By Ashley Tinker: Hot Air Ballooning in Provence A couple months ago we were invited on a hot air balloon ride with AeroProvence. I think Tom, the owner, felt obligated with my enthusiastic likes and comments on all his instagram posts of fields and fields of lavender. Experiencing a ride …

Exploring the Alpilles Established in 2007, the Parc Naturel Régional des Alpilles is a relatively new park. However, the mountain range itself is the result of millennia of continuous geological evolution. Artifacts from human settlements found in these hills date back to the Neolithic era. The Alpilles (small Alps) is a …

The Fjords of Provence Just east of Marseille lays the charming coastal town of Cassis, nestled at the bottom of steep, vineyard-covered hills that come almost to the sea. It’s so adorably cute that you might think you are walking into a postcard. There’s nothing better than a stroll through …

Author, Mary Lou Longsworth writes: Toulon: Discovering Something New in Provence We’ve been living in the countryside south of Aix, close to the Mediterranean, for five years. We miss Aix and our friends, and the almost-twenty years of memories we had there, but have no regrets. Aix isn’t far, and …

In February, Author Gayle Padgett and her husband Ralph drove to the Côte d’Azur to visit friends who live near Menton.  There are many reasons to visit this coastal city. The citrus festival (Fête du Citron) is a big draw for visitors in mid-winter. The rest of the year, as …

Getaway to the Alps A road trip to the Alps delivers a combination of excitement, outdoor sports, beautiful vistas and alpine weather. Several mountain resorts are closer than you might think from Provence providing an excellent destination for travellers and sportspersons alike. The Alps stretch 1,200 km across Europe through …

Provencal Getaway With long weekends on the horizon, why not plan a short break in Provence? Gather some friends or family and head south for some warm weather, blue skies, gourmet food and sightseeing. Touring Ideas in Provence Late June through August, Provence treats her visitors to flowering lavender and …

The fragrances of vanilla, cinnamon, citrus, dates, almonds, sesame seeds, ginger, and onions are intoxicating. I begin to wonder if I’m dreaming or floating on a magic carpet. A guided visit to Place des Épices, the colourful spice market, is one of many food lover’s experiences on the Pitcher & Powell …

By Ashley Tinker: A Guide to Lavender in Provence You either love lavender or you hate it. The essence is used for insomnia, headaches, to cleanse cuts or insect bites, deter mosquitoes and more. Despite its uses though, there’s no denying that it’s absolutely stunning in the plant form, and …

By Aixcentric: Marseille has been working hard to get itself on the tourist ‘must-see’ list and the Tourist Office now offers many organised visits to different parts of this vibrant city. Apart from the obvious sites, visitors can opt for food-tasting tours, street art walks, lunch on a cruise ship, …