Nice and the French Riviera are located on the southern shores of France.  This particular area of the Mediterranean is stunningly beautiful and has become a playground for both the rich and famous as well as the average tourist.  Nice is a great base of operations for exploring this area, since it is central, and is an attraction in its own right, with extensive lodging accommodations and other tourist services.

            Vieux (Old) Nice is a charming area with narrow streets, squares, shops and restaurants.  Any time spent in Nice should include a stroll up and down the Promenade des Anglais, the boulevard along the beach.  Here, one can admire the “beautiful people” who frequent the cobbled beach, check out the elegant hotels, and enjoy the semi-tropical ambiance. 

            Parallel with the Promenade, behind the numerous hotels which face the beach, is a pedestrian street which offers shops, restaurants and crowds of people.

            Other towns along this section of the Mediterranean coast include Cannes, world famous for its film festival which takes place each year in May and attracts some of the most famous celebrities in the world. The Croisette is its elegant, tree-lined walkway which runs from the casino, past numerous sheik hotels, to the port.

            Another equally famous town is Saint-Tropez whose Vieux Port is great for people-watching and browsing upscale shops.

            Saint-Paul-de-Vence is a walled, medieval town with fountains and flower-laden terraces.

            The port city of Marseille has seen resurgence recently and seems to be trying to vie with Nice as the capital of the area.

           Perhaps the most dramtically beautiful town on the Riviera is Eze, a village which winds its way up a cliff to a stunning viewpoint above the azure sea. The cobblestone streets are a delight to explore and our lined with trendy shops and restaurants.