those of Versailles, of its model Vaux-le-Vicomte and Chantilly castle. Can you imagine yourself opening wide the shutters onto such a decor early in the morning?

Other times, another place, the Logis de Nantas, which dates from the 15th century, is situated in the countryside very close to Saint-Etienne. And for medieval period lovers, the Chalmazel castle-fortress built in the 13th century and adorned with a covered way with machicolation, takes you for a jump into time. The one of the knights. The table is excellent in the Loire and good restaurants abound all around. Troisgros, 3 stars in the Michelin guide book in Roanne, the Prieuré in Ambierle, the Iris in Andrézieux-Bouthéon and the Nouvelle restaurant in Saint-Etienne, are all starred. Luxury life in all its minor details ...

For further information please follow this link to RhoneAlpes Tourism ......

British Columbia -- Inside Passage: Westwind Tugboat Adventures explores a revered waterway: For Westwind Tugboat Adventures, the journey’s the thing. A journey complete with a skipper, a skilled crew and the MV Parry - a lovingly-restored 1941 heritage wooden tugboat. Onboard the MV Parry, each journey’s newly minted crew will explore one segment of the Inside Passage; this fjord and mountain-backed stretch from Vancouver to Prince Rupert is marked by glaciers, channels and emerald forests seemingly propelled from their watery depths. Add to this that the Inside Passage is teeming with wildlife: whales appear to be along for the ride, while picturesque anchorages offer vantage points for spotting local critters, including bears and wolves. Daily adventures include salmon and halibut fishing (the tug will dutifully “follow the fish” near Bella Bella, along the Central Coast), guided hikes, clam digging, beachcombing and visits to abandoned canneries and museums, as well as First Nations communities. With berths for just 12 guests per excursion, the MV Parry promises plenty of comfort with fireside lounges and a busy gallery – itself a gathering place for meals and conversation. And an ideal spot to swap stories from your water-bound adventure. Follow this link for further information ....

A restored Hudson's Bay Company post just northwest of Prince George, Fort St. James was once a bustling commercial hub during the 19th century fur trade. Today, the site showcases the country's largest collection of historic wooden buildings with roots to the fur trade, plus one uniquely out-of-the-box bed and breakfast.

While housing a Trade Store and Office, a General Warehouse and spacious fields and gardens, it is the Officer's Dwelling House that holds special appeal for visitors to the historic site. Once the main residence and administration hub for the fort, it is here that Parks Canada interpreters welcome guests for the night (rooms are outfitted with original bedding and authentic artifacts from the late 1800s). But before it's time to burrow under the covers, guests are welcome to stir up some grub on their own in the kitchen, courtesy of a wood burning stove. On the menu? Steak, salmon and even hearty stew are provided along with homemade biscuits and fruits and veg from the community garden.

Following a cosy night's respite, the aroma of freshly-brewed coffee, coupled with a home-spun breakfast, will entice. All providing a B&B experience big on charm...and a whole lot of history. Use this link for more information ....