A visit to London this year is sure to be full of hectic activities and adventures. The 2012 Olympics Summer Olympics will bring in athletes, fans, and visitors from around the world, and Queen Elizabeth’s Jubilee has the calendar chock full of commemorative events and displays.  You can easily find yourself wrapped up in a whirlwind of activities at a maddening pace.

When you’re ready for a break, and a get back to nature moment, try visiting one of the 8 royal parks of London, most of which are an easy walk for your London holiday apartments location.  Fair warning, they can be busy, crowded, places, but the opportunity to enjoy some beautiful grounds in the out-of-doors, can be a tonic to the traveler’s soul.

The parks were originally 5,000 acres of hunting grounds for the royals.  Later they became formal gardens, still for the royals however.  It wasn’t until the mid-1800s that the first park was opened to commoners, er, I mean the general public.  So take advantage of the royal opportunity and stop by one of London’s 8 royal parks:

• Bushy Park – Covering around 1,100 acres, most of which are open to the public, these were originally deer hunting grounds.  Today Bushy Park is home to the rugby, hockey, and cricket clubs, and is also home to wildlife conservation areas full of herds of Red and Fallow Deer.
• The Green Park – Consisting entirely of wooded meadows, The Green Park is believed to have originally been a swampy burial grounds.  Later it served as a private family estate before being turned into a royal park.  Government offices and royal palaces are linked beneath the park.
• Greenwich Park – With magnificent views over the Thames and the city, Greenwich Park is part of the Greenwich World Heritage Site.  The equestrian events and parts of the modern pentathlon events of the Summer Olympics will be staged here.  The Royal Observatory is also located in the park.
• Hyde Park – You may think this huge park, site of frequent demonstrations, is part of Kensington Gardens, but it has been a separate park of its own since the 1700s.  Full of monuments (the Diana, Princess of Wales memorial is here) as well as wide open spaces (many famous rock concerts have been staged here), Hyde Park will host the triathlon and some swimming events for the 2012 Summer Olympics.
• Kensington Gardens – With plenty of wide open spaces, Kensington Gardens was once the private gardens of Kensington Palace.  The gardens are fenced, a bit formal and posh, and full of art, making it a popular respite spot for visitors.
• Richmond Park – The largest of the royal parks at 2,360 acres, Richmond Park is home to Red and Fallow Deer and more notable monuments and historic sites that you can shake a stick at.  It is home to the Queen Mother’s Copse, a small triangular enclosure established in memory of the late Queen Mum.
• St. James’ Park – The oldest of the royal parks, St. James’ is adjacent to Buckingham Palace and has a small lake with two islands with a resident colony of penguins.
• Regent’s Park – Regent’s is home to Regent’s College and the London Zoo along with gardens, a boating area, playgrounds, and a variety of sporting areas.  Although originally scheduled as a venue for the 2012 Summer Olympics, it doesn’t look like that will happen.

Eight royal parks, each with their own personality and appeal – close to plenty of apartments London - and just perfect for an afternoon of enjoyment.

Photo credit:  public domain via wikimedia

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Many first time visitors to Dublin don’t know that the ‘Garden of Ireland’ – County Wicklow – is only 30 minutes south of the city center. No trip to Ireland would be complete without leaving the capital city to see the countryside that the Emerald Isle is so famous for. While there are many destinations worthy of a Dublin daytrip, one of my favorites is the Powerscourt Estate in County Wicklow.

Unlike other destinations outside of Dublin that are on the train line, you will need to rent a car or join a tour to visit Powerscourt. Reaching the estate in a rental car is half the fun – passing through quaint villages and following rickety old signs will give the daytrip an adventurous quality. The estate is famous for being home to the five-star Ritz Carlton Powerscourt and an incredible golf course, but it also has much more to offer.

Nature lovers will want to make the Powerscourt Waterfall their first stop. If you pack a picnic before leaving Dublin, this makes an ideal spot to have lunch while taking in the views. The 400-foot waterfall and its thundering water makes a beautiful backdrop for an afternoon picnic. To keep things particularly Irish, sample local Irish delicacies such as artisan Irish cheese, smoked salmon, and traditional brown soda bread.

Next stop should be the Powerscourt Gardens. Perfect for a post-meal stroll, the gardens have a stunning backdrop of the Sugar Loaf Mountain. Planned centuries ago, it is interesting to think how many generations the walled garden has given pleasure to. Another favorite attraction here is the famous Japanese garden.

Before departing the estate, you can take part in the tradition of afternoon tea. Stop into Avoca Café (located right next door to the entrance of the Gardens) for a scone and pot of tea for a late afternoon pick-me-up. This café also offers a store full of Irish-made products if you want to bring something home for family and friends. Check out the kitchen supplies in quirky colors and cozy woven blankets to take a piece of Avoca home with you.

