wine – Mark's Travel Journal

Stunning Locations in Argentina to Visit During Winter

Argentina is one of South America’s most beautiful places you can visit. And it’s easy to see why: the country has a lot of stunning nature and warm weather year-round. The warmth also makes it one of the best locations to visit during winter, as the weather is pleasant regardless. In fact, most of the country experiences mild winters. This fact is what makes a lot of people believe that visiting Argentina in winter is perfect. However, the main question is still: where exactly should you go for the best experience in Argentina? We hope to help you answer this question with a list of stunning locations in Argentina to visit during winter.

Puerto Madryn

Have you ever wanted to see a whale in person? Well, starting the list of stunning locations in Argentina is Puerto Madryn, the perfect place to do just that. Puerto Madryn is a beautiful coastal town near Peninsula Valdes, famous for being one of the world’s largest whale breeding bays. And the whale’s mating period happens to be during winter. Of course, the town has much to offer visitors besides watching the whales. The beaches around Puerto Madryn are a unique experience as well. So, if you feel like whale-watching and enjoying the atmosphere of a beautiful coastal town, consider giving Puerto Madryn a visit. However, if you haven’t been traveling in a while, keep in mind that the pandemic has affected travel permanently. As such, prepare for your trip correctly and well ahead of time to be as safe as possible.

Whale breaching the water surface. — Seeing whales in Puerto Madryn is common during winter.

Iguazu Falls

Next up on the list of stunning locations in Argentina to visit during winter is a spot best to see during the cold season. That is because the area around the Iguazu Falls, one of Argentina’s most beautiful sights, tends to get extreme during other seasons. The humidity combined with Argentina’s usual warmth can suffocate, but the temperature here remains pleasant during winter.

As such, during winter, you can take your time and enjoy the beauty of the Iguazu Falls without any drawbacks. In reality, many tourists stay in Argentina after they experience the Falls for themselves. If you find yourself enamored by Argentina’s beauty, remember to plan your move thoroughly and rely on a helpful crew, especially if you’re moving here from the US. Remember, reliable movers, are essential for international moves.

Buenos Aires

We can’t list places to visit in Argentina without mentioning Buenos Aires. This massive city is full of history and beautiful, traditional architecture. Even outside of winter, visitors can find enough to do in the city to fill up a few trips with exciting experiences. During winter, however, the city offers special seasonal foods and drinks.

Additionally, like the Iguazu Falls, summer can get quite overbearing in Buenos Aires. As such, winter can make Buenos Aires a much more enjoyable experience for visitors who want to explore at their own pace. And if you’re going to experience Buenos Aires for yourself, home swaps have become increasingly popular. Although it’s still not very common, it offers a unique overall experience that will let you enjoy the city thoroughly if you can manage it.

People walking in a crowded street. — Buenos Aires is one of the stunning locations in Argentina to visit during winter.

Perito Moreno Glacier

If you want to experience the wonders of winter, you need to plan a trip to the Perito Moreno Glacier. This glacier is found within the Los Glaciares National Park in Patagonia and is considered one of Argentina’s most beautiful winter sights. That can easily be seen in the fact that this spot is also one of the most visited tourist destinations in the country.

The snow-covered ice and the chilly winter air make for a delightful experience. And, to top it off, the entire glacier is highly picturesque, and finding a beautiful view to snap a photo of is extremely easy. However, preparing yourself properly before visiting a glacier would be best. Do some research beforehand, as the best travelers do, and ensure it’s something you enjoy. After all, visiting the glacier can be a trek.

Mendoza

If you’re a fan of touring wineries, then the quaint town of Mendoza is the perfect spot for you. The town of Mendoza, by itself, isn’t very big; but it has a lot of high-quality wineries you can visit.

Additionally, the chilly winter air makes for a gratifying experience when going on a wine-tasting tour. Mendoza is in the Cuyo region of Argentina, in the foothills of the Andes Mountain Range. As such, besides the wine-tasting tours, the city is known as a hotspot for skiing if you enjoy going on skiing trips. Of course, if you don’t want something so exciting, there are plenty of beautiful views of the mountains from Mendoza itself. And there are also hiking trails if you enjoy going on hiking trips. But, especially during winter, remember to carefully prepare for hiking trips into the Andes.

Vineyard at sunset — Tasting wines in Mendoza’s picturesque vineyards is a truly unique experience.

