One can talk all day long about the beauty of the French Riviera, but these images say it all. Gazing at the water of the Mediterranean Sea along the Promenade d’Anglais in Nice is a cure for what ails you.
There’s still time to book your ticket for August, rent one the gorgeous apartments from Paris Nice Vacations (there’s still availability), put a few swimsuits in a suitcase, and head to the French Riviera.
Seaside Dining:
View from L’Eden near the Old Town, Nice
No matter what time or year, no matter that it’s raining, dining outside is a way of life in Nice. You’ll find restaurants to fit any budget, but one of my favorites is just outside the Old Town in Nice, Le Eden. This sidewalk café has one of the best views of any of the restaurants along the sea wall in Nice. Omelets, frites, a carafe of wine, or a cold beer on a hot day, you can usually stroll right in and get a seat. If you’re very lucky, you can get one of the places on the second level balcony, where you can watch the sun set over the sea. Prices are very reasonable! No need to break the bank for a spectacular meal on the French Riviera. https://www.facebook.com/brasserieleden/
The Beaches of Nice:
Coco Beach, one of the less touristed beaches of Nice on the east side of the port
For me, this is the reason to travel to Nice in summer. The heavenly blue water lures you in, and cools you off. And in Nice there are so many beaches to choose from: the public beaches with lifeguards just steps away from restaurants and the Old Town; the private beaches where for around 16 Euros/day, you can fall asleep on a lounge chair under an umbrella between swims, and have a proper meal of Carpaccio de Boeuf and a bottle of wine; or, if you prefer to be away from the crowds, you can head to one of the less touristed beaches on the other side of the port. http://www.operaplage-nice.fr
Day Dreaming:
The Ferry to Corsica
The boat to Corsica comes and goes, comes and goes, all day long, beckoning you to forget your life back home and sail off to an island in the Mediterranean. The ferry leaves from the port several times each day, and takes approximately six hours to arrive in Bastia, the northern-most city on Corsica. You can stay in Bastia, or rent a car and explore the island. Round trip fare is around $120, and you can book your trip from home before you leave. https://www.directferries.com/corsica.htm
Gourmet Picnics:
A tisket, a tasket, a handmade woven basket
In the Cours Saleya market in the Old Town of Nice, you can pick up sun-ripened tomatoes, a fresh baguette, a bottle of wine, a wedge of cheese and an exquisite lemon tart. Just fill up the woven basket you just bought at La Vannerie, along with a beach towel and your sun hat, and head off to the the Parc de la Colline du Chateau for a picnic with a 180 degree view of the blue, blue sea . https://www.lavanneriedaujourdhui.fr/fr/
Le Port:
Le Port de Nice
In Nice you are surrounded by a culture that lives and breathes and has made their livelihood from the sea. Strolling along the port in the evening, you can glimpse the boats of the rich and famous as well as the colorful fishing boats that line the quay. Restaurants are serving up mussels and frites, and the huge ferries to Corsica are loading up for the next sail. It’s a lively working area surrounded by pastel-colored buildings that glow in the setting sun. It’s more than picturesque. It’s a work of art.
I believe author Isak Dinisen says it best. “The cure for anything is salt water: sweat, tears or the sea,” and in Nice, you’ll find a whole lotta salt water.
