Great Falls Park ( Washington, DC )

Great Falls Park, an 800-acre park located along the Potomac River, is one of the most spectacular natural landmarks in the Washington DC metropolitan area. The natural beauty of Great Falls Park and its close proximity to downtown Washington, DC make this park popular with local residents and tourists who are visiting the area.

Great Falls Park offers a variety of activities including hiking, picnicking, kayaking, rock climbing, bicycling, and horseback riding. You can view the falls from several observation areas. The falls cascade into 20 foot waterfalls displaying the steepest fall line rapids of any eastern river. On the Virginia side, Overlook 2 and the Patowmack Canal Trail are wheelchair accessible. Follow the River Trail, beginning just downstream of the falls, and you will see spectacular views of the Mather Gorge. Above the Great Falls Park Visitor Center, you can follow the upper Canal Trail and view the head of the falls and the Aqueduct Dam. See a trail map to help you plan your hike.

Great Falls Park is maintained by the National Park Service. Ranger Talks are offered Saturdays and Sundays at 12:30 p. m. and 3:30 p. m. at the Ranger Program Area near Overlook 3.

Location

Great Falls Park is accessible from both sides of the Potomac River. The Virginia park is located at 9200 Old Dominion Drive, McLean, Virginia.
The Maryland side is a part of the C & O Canal National Historic Park and is located off of Falls Road in Potomac. There is not access between the two sides of the Potomac River.

Park Hours

Great Falls Park is open from 7 a.m. until dark every day except December 25th. The Visitor Center is open from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. daily, with extended hours during the spring and summer.

Price

There is a $5.00 per vehicle entrance fee and a $3.00 fee for visitors entering the park on foot, horseback, bicycle, or motorcycle.

Official Website

www.nps.gov/grfa

Venice - Hotel Cipriani and Palazzo Vendramin (Italy)

After touching down at Venice Marco Polo Airport, a five-minute cab ride brings you to the dock, where you board a natty motorboat that speeds off down a watery highway (the driving is every bit as daredevil as its land-based Italian counterpart) leading to a city where Renaissance palaces rise up from green depths and the streets are narrow canals. Arriving by motorboat is de regueur for Cipriani guests, as the hotel is on the Giudecca, an island in the lagoon. Brown-and-white striped poles like candy sticks mark the posh little dock of the 'Cip', as it is affectionately known, where guests alight to be greeted by charming gentlemen in theatrical capes.

Completed in 1958 by Giuseppe Cipriani, restaurateur extraordinaire and founder of the legendary Harry's Bar, the hotel now exudes an air of knowing luxury: you won't find any designer-led fads here. Giuseppe Cipriani's dream was to build a hotel within easy reach of St Mark's Square, yet far enough away to guarantee peace and privacy. The Giudecca provided just that, and as a consequence has attracted everyone from Orson Welles to Andy Warhol, becoming the chosen residence for many a film star during the Venice Film Festival, including Nicole Kidman.

Area Attractions

Accademia 900 MetersBridge Of Sighs 800 MetersCa D*OroCampanileDoge*S Palace 800 MetersGrand Canal 900 MetersGuggenheim Museum 800 MetersLa Biennale 1200 MetersLido 2 MilesMarco Polo HomeMurano Glass FactoryPiazza San MarcoRialto Bridge 1800 MetersSt Mark*S Square 700 MetersSan GiorgioSan Marco

Driving Directions

From Venice Marco Polo Airport *** Take Taxi From Station Located Outside The Airport Building For Direct Transfer To Hotel. Travel Time Is Approx. 30 Minutes.
From Piazzale Roma Car Park *** Venice Can Be Reached By Car-however Guests Must Park Their Cars At The Automobile Garage At Piazzale Roma Which Is About 15 Kilometers From The Hotel. Take Taxi Boat From Piazzale Roma Or By Public Line Boats. With An Hours Advance Notice The Hotel Is Able To Provide Assistance Parking And Retrieving Cars From A Selected Car Park. Suggested Garage Mattiazzo.
From Railway Station *** Taxi Boat Is Located In Front Of The Railway Station For Direct Transfer To The Hotel. Approximately 15 Minutes By Taxi Boat Or Take Public Service Line 1 Through The Grand Canal Or Line 42 Through Canale Della Giudecca To The San Marco Stop.

BEST TIME OF YEAR TO GO

May, June and September.

CEREMONIES

Couples must wed in the Register Office (Palazzo Cavalli) or a church before heading back to the hotel for a blessing (optional) and reception.

PRE-WEDDING RESIDENCY

None required, but it is advisable to allow at least two or three days to make all the final arrangements.

Mexico "Romantic Place" to Holiday

Mexico has been tipped as a "romantic" place for lovebirds to take a break by one expert this week.

According to holiday publication Luxury Travel magazine, Los Cabos and Baja California are best for couples seeking adventure, while Oaxaca and Chiapas are up-and-coming.

Magazine editor Alyson Cook said: "I think Mexico is seen as a romantic destination for the UK luxury market."

She added: "People want adventure and once-in-a-lifetime experiences, so they will go to 'newer' destinations like Oaxaca, Querétaro and Chiapas."

Mexico has a population of 106.5 million people, its capital is Mexico City, and its official language is Spanish.

The Lonely Planet Travel guide describes the nation as "a traveller's paradise", which is brimming with different landscapes from warm beaches to snow-capped volcanoes.

It adds that Mexico's charm emanates from its mix of old and new teamed with the country's wealth of culture.