Stunning locations in Argentina to visit during winter – closing thoughts

Overall, Argentina is one of the world’s best places to visit during winter. Since the country is naturally warm, winter is the perfect time to visit since temperatures tend to be perfect for traveling. That, combined with Argentina’s natural beauty, makes a winter trip to the country a unique experience. Overall, if you are planning a trip this winter, you’re going to have a hard time finding a better country to visit. And, to make it even better, Argentina has plenty to offer for every type of traveler, as the tourist attractions in the country are very varied. We hope this list of stunning locations in Argentina to visit during winter helps you plan your trip, and we wish you a good day.

5 Exquisite Wine Routes in France

August 28, 2019January 23, 2021markstraveljournalLeave a comment

As Europe’s peak travel season winds down and most people are returning from their summer vacation, the sleepy vineyards sweeping the French countryside awaken for the annual harvest. Foliage begins to turn, days and evenings become pleasantly cooler. And the picturesque back roads call out to be traversed, beckoning in one of the best times to visit France. There’s no better time than autumn to channel your inner wine connoisseur and rent a car in France. The following list is a compilation of five lovely wine regions and scenic routes fringed with vineyards that beg to be explored. Each of these destinations is sure to make for an unforgettable experience.

Alsace Wine Route

Alsace Wine Region

The Alsace region is situated along a narrow plain, which is bordered by the Rhine River to the east and the Vosges Mountains to the west. Why not rent something special for your trip, like a Mercedes SLK Roadster in Strasbourg? Put the top down and leisurely make your way south along the Route des Vins d’Alsace (Alsace Wine Route). This 170 km stretch of roadway begins in Marlenheim and ends in Thann. Take your time and discover the Alsace vineyards, castles, and charming villages that dot the way.

Bordeaux Wine Route

Bordeaux Wine Region

Six distinct wine producing territories branch out from the heart of the Bordeaux region. The beauty of visiting this location is that you can create a unique tour of the wineries based on your specific taste. Sample the fine red wines north of Bordeaux, and the sweet or dry white wines south of the city. Offering an excellent array of grape varietals, colors, and tastes, you won’t be disappointed when visiting this southwestern area of France.

Provence Wine Route

South of the Alps and north of the cliff-lined Mediterranean Sea is the Provence region, a part of France that is celebrated for its rosé wine. Start your journey by driving west along the coast with your rental car in Nice and making frequent stops to appreciate the villages and scenery, follow the 200 km course to Camargue, a town just east of Montpellier. The Provence vineyards are divided into eight appellations, and there are about 350 winemakers along the way.

Burgundy Wine Route

A two hour car-ride southwest of Paris leads into the rolling hills of France’s Burgundy region. Renowned for its Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, the vineyards here yield some of the country’s finest wines. Burgundy has five territories, and Route des Grands Crus (road of great wines) takes you through Côte de Beaune and Côte de Nuits. It is the area’s most popular drive and is close to 60 km. Clearly marked road signs make this itinerary very easy to follow.

Champagne Route

Champagne Wine Route

Only 160 km east of Paris, yet seemingly worlds away from the city of light, is the highly regarded Champagne region. Sparkling wine can’t claim the name Champagne unless it originates from here. There are five circuits that wind their way through each of the appellation territories. The Coast Bar route is the longest at 220 km, and the shortest courses are Montagne de Reims and Massif of Saint Thierry, each of these is 70 km.

Before setting off on any trip in France, it is important to note the country’s new driving law, which requires every vehicle to have a breathalyzer on hand. Avoid the possibility of needing to use one of these devices by staying at a lovely Chateau when choosing to indulge in a few glasses of regionally produced wine.

Enjoy the wine and enjoy France!

The Italy Road Trip

November 29, 2018February 10, 2022markstraveljournalLeave a comment

The Italy Road Trip was planned for a very long time. The dilemma was how do you squeeze all of what Italy has to offer in 2 weeks? Well the answer is you don’t. It’s just not possible in 2 weeks. So what do you see? And where do you start? Well right here.

The Italy Road Trip – Getting There

Choose your airline (it’s Air Canada for me from Canada). In order to hit the ground running (with a 6 hour time difference), I need to fly Business Class (sometimes) or Premium Economy (this time). The extra room and increased comfort make the long flight enjoyable. I absolutely have to sleep so I bring along my new travel friend, my Palmate Travel Pillow, to get to sleep and stay asleep. I want to be ready to go and awake on Day 1!

