Travel post #2: Annecy

I have a friend who is a great travel writer (she's so good that she gets paid to go on vacation). I've discovered that I don't have the knack for travel writing, but this blog series is still a great opportunity  to document some of places we've seen in France while offering some recommendations to other vacationers. Last August when my parents visited, we took a day trip to the town of Annecy. Situated to the east of Lyon and just south of Geneva, this bustling Alpine city is also known as France's "little Venice" due to several canals that wind their way through the town (no gondolas, though).

Our trip started with a leisurely train ride with beautiful views of small lakeside towns on the way to Annecy, giving us a taste of what to expect. I didn't anticipate Annecy to be as busy and noisy as it was (of course we went at the height of tourist season). Still, we really enjoyed exploring the city on foot, admiring the Savoyard architecture and the absolutely stunning views of the Alps in the distance. It's almost impossible to turn a corner in Annecy without snapping a photo.

We had lunch at one of the town's many cafes boasting outdoor seating that catered to tourists like ourselves. After lunch, Lake Annecy beckoned us to its banks. We rented a paddleboat that seated six, and took turns pedaling across the clear, pristine water while the others relaxed in the warm sunshine.

Afterwards, we felt the need for more exercise after the heavy lunch so we headed up the steep hill to the Chateau d'Annecy. We didn't pay the fee to go inside, but we really enjoyed the spectacular view from the top of the hill. On the way down, we cooled off by popping into an art studio and conversing with the friendly and talented proprietor. We topped off our day with delicious gelato and headed back home. It was a great day, one we'd like to repeat sometime soon!