You can spend an entire day wandering around the gardens and still miss a few sections. Here’s the ultimate guide to seeing the entire garden up close and personal. 

Grand Parc and Royal Promenade

After you exit the Palace, you will be greeted by the sight of the Grand Parc and Royal Promenade with fountains and sculptures dotted all over. Walk amongst the sculptures and the manicured gardens with flower beds in the shape of a fleur-de-lis. You will feel as if you’ve stepped back in time, and Marie Antoinette could wander past at any moment. After walking around the main garden area, walk along the crushed gravel path to Petit Trianon. 

Petit Trianon

This smaller estate was where Marie Antoinette spent a lot of her time. The gardens around Petit Trianon are not as stylized and have more bursts of wildflowers.

Arrive at the Palace early in the morning to avoid the crowds, and to give yourself sufficient time to wander the grounds.

The post Take a Stroll Through the Gardens of Versailles appeared first on Traveler Dreams.

The Beaches

Most people assume Tel Aviv has the best beaches, but Haifa boasts some pretty spectacular ones as well. The coastline on the west side of Haifa has a variety of beaches to choose from like Dado and Zamir. Every beach has lifeguards, and if you choose one next to the boardwalk there is a plethora of restaurants to sit and eat a bowl of hummus at.

The Nightlife

Carmel Center, which is about half-way up Mount Carmel, offers some upscale bars and restaurants to sit and have a few drinks at. Sasson features a fusion of Israeli cuisine and excellent wine choices. If you are looking for a bar to grab a couple of drinks at, head over  to Zafririm 1, which is on the same street. You can finish off the night at Sleek Bar, or the club Loft124, which are both on Hanasi street.

The Baha’i Gardens

A trip to Haifa would not be complete without a tour of the terraced Baha’i gardens. These gardens see hundreds of people every year, and provide breathtaking views of the city and the port. 

When you plan your trip to Israel, be sure to check out Haifa.

The post Get To Know Haifa, Israel’s Third Largest City appeared first on Traveler Dreams.

Gardens by the Bay, Singapore

Spanning over 100 hectares, these magnificent gardens feature three waterfront bays and huge horticultural sculptures that aim to bring the world of plants to Singapore. 

Nong Nooch Tropical Botanical Garden, Pattaya, Thailand

Spread over 600 acres, the intricate design of these gardens is truly breathtaking.  It is a testament to human diligence, ingenuity, and precision.

Gardens of Versailles, Versailles, France

Perhaps the most famous in the world, the gardens at Versailles were commissioned by King Louis XVI in 1661 as a symbol both of his temporal power and of man’s domination of nature.  They have become synonymous with the Western tradition of horticulture – most notably, rational, regular, geometric patterns.

Kenrokuen, Kanazawa, Japan

If the gardens of Versailles are representative of the Western tradition of horticulture, Kenrokuen exemplifies the Eastern.  While the European gardens demonstrate mastery over nature, the Japanese and Chinese traditions strive to create calm, meditative spaces where you can be at one with nature in the ideal landscape. 

Jardin Majorelle, Morocco

The garden was created by French painter Jacques Majorelle in 1886.  It is noted for its vibrant blue paint that jumps out from under over 30 members of the cactus family and is home to a great variety of bird species.  In 1980, this little oasis was bought by French designer Yves Saint Laurent and his partner Pierre Berge.

The post A Tour of the World’s Most Impressive Gardens appeared first on Traveler Dreams.

You can spend an entire day wandering around the gardens and still miss a few sections. Here’s the ultimate guide to seeing the entire garden up close and personal. 

Grand Parc and Royal Promenade

After you exit the Palace, you will be greeted by the sight of the Grand Parc and Royal Promenade with fountains and sculptures dotted all over. Walk amongst the sculptures and the manicured gardens with flower beds in the shape of a fleur-de-lis. You will feel as if you’ve stepped back in time, and Marie Antoinette could wander past at any moment. After walking around the main garden area, walk along the crushed gravel path to Petit Trianon. 

Petit Trianon

This smaller estate was where Marie Antoinette spent a lot of her time. The gardens around Petit Trianon are not as stylized and have more bursts of wildflowers.

Arrive at the Palace early in the morning to avoid the crowds, and to give yourself sufficient time to wander the grounds.

The post Take a Stroll Through the Gardens of Versailles appeared first on Traveler Dreams.

The Beaches

Most people assume Tel Aviv has the best beaches, but Haifa boasts some pretty spectacular ones as well. The coastline on the west side of Haifa has a variety of beaches to choose from like Dado and Zamir. Every beach has lifeguards, and if you choose one next to the boardwalk there is a plethora of restaurants to sit and eat a bowl of hummus at.

The Nightlife

Carmel Center, which is about half-way up Mount Carmel, offers some upscale bars and restaurants to sit and have a few drinks at. Sasson features a fusion of Israeli cuisine and excellent wine choices. If you are looking for a bar to grab a couple of drinks at, head over  to Zafririm 1, which is on the same street. You can finish off the night at Sleek Bar, or the club Loft124, which are both on Hanasi street.

The Baha’i Gardens

A trip to Haifa would not be complete without a tour of the terraced Baha’i gardens. These gardens see hundreds of people every year, and provide breathtaking views of the city and the port. 

When you plan your trip to Israel, be sure to check out Haifa.

The post Get To Know Haifa, Israel’s Third Largest City appeared first on Traveler Dreams.

Gardens by the Bay, Singapore

Spanning over 100 hectares, these magnificent gardens feature three waterfront bays and huge horticultural sculptures that aim to bring the world of plants to Singapore. 

Nong Nooch Tropical Botanical Garden, Pattaya, Thailand

Spread over 600 acres, the intricate design of these gardens is truly breathtaking.  It is a testament to human diligence, ingenuity, and precision.

Gardens of Versailles, Versailles, France

Perhaps the most famous in the world, the gardens at Versailles were commissioned by King Louis XVI in 1661 as a symbol both of his temporal power and of man’s domination of nature.  They have become synonymous with the Western tradition of horticulture – most notably, rational, regular, geometric patterns.

Kenrokuen, Kanazawa, Japan

If the gardens of Versailles are representative of the Western tradition of horticulture, Kenrokuen exemplifies the Eastern.  While the European gardens demonstrate mastery over nature, the Japanese and Chinese traditions strive to create calm, meditative spaces where you can be at one with nature in the ideal landscape. 

Jardin Majorelle, Morocco

The garden was created by French painter Jacques Majorelle in 1886.  It is noted for its vibrant blue paint that jumps out from under over 30 members of the cactus family and is home to a great variety of bird species.  In 1980, this little oasis was bought by French designer Yves Saint Laurent and his partner Pierre Berge.

The post A Tour of the World’s Most Impressive Gardens appeared first on Traveler Dreams.