Travelers looking for a splurge should check out the spa at the Ritz Carlton Powerscourt. After a day of hiking around the estate and exploring the garden, there might be no more relaxing finish to the day than a soothing massage or facial. You might even be enticed to spend the night, and book a table at Gordon Ramsay’s Restaurant overlooking the Sugar Loaf Mountain. Hotel guests can also take advantage of free bike rentals for a 2^nd day savoring the natural beauty of the Garden of Ireland. The Powerscourt Estate is home to many peaceful hiking and biking paths and the hotel can provide detailed maps.

For an afternoon or a couple days, the Powerscourt Estate offers a chance to see a more serene side of Dublin.

Photo credit:  Amanda Susan Munroe (CC via wikimedia)

NOTE:  This post was sponsored by My Destination Info; the opinions expressed are those of the guest author Jessica Colley.

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It may be spring here at home, and a delight to watch the flowers turn from buds to bloom, but down under in Sydney Australia blooms of a different kind are on display.  The Royal Botanic Gardens are celebrating the arrival of fall with gardens full of begonias, hawthorn, eucalyptus and other fall blooms.  If you’re visit to Sydney has you hopping from one location to another, take a break from the fast pace with a relaxing afternoon at this largest public garden in the city.

Located between the business district and the harbor, the gardens are about 75 acres of heaven right in the middle of the city.  The plants and trees in the garden (over 45,000 in all) date back to the 1800’s with a Hoop Pine tree and a giant Watergum tree, both planted around 1820-28.  Garden highlights include 18 themed gardens (begonia garden, oriental garden, rainforest walk, rose garden, fernery, and more) and the National Herbarium of New South Wales, home to over a million preserved plant specimens dating back to 1770 Botany Bay.

The Tropical Centre is a real treat, giving visitors a chance to experience exotic plants from tropical eco-systems, most of which are rare species.  Arc shaped greenhouses and a glass pyramid are both beautiful and practical, providing an environment for the plants to thrive.  The centre may not always be open, but if it is, it’s worth the time to take stroll through.  If the Tropical Centre is your primary reason for visiting the gardens, call ahead to check if its open.

The green space in the middle of the city provides a permanent home and/or temporary shelter for hundred of birds, animals, reptiles and butterflies.  Look closely and you may see flying foxes (bats – see photo above) during the day and possum in the evening.  Walk carefully and you may see a Channel-billed Cuckoo, white swans, or a Paradise Shellduck.  And for heaven’s sake, if you see a snake don’t pick it up or approach it – not only is it protected by law, but it may be poisonous!

You can explore the gardens on your own or opt for a free volunteer-guided walks.  The walks are about 1-1 1/2 hours and will give you additional information about the plants you see.  Plus, the guides will point out things that you are sure to have missed on your own.  Check the information booth for details and times.

After a relaxing day in such exquisite surroundings, head back to the city to enjoy some of the exquisite dining and nightlife that Sydney has to offer.

Location:  Mrs Macquaries Road, Sydney.  The Royal Botanic Gardens are easily reached by public transportation, and are an easy walk from the ferry at Circular Quay or the train and Martin Place Station.

Hours:  The gardens open at 7 am daily.  Closing time varies depending on time of year, ranging from 5 pm in winter months to 8 pm in summer.  The Tropical Centre is open 10 am-4 pm daily (except Christmas and Good Friday), but is occasionally closed.

Admission:  FREE for most of the gardens.  The Tropical Centre admission is $11 family, $5.50 adults, $3.30 children, $4.40 students and seniors.  (NOTE:  prices are in AUD.  The current exchange rate is $1 US equals $.93 AUD).

Photo credit:  Laurent via flickr (flower); Brian Gleason via flickr (flying fox)

NOTE:  This post was sponsored by My Destination Info; the opinions and thoughts expressed are those of the author.

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Ttoday’s post harkens back to my summer vacation in Italy.

Lake Maggiore, with its low key atmosphere, has an extensive network of ferry service around and across the lake.  In fact, ferries have landing stages in nearly every town along the lake, making it quite easy to get most places by boat.  In addition to the traditional (and slower) ferry, there is also hydrofoil service.  Not only is it a faster boat, but it has more direct service, rather than stopping at all the smaller towns.  The boats generally operate between 7 am – 8 pm, with a reduced schedule in the winter.  Fares can be found on a chart, and have a scale based on where you want to go.  Hydrofoils have a small surcharge.

Our first full day at the Lake, we struck out fairly early for the Borromeo Islands.  The Borromeo’s are three islands located in the bay between Stresa and Pallanza.  Although collectively they are referred to as the Borromeo Islands, only to are actually Borromeo property.  Our first stop was Isola Madre, the largest of the islands.  Although Isola Madre is the largest island, it is much lest visited than the others.  It is reachable by the public ferries, which dock on the south side of the island, as well as by private tour boats, which dock at a private boat dock near the restaurant.

