NinaL

Home of the poet Rimbaud and located just a few kilometers from Belgium, Charleville-Mézières is worth the trip! Place Ducale is a beautiful spot to grab a drink. The downtown shopping area offers a variety of boutiques. There are some lovely views of the Meuse river that runs through the city. One of the best music festivals in France, the Cabaret Vert, takes place not far from its banks!

Amiens is a city where life is good, with some lovely treasures, between its cathedral and its parks, the old town, and the canals of the Saint-Leu neighborhood! I had the chance to go there for the 2023 Christmas market, the biggest Christmas market in the north of France. I have zero regrets, great atmosphere, very warm welcome, and quality artisans. Don't miss out on a visit there!

This national park is truly magnificent. In the summer, the moors are covered in pretty purple colors that are especially photogenic! I loved getting lost among the free-roaming sheep herds and discovering the authentic little villages in the region.

York is one of my favorite spots and one of my favorite cities in England! It is magnificent with its huge cathedral and the ramparts that go all the way around the city. From the wall walk, you can also spot a few hidden restaurant and bar terraces. Do not miss the Shambles. When you walk through there, you wonder how those houses are still standing!

The Lake District is a fabulous place made up of vast landscapes of lakes and mountains that offer a real change of scenery! Each of the lakes is interesting to see and the national park has many hiking trails. You can also do water sports on Lake Windermere, for example. The small towns in the park are very cute, especially Keswick, which is very lively with its small shops and its large main square. The whole area is very authentic and the welcome from the English people is super friendly and warm.

Whitby is a seaside town on the east coast of England that is really worth the trip! Its historic fishing port is very pleasant, and the town is overflowing with fascinating tales and legends, especially that of Dracula. The ruined abbey is stunning, and the fish and chips are famous for being the best in the country, and I can confirm that! Furthermore, the surrounding area is gorgeous, as the town is located within the North York Moors National Park.

Besançon deserves to be better known! A very pretty city settled back in the Roman era, it is famous today for its impressive Vauban citadel. There are some really beautiful walks to do in the area with views over the loop of the Doubs river below. Plus, the food there is super good!

Potosi has been shaped by the mining industry to this day, and many museums as well as the layout of the city bear witness to this heavy history. It is possible to visit the mines on your own, but it is a bit at your own risk. There are stray dogs everywhere that will not hesitate to chase you if you get a little too close! Otherwise, choose a guided tour into the depths of the mountain. The experience is controversial, however, given that the operating company had children working there for a long time...

Flensburg is an ideal stop if you are heading to Northern Germany or on your way to Denmark! This is where the famous Flensburg beer is brewed, by the way. The streets in the center are lively and the small harbor is really nice. The parks are also great if it gets hot out!

Haarlem is connected to Amsterdam by train, easy to reach, and located just a few miles from the North Sea beaches. It is also really nice to explore from a cultural perspective, as it is a city full of history and beautiful monuments. I highly recommend a detour there if you are visiting the Netherlands or Amsterdam!

The walk leading to the Bastei Bridge is an absolute must! It is not well known among the French, but it is a place very popular with tourists from Eastern Europe. The path to get there is pretty easy, and once you are there, the views of the landscape are magnificent. You can even spot climbers scaling the rocks if you squint hard enough. In short, a place to discover in Germany!

It was really nice to wander the streets of the old town of Lübeck for a few days and discover the history of the Hanseatic city! The waterfront is just as pleasant with regular events. We were able to enjoy a food market during our stay, incredible atmosphere, 100% German experience!

I visit Kiel regularly to see a friend who lives in the area. It is always really pleasant, and the place is very lively and welcoming, just like its residents! Plus, you can catch a ferry there to go to Sweden for example. So, do not forget to stop by!

It is an ideal city for a Swedish immersion, with lots of nice little cafes for "fika" breaks with friends or family. The Christmas season is especially great there: the city lights up and there are plenty of markets to walk through and fire pits to warm up by the fire. Welcoming and very pretty, definitely don't miss visiting the archipelagos, perfect for some splendid walks out in nature!