A budget vacation can conjure up dreary images of staying in cheap hotels, doing nothing and eating less. Alternately, it could mean staying home and watching the snow fly or the raindrops fall. Nowadays, many tourist centers, resorts, and cities are trying to lure travellers their way by offering low-cost (or even free) attractions to spice up a vacation on a shoestring. One of these is Houston, Texas.
Texas may not be your first choice for a budget vacation. Perhaps it’s because of the state’s oil-rich history, or maybe the conspicuous-consumption lifestyles that the media magnifies. But it is completely possible; a quick web search revealed basic two-star hotel rooms for as little as $38 (US) per night. And the following attractions were featured in the city’s web page as Two-Dollars-Or-Less Deals*:
• The Sam Houston Boat Tour is a free 90-minute trip along Houston’s shoreline.
• The Museum District is one of the United States’busiest, with more than 7 million visitors annually. Also worth checking out is the Houston Center for Photography and the Arader Gallery, which features antique prints and Texas-themed items.
• It took John Milkovsich 18 years to find a purpose for his collection of old beer cans: he put them to use constructing the Beer Can House.
• The Garage Mahal, or Art Car Museum, is dedicated to a little-known branch of modern art: constructing various artistic pieces out of cars and other machinery.
Finally, a word about the weather. Houston is considered to be subtropical in climate. That means hot, humid summers, but pleasant winters. Travelers can count on a warm welcome, especially from the inhabitants of this great city.
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*To score that price, you may need to visit on certain days of the week.
There are many things Munich, Germany’s third-largest city, is associated with: castles, the stunning scenery of its home province Bavaria, and much more. However, for many travelers, Munich is associated with one loud, famous fair: Oktoberfest. And that, of course, means beer.
This year, Oktoberfest runs from September 18 until October 4. The first Oktoberfest dates back to 1810, when it marked the marriage of a German prince. In time, plenty of feasting and partying were incorporated – a tradition that continues today. Attendees of “the world’s largest fair” can snack (almost continuously) on hearty German fare. And drink beer. In fact, Munich as a whole takes beer so seriously that it is the home of Hofbrauhaus, the world’s most famous beer house. There is also the Bier- und Oktoberfest Museum, which is rather unsurprisingly devoted to – you guessed it – the history of beer and the celebration of Oktoberfest.
For travelers who prefer to think outside the brewery, Munich has a lot to offer. Some family-friendly options include the Tierpark Hellabrun, a “geo-zoo” that showcases 460 species, or the Englischer Garten. Otherwise known as the English Gardens, it’s a peaceful 900-acre park that contains four separate beer gardens. (In Munich, you can’t quite get completely away from beer.)
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Twenty-one kilometers from Munich lies Dachau. This area’s 1,200-year-old history, beautiful castle, and artistic legacy have all been submerged in the horrors of World War II, when the area outside of the village of Dachau became the site of one of the first concentration camps. Today, the charming village still stands, as does a memorial center to the victims of Hitler’s regime.
Munich has had a long and sometimes troubled history, but guests of the city will find that it has once again become a vibrant community that loves to host its famous fair.
Where on earth can one find the treasures of love and life that sings the most beautiful tune ever heard? Paris but of course where the mighty Eiffel tower still stands its ground in the face of un-recognizable and arrogant modern society, where the River Seine beckons intrepid travelers for a ride that will take you across the cultural and historical landmarks of the city. Capital of France, Paris is captivating, enchanting and truly a city of joie de vivre!
The Parisian eating scene is like a melting pot of exotic or local cuisines, fine dining restaurants, cafes and Bistros. Now I know how I ended up with the few extra pounds of flab. Once in Paris, I had decided that my holiday was going to be an eating fest for me and what a time I had! Being a non-vegetarian does have its thrills!
Having heard of the Auvergnat mafia that controls the café in Paris, I thought maybe it would be good to check some of them out. I had my share of croque monsieurs at a street side cafe (I think it was ham & cheese in bread that had a somewhat lingering milky taste to it) and then moved on to visit the retrofitted Cluny. Wooden tables and chairs greeted me as I entered into the café, which had an ambience that was more literary and poetic especially with the bookcases. I checked out several café in Paris including the hip Café Charbon, the café Buci, Petit déjeuner and the irresistible Boulangerie Bechu for coco-banane.
With enough caffeine running in my bloodstream, I made a wise decision of checking out some of the fine dining restaurants and went on a wine tour. Ah! The intoxicating smell of Bordeaux wine served with cheese and caviar was simply an out of the world experience. My wine tasting tour covered everything from Languedoc to Chateauneuf-du-Pap and from Burgundy to Alsace. In fact, the best place to get a whiff and a taste of some of the finest wines is at Oberkampf Loft situated between La Bastille and La Republique. Bistrot du Sommelier is another great place for wine tasting.
Of course, having wine with sumptuous main course meals like the ratatouille, Gigot d’agneau (leg of lamb served with white beans), and croque-madame (grilled ham and cheese sandwich with egg toppings) is heavenly. So long Au revoir but I am sure I will be back again in Paris to get some more of the wine, cheese and caffeine!
