Ti Toques- Juan-les-Pins

Ti Toques was the choice for fancy lady dinner in Juan-les-Pins and it seemed like many other people had the same idea as we enjoyed watching a wedding at the venue next door throughout the meal. In a nutshell, Ti Touqes had very nice food and a beautiful view if you were lucky enough to…

Yolo Plage- Juan-les-Pins

After watching Effet’s staff smoking in the restaurant lounge area after the restaurant was meant to be open for our reservation, we said forget it (they were rude taking the rez too, and we know when to cut our losses) and headed to Yolo Plage. Yolo treated us well earlier in the evening for an…

Juan-les Pins

Juan-les-Pins is the hidden gem of the French Riviera, a spot of beach normalcy situated between pilars of pomp and wealth like Cannes, St. Tropez, Nice, and a million others with nicknames like “billionaires’ bay.” No thanks, give me a pretty beach, a handful of restos, and a slight grittiness that makes anything feel possible-…

L’escale Brasserie- Juan-les-Pins

The first evening on the coast brought a ludicrously early dinner thanks to an equally as early flight. After stumbling around the beach reading menus, somehow we settled on L’escale because it’s always crowded as it was early this evening. We were so early in fact, that we were seated a table reserved for 8:30,…

Pirate Beach- Juan-les-Pins

After a very early morning flight and not the longest walk in the sun on an empty stomach, but just enough of one to add an element of hyperventilation into the morning mix, we found ourselves at the Pirate Beach / Restaurant in Juan-les-Pins. After some really annoying staff and lack of service at Hotel…

Hotel Helios- Juan-les-Pins

I’m not sure if the French Riviera was the right vacation move for the first mother/daughter trip since the three years of Covid, but the ease and cost of the flight made it pretty much non negotiable. We ended up at Hotel Helios as we booked the trip just a week in advance and the…

Yvoire, France

One very easy day trip from Nyon is to hop on a ferry across the lake to Yvoire, France. Expect an afternoon full of meandering lanes that lead you down toward a castle and active fishing village or up the hill towards gardens and tourist shop after tourist shop. It makes for a truly lovely…

Neuchatel, Switzerland

Ah, Neuchatel- people just love this place! I had to find out for myself as it had been on the short list for some time. Perhaps it would have been better with a local or an activity in mind, but Neuchatel was some old buildings not so far from water. Charming, for instance the one…

Morges, Switzerland

A meandering park along the deposits you in one of two flower festivals held throughout the year. Pass old homes, a casino, and plenty of dining options along the way. Opt for a less stuffy lunch by dining in the town center just a block behind the grand dames of the lakeside and find yourself…

Venice, Italy

Is there anything more classically Italian than a boat ride zipping down the Grand Canal in Venice with its colorful world passing you by and the country’s flag waving proudly in the background? Perhaps more so are the colorful buildings, meandering alleyways, and countless canals (and cannolis!) that await your disembarkation.

Mazzorboro, Italy

The sleepiest island just a stroll over the bridge from Burano. You could easily miss the gorgeous grounds of Venissa by walking the main pedestrian way on the perimeter of the island, but if you hit the entry just right, you’ll find yourself in this enchanted garden. Filled with modern art, fruits and vegetable plants,…

Flores- Yvoire

There’s not much to do on the weekends in Nyon, but one thing that always draws a crowd (with good reason) is the twenty minute boat ride across the lake to Yvoire in France. A charming medieval town chock full of flowers, hilly streets, and the obligatory castle, it’s the perfect place to spend the…