Top 5 days out in Paris

Paris has so many world-famous monuments and museums that if you’re only there for a short break it’s hard to think about leaving the city. But the attractions out of Paris are just as impressive as those on offer in town. Here are five of the most popular day trips you can take from Paris.

Versailles

This royal palace, built by King Louis XIV in the 17th century and expanded in the following years to the magnificent building you can see today, is near the top of most people’s list of things to see in Paris. It’s hardly surprising as the opulence on display within the palace is truly breathtaking. Don’t miss the chance to wander through the extensive grounds too. You can even hire bikes and bring a picnic to Versailles, finding a secluded spot to enjoy a perfect French lunch.

Beware however that you’ll find what appears to be half of Paris queuing up for tickets at the entrance to Versailles. If you turn up without a ticket you’ll almost certainly face a very long wait before you get inside. It’s a good idea to arrive very early or towards the end of the day to avoid the worst of the crowds. 

http://en.chateauversailles.fr/homepage

Giverny

Think Claude Monet and you’ll probably have a picture of slightly out-of-focus lily ponds and gently bending willow trees. You can visit the garden where he drew inspiration for many of his later paintings in the small village of Giverny, around an hour north of Paris. It’s a lovely place to spend a warm summer afternoon. Those wanting to re-create some of the master’s works should take note: while drawing at Giverny is tolerated, taking any painting materials into the gardens is strictly off limits. 

http://giverny.org/gardens/

Disneyland Paris

America meets France in what is the most visited tourist attraction in the whole of Europe. Come for exciting rides, giant-sized Disney characters, fairy-tale castles and plenty of good old fast food. There’s nothing particularly French about a visit to Disneyland Paris, but ask the kids where they want to go on a trip to Paris and Disney usually wins hands down! 

http://www.disneylandparis.co.uk/

Parc Asterix

This theme park celebrates the adventures of Asterix the Gaul, with a unique blend of Egyptian-Gallic related attractions. High adrenaline rides, lively shows and dolphin trickery (does anyone have any idea where they fit in?) await the visitors to Parc Asterix, which is only a short trip out of Paris.

Opened a few years before Disneyland Paris, Parc Asterix has received less attention and attracts fewer visitors than its American inspired rival. Perhaps as a result of this, a day out at Parc Asterix often involves less time queuing and more time actually enjoying the attractions. 

http://www.parcasterix.fr/en

Fontainebleau

This former royal hunting ground now attracts millions of visitors who come to escape the frenetic pace of Parisian life. The palace of Fontainebleau has a strong link to French royal history and has been home to several of France’s more flamboyant rulers over the past centuries. If you want to work off some of those Parisian patisserie indulgences, this is the perfect place to come and enjoy a wide variety of outdoor pursuits. People come to Fontainebleau for mountain biking, hiking, horse riding and even rock climbing. 

http://www.uk.fontainebleau-tourisme.com/medianet.asp

For hotels in Paris visit www.hotelpronto.com

New York Beyond Manhattan

If you go on a short break to New York, the chances are you will spend most if not all of your time in Manhattan. After all, it is where all of the most famous sights of New York are found. You’re bound to want to see the Empire State Building, Times Square and Central Park. But Manhattan is only one of five boroughs that make up New York City and while the other four may not grab the headlines, there are plenty of reasons why it’s worth planning a trip to the Outer Boroughs, as Queens, Brooklyn, Staten Island and the Bronx are known. 


Brooklyn


You’ll probably be familiar with the Brooklyn Bridge from The Fantastic Four and countless other movie scenes (it’s even been blown up in a few). It is one of the city’s most iconic landmarks and a walk across the bridge is a good way to walk off a slice of pizza or a piece of New York Cheesecake. Apart from anything else it’s worth getting onto the other side to get a fabulous view of that famous Manhattan skyline. 


For a fun day out in Brooklyn, head out on the subway to Coney Island, New York’s popular beach. On a sunny day the beach gets very crowded with local families. The funfair is in a sorry state and the rides are mostly closed down although there have been recent moves to bring it back to life. For a truly revolting sight you should come here on July 4th when the annual Hot Dog Eating Contest takes place. Stand well back as things tend to get very messy!


Queens


The largest of the New York boroughs, Queens is where you’ll find many of the city’s ethnic neighbourhoods. Fancy some authentic Greek food? How about Indian, Polish, Filipino or even Albanian? There’s a place in Queens for all of these and more. Some are just a few cafes along one street, while others stretch out over several blocks. If you fancy a curry while in NYC you should head over to Jackson Heights in Queens. There are plenty of great restaurants while a wander through the streets could have you wandering if you’ve been transported to Delhi or Karachi.


The Bronx


The Bronx gets a bad rap as a place not to venture out after dark. While some of the reputation may be well deserved there is certainly no reason to avoid the area altogether. The Bronx is home to the city’s main zoo and botanical gardens, both of which are well worth a visit. It’s also the place where you can enjoy that truly authentic American experience: a baseball match at the Yankee Stadium. Plan ahead though, as tickets are not easy to get hold of. 


Staten Island


The smallest and least populated borough, Staten Island is known best for the ferry service that links it to Manhattan. It’s a free ride that gives you the best views of Lower Manhattan and is really spectacular around sunset. If you have the time, get off at the other end and have a wander around Staten Island. Although a mainly residential neighbourhood there are several parks to wander around as well as historic Richmond Town, a collection of old buildings that do a good job telling the colourful history of early New York settlers.

For hotels in New York visit www.hotelpronto.com