The description of the island refers to it as a “modest” villa with natural gardens, but that does a disservice to its beautiful grounds and setting.  After you get off the ferry, you head up some steps to a terrace level where you’ll find the ticket office.  After purchasing your ticket (Admission is 10 Euros, and you can purchase a joint ticket for admission to both Isola Madre and Isola Bella for 16.50 Euros), you can turn right to go directly into the grounds, or turn left for a short walk to the cafe and private boat dock.  When you get your tickets be sure to pick up the FREE map so that you can follow along and understand what you are seeing as you pass through the various gardens.

Walking through Isola Madre is like walking through the world by way of their gardens.  With nearly every type of growing climate represented on the island, the variety of plants range from the usual (olive trees, azaleas, wisteria, and camellia) to the exotic (African tropical flowers, hibiscus, Ginkgo biloba).  Walking along the gravel pathway propels you by fragrant citron and lemon trees, past rare plants and exotic flowers, and you gradually walk your way to the top of the island.

On the northern-ish side of the island is Piazzale dei Pappagalli, home to families of peacock, parrots, and pheasants.  Most roam free, so be careful where you walk.  While they aren’t tame, by any means, if you don’t move too quickly, you’ll find that they strut and preen about, ignoring your presence.  You can watch their mating dances, as they open their tail feathers.

Continuing on the walking path will eventually lead to the top of the island at the Borromeo family home.  In front of the home is the Loggia del Cashmir, a Cashmere Cypress that is over 200 years old, and the largest one in Europe.  The tree received some damage in a tornado (yes, a tornado hit this small island a number of years ago), and it is now bolstered with cables and lines.

At this point in our visit, it started to rain, so we made the logical choice to duck inside the villa and tour it during the downpour.

The villa was a 16th century palace, although it was never the primary residence of the Borromeo family.  It was more of a second home (or third, or fourth), and was finished with odds and ends taken from their other homes.  The home fell into disrepair and was closed up for some time, before restoration began.  It was eventually open to the public in 1978, with numerous of the Borromeo collections on display.  The Teatrini delle Marionette (puppet theater) was a hit with most of the visitors.  There were a fair number of evil puppets, along with scenes of hell and damnation.  I thought is seemed rather dark and ghoulish for a children’s theater.  But apparently, that’s just me.

Touring the villa can easily be done in half an hour or so, although we dawdled until the rain passed.  Walk out of the villa and down the steps to the Piazzale della Cappella, an outdoor water garden, that includes a pond with beautiful water lilies in vibrant colors of pink, white, red, and yellow.  Around the pond are hibiscus, coffee, mimosa and banana plants.  It’s busy with color, but tranquil in effect.

To the side of the pond is a small mortuary chapel, and to the other side is the requisite gift shop.  If it’s a nice day, take the time to enjoy the sun and sit for a bit.  It’s a nice spot to rest up before heading back to the ferry.

Isola Madre is definitely worth the visit.  It wasn’t crowded, even when it rained and people went inside, lines were short (even in summer), and you could walk and stop at your own speed.  I found that much of the time our group would just walk and look about, taking in the surroundings of both the gardens and the lake.  We stopped often to look at something closer, and to take LOTS of photos, and the pace seem natural and enjoyable.  We spent a couple of hours at Isola Madre, finding it a great way to ease into our first full day at Lake Maggiore.

Photo credit:  Mary Jo Manzanares

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About ten minutes east of downtown Denver are 23 acres of gardens and plants that will make you feel like your much further away from the concrete of the city.  The Denver Botanic Gardens (1005 York Street, Denver) contain 45 gardens and over 32,000 plants.  (I discovered the York Street gardens while on a shopping expedition; they are very near the Cherry Creek Mall.)

The gardens represent a wide range of gardening styles and plant collections, covering diverse parts of the world.  It’s an interesting blend or culture with flora and fauna.  And, because this is the mile high city, there’s some focus on high altitude climate and how that can impact a garden.

While it’s hard to believe that a botanical garden can be even “greener," Denver seems to have done it with the city’s first green roof.  It’s a real-life example of how green roofs can be used for individual building owners, and for larger communities, in creating an eco-friendly urban environment.  Green roofs provide habitat for a variety of creatures, and help reduce pollution and decrease noise.  They’re economically friendly too, as green roofs help reduce heating and cooling costs as well as help extend the life of the roof.

The Denver Botanic Gardens are open year round.  Summer hours are Saturday – Tuesday, 9 am – 8 pm; Wednesday – Friday, 9 am – 5 pm.  The rest of the year the gardens are open 9 am – 5 pm daily.

Admission is $10.50 for adults; $7.50 for seniors (65+) and military; $6 for youth (4-15) and students; and FREE for children 3 and under.

There are also three satellite locations, each offering a distinct experience:

• Denver Botanic Gardens at Chatfield
• Mount Goliath
• Centennial Gardens

While it’s tempting to think of the gardens as a summer destination, each seasons brings a new experience.  So go back often!  It will be a new experience every time.

Photo credit:  flickr

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