France - The Eiffel Tower - the town of Marseille

The Eiffel Tower is an impressive sight in Paris France worth getting close to. Lie in the grass at the Champs de mars and gaze at the steel structure. Ascend the tower for spectacular views of Paris. At least once on your stay, return at night with a bottle of Merlot to watch the spectacular light display. The Eiffel Tower tops out at over 1,000 feet, containing 2 restaurants, a souvenir shop, a post office (for that one of a kind postmark), snack bar, and a viewing area. The world famous Eiffel Tower is a mass of iron designed by Gustave Eiffel for the Universal Exposition of 1889 and was the tallest structure in the world until 1930, when New York's Chrysler building surpassed it. The Paris tower faced criticism, especially from the artistic community of Paris, calling the structure a "truly tragic street lamp." Allegedly, Guy de Maupassant ate lunch on the lower level of the Paris tower everyday because it was the only view of the city in which he couldn't see it. The critics were slowly silenced as 2 million visitors ascended the tower 1889. Today, the Eiffel Tower is an icon of Paris, and is embraced by the city.

France vacations often include the town of Marseille, with its charming street markets, old port, and historic sections. Stout supporters of the revolution, Louis the XIV built two fortresses on the port, with guns facing the city. In addition, France's national anthem is called La Marseilles, named from the soldiers chanting the tune as the marched to Paris. Normandy is an historic area of France. Home to the D-Day beaches, as well as many charming and picturesque towns. Joan of Arch was burned in Rouen, an ancient, inland town with superb medieval buildings and museums. Mont-St-Michael bay contains a beautiful seascape, with a 264 feet granite wall. Most France vacations include a stop on the French Rivera. It has a plethora of jet set towns including Nice, Cannes, and Saint Tropez. I'll cover Nice France in depth, below. Bordeaux is home to amazing French wine and Lyon is a historic and well located metropolis, perfect for blitzing into Switzerland, Italy, and the Alps.

Nice France, on the French Riviera, has narrow lanes, markets, and all the enchantments of France, including art, food, and gorgeous architecture. Nice features pebbly beaches, and the sun kissed weather of the Mediterranean. In town you'll find picturesque buildings, art museums, and good hotels. Favored by aristocrats during the Victorian period, Nice France is now a popular destination for a multitude of travelers, and offers a variety of things to do and see, as well as its beautiful beaches. The modern art museum has a collection of art from 1950 onward. The Cathedrale Ste-Reparate, from the 17th century, has an 18th century bell tower, and a ceramic tile dome. Cours Salega in Nice France is a famed street, with 18th century houses, plane trees, and a daily market. The Cote d'Azur, and Nice France is a popular destination during France vacations.