The Italy Road Trip – Venice

Arriving in Venice, we leave the airport in a water taxi and begin the short journey along the historic canals of Venice. After checking into our hotel, we grab an espresso and head out to explore the streets of Venice. The Italy Road Trip has begun. Tourists are absolutely everywhere and the streets are packed. Making our way along main walking routes and over bridges, we manage to find side routes and squares where the locals are. Small neighbourhoods with cafes, restaurants, shops and Venetian homes let you see the real Venice. On Day 2, we jump on the public water taxi (Venice transit) to get around easily and visit the main tourist areas. There’s a lot to see in Venice including Piazza San Marco, the Rialto Bridge, the Bridge of Sighs and the Doges’ Palace. But do yourself a favour and take the time to get off the main paths and explore!

The Italy Road Trip – Prosecco

We leave Venice in a rental car and head up to the Prosecco Region (the hills between Conegliano and Valdobbiadene in the province of Treviso). It’s mid-September and we have hit full grape harvest. The area is alive with extra workers and tractors with grape packed trailers. There are many wineries to visit but look for Prosecco Superiore DOCG. Most will have a fee based tasting (5-10 Euro per person) and will provide a generous sample of their product (3-5 wine samples). If you choose to buy a bottle or 2, the wine fee will be reduced or waived (depending on your purchase amount). Among the best wineries to visit: San Gregorio (family owned- you’ll meet father, mother and sisters); Col Vetoraz (with a wine vending machine on the small road to the winery); and Villa Sandi (great wine and restaurant).

A view of the hills of the Prosecco region in Italy

The Italy Road Trip – Tuscany

Tuscany gives you many reasons to be included in your Italian Road Trip. There’s Tuscan wine; the fresh and delicious food; the views; and last but not least the warm people. Classico Chianti wine (noted by the black rooster on the bottle neck) is exceptional. The Classico label is only available to Chiantis produced from grapes in the the Chianti Classico subregion. It covers an area of approximate 260 km² (100 square miles) between the city of Florence to the north and Siena to the south. The other well known wine in the area is the “Super Tuscan”. The American name for a deep red wine blended from Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot grapes. It’s priced to take advantage of the aura in the marketplace. Villa San Andrea is among the very best wineries to get a Super Tuscan (and other quality wines). This small winery is a neighbour to the much more famous Antinori winery. For 10 Euro, Villa San Andrea provides an intimate winery tour and tasting. Their Super Tuscan is far less expensive than the winery next door. They also have 7 other high quality and affordable wines.

Within Tuscany, there many towns to visit including Siena, San Gimignano, Lucca, Montalcino and Florence. San Gimignano stands near the top for me. It’s a very well preserved medieval village with shops, museums, several small hotels and restaurants. “Le Vecchie Mura” is one of the top restaurants in town and a personal favourite. It is divided in 2 parts- an inside restaurant and across the laneway is an outside terrace (weather dependent). Authentic dishes feature deer, rabbit, wild boar and of course pasta, steak, and local wine. Enjoying a long meal here overlooking Tuscany is something very special. Who doesn’t love great Italian food!

The Italy Road Trip – Amalfi Coast

The rugged coast and the views are worth the trip to the Amalfi Coast. And driving there adds to the anticipation. Heading south along the highway through Naples, we make our way through Sorrento and its long mountain tunnel. Positano is our destination and our base for 3 days on the Amalfi Coast. Positano has some incredible views. It also has great hotels (Le Sirenuse, Villa Rosa) and some great restaurants. Chez Black and Le Tre Sorelle are both highly rated and right beside each other right on the beach. And there are many small boutique shops along the walkway to the beach. Staying in Positano, you can easily make day trips down the Amalfi to small towns like Ravello, Minori, Furore and others.

Overlooking the coastline of Positano in Italy

The Italy Road Trip – Summary

We drive to Rome Airport and overnight at a Rome Airport hotel before leaving the next day. Except for the return flight, the trip is over. The Italy Road Trip was among my top trips ever. And that’s saying a lot given the amount of travelling that I have done over the years. Each area/stop well worth the visit to immerse yourself in the history, culture, food and wine of Italy. The biggest issue is when is the next Italy Road Trip?