Go for the Gold! Part 2

Yesterday, Viscape’s travel editors and contest judges scoured the site reading and evaluating every destination review entered into the “Be a Travel Writer” contest. That’s a lot of reading, considering there are over 200 entries!  More than a few caught our eyes, including reviews by LNathan, Crowe, and MaxFocus.  Check out their work below as you perfect your travel destination review for our contest.  Reminder that the contest closes when we reach 1,000 reviews. 

A Big City With Hints of Small-Town Charm by LNathan

I’ve been to Paris three times now, but I kind of hated the city the first two visits. I felt like I needed to squeeze in every museum and landmark possible despite limited time and money. When I visited a Paris for the third time about five years ago, I finally discovered the city’s charm. I was visiting a friend who was living there for a year, and I arrived on the day that the entire public transportation system went on strike. You couldn’t get a cab to save your life. That meant we were forced to walk everywhere, and I was forced to accept that I couldn’t visit the Pompidou and several other museums I’d wanted to visit. I quickly became thankful for this. Not only did the strike probably save me quite a bit of money, it forced me to go everywhere by foot and discover one of Paris’ lesser-known gems. After a lunch of baguette, brie, and red wine, I was wandering around the fourth arrondissement when I saw a small tea shop called Mariage Frères. As something of a tea connoisseur, I had to go in, thinking I’d just buy some tea to take home. But with so many teas to choose from, I decided to sit down, ask the waiter for advice, and try out one of the many flowery or minty teas. After opting for a tea with roses (how can you resist that?!), I also decided to order crème brulee featuring a special black tea with Chinese and Tibetan flowers and fruits. Now, if you weren’t a tea lover, I can see how crème brulee made with tea might sound unappealing. But it was the most luscious crème brulee I’ve ever had. It captured all of the flower and fruit flavors of the tea without the heavier “black” part of the tea-and taught me that Paris’ charm can easily be found in the small nooks.

Laura Nathan in Turks and Caicos

Last Mango in Paris by Crowe

Sometimes I just need to escape, cut loose and toss back a few strong ones. And that usually means it’s time for a visit to Key West. The last time there, we started with brunch at Blue Heaven, an absolute one-of-a-kind outdoor restaurant. There, we downed their (in)famous Bloody Marys under the breeze-bolstered sway of the palms while listening to some funky guitar local strum bad Bob Marley covers. What I’ve learned about Key West is that one should never be hesitant about heading straight to the bar from brunch. Key West has a somewhat sketchy side to it, where longtime locals with questionable origins sit barside with us tourists. It’s part of Key West’s character. In the end, my favorite establishment is Captain Tony’s Saloon off Duval Street. It has bras and underwear stapled to the ceiling. (I have yet to get my wife to contribute.) It was there my favorite Jimmy Buffett ballad was born — The Last Mango in Paris. Here are some Key West must dos: Rent a motor scooter. I found this to be the best way to get around. Snorkel. See the Sunset Celebration at Mallory Square. And my secret favorite … mango coladas at Mangoes on Duval. So good, they’re worth losing “guy points.”

Crowe Riding the Wave!

Telluride in the Summer by MaxFocus

The Town of Telluride is known as a winter dream destination for skiers. But, as we were told by a local resident, “we come for the winters, and we stay for the summers.” Park your car in downtown Telluride and catch the free Town Loop Goose shuttle bus that circles through the town every 20 minutes. And then there is the free Gondola system that whisks you 1,790 feet up the mountain in a matter of minutes. The gondolas are comfortable, enclosed, smooth, and run every day of the year from 7:00 a.m. to 12:00 midnight. And did I mention; the service is free? We saw two mountain bikers putting their bikes in one gondola and I thought about how much fun it would be to rent a couple of bikes, glide up to San Sophia Station at 10,540 feet in a gondola and ride down one of the many trails to the valley floor. Then do it again. Pedals not required, just brakes. What a rush. Whether just being blown away by the incredible mountain scenes in every direction, or fly-fishing, whitewater rafting, four wheel touring, there is something here for everyone. We found the local folks to be very friendly. The little touches, like 1-gallon dispensers of sunscreen offered at information desks, show that someone in Telluride wants us to come back again. And then there was the herd of elk next to the road on the edge of town. I can’t wait until the end of September when the Aspens turn to gold and the elk are bugling.

MaxFocus riding an Elephant to save gas on a recent trip to Africa!

Right now, we have over featured 50 destinations on Viscape.  So, come, start writing!  If there is a destination you love that we don’t currently feature, drop us a line and we will be happy to add it for you!