My husband and are planning a trip with my in-laws whose primary responsibility will be to watch our 2 young children while we enjoy the countryside. We are planning on staying in one place (renting a house) so obviously it's important that it's the right place. In order of importance we're looking for beautiful scenery for hiking/biking, easy access to quaint towns/villages, good food and pleasant weather (early September). We've been to Tuscany and Provence recently so we'd like to try someplace new. Any words of advice would be appreciated.
Posted by
NYC, USA
219 posts
Cornwall, England, esp St Just or St Ives area. Hiking along those cliffs was fun. Food ought to be fresh. I loved the Cornish pasties. It will not be dry like Provence is during the summertime but there will be beautiful days.
Posted by
Newport Beach, CA, USA
769 posts
another obvious suggestion would be the Swiss Alps - Berner Oberland. Lots to do for all - hiking, biking, gondola rides, small villages, lakes and steamer-boat cruises. Near cities with big museums (Lucern). And can be combine with other areas like Zermatt or Lake-Geneva wine district, or the Wsiss-Italian "Ticino" part!
Posted by
Portlandia
3313 posts
Have you thought about Greece? Fabulous in September.
Posted by
Danville, VT
12040 posts
You seem to be describing either Mittenwald or Garmisch-Partenkirchen. GP has plenty of chalets for rent.
Posted by
Boston
4132 posts
Burgundy fits that description, and the food is profoundly French in the best sense.
The Alps are magnificent, and would be a great contrast to the places you have been already, but the cuisine, though hearty and adequate, is not in the same league.
Posted by
southwest, Missouri, U.S.A.
1717 posts
England, in Gloucestershire. I guess bicycles are available there. And some people enjoyed riding in a taxi car from Morten-in-Marsh for a few hours, through pretty farm land, to villages. I do not have information about a house to rent, but a good B & B is Treetops B & B at Morten-in-Marsh. It is set back from the road, it has a good back yard : green lawn. An arboretum is located about 2 miles from Treetops B & B. A bus goes from Moreton-in-Marsh to Chipping Campden. A path for walking starts at Chipping Campden, for walking south,through a few villages. A train goes from London (Paddington station) to Moreton-in-Marsh.
I think I remember that a car can be rented at Moreton-in-Marsh. (I was there in May of 2004).
Posted by
San Clemente, Ca.
408 posts
One of my favorites is the Berner Oberland. We stayed in Grindelwald for one week last October and loved it. Beautiful scenery, wonderful hiking and great food. My second choice would be a small town in Bavaria or Austria. ( Hallstatt, Reutte, Zell am see, G.P.) I like the smaller towns.
Posted by
Monterey, CA, USA
18 posts
In September, you might want to try some of the western peninsulas in Ireland. September is a calmer time for tourists in Ireland but the weather is still quite pleasant. Check out either the Dingle Peninsula or the Beara Peninsula. Both have peninsula-circling hiking trails, bike rentals in the villages, and a bunch of little towns/hamlets that promise a fun but authentic experience.
Posted by
Atlanta
3250 posts
Hi Diana,
Except for the biking, it sounds like you're describing the Cinque Terre in Italy(great food, quaint villages, pleasant weather, and beautiful scenery!)
Pontresina, Switzerland is also great for hiking and beautiful scenery.