7 days in Valais, Switzerland: wine, cheese and marmots
Moi at Moiry Lake
In the heart of the Swiss Alps is Valais, Switzerland’s garden of plenty. Due to lots of sunshine and the Rhone River, this valley is Switzerland’s most important wine region filled with vineyards, orchards, local culinary specialties – and stunning nature.
In September, I set out for a week of sightseeing, and food and wine tasting in Valais. This is my Valais story.
Vineyards of Saillon
Day 1: Saillon
My journey begins at Saillon, located between Martigny and Sion, which boasts a mild climate, a stunning view of vineyards and the Alps, and an historic village. My guide takes me walking through the vineyards, until we reach the world’s smallest vineyard (1.6 square meters, 3 vines), owned by the Dalai Lama, and tended to by many celebrities. Overlooking the valley, the vineyard memorializes a bandit, fondly known as “Robin Hood of the Alps,” Joseph-Samuel Farinet.
Les Bains des Saillon thermal spa and hotel
I settle in for some R&R at the thermal spa and wellness centre and hotel, Les Bains des Saillon (the Baths of Saillon).
Day 2: Leuk and Chandolin
Off to Leuk by train, where I meet up with a group and our first guided tour is of a caviar production facility, Kasperskian Caviar, which uses a sustainable means of retrieving eggs from the female sturgeons while keeping them alive. Their motto: Cavair with Life.
Tasting the caviar (not for vegetarian me, though)
Transfer by bus to Salgesh, where we visit Cave du Rhodan winery, owned by award-winning winemaker, Olivier Mournir, who is renowned for sustainability and biodynamic methods, and producing their own solar power.
Olivier Mournir
Then, wine tasting!
Cave du Rhodan wines
A shuttle to the village of Chandolin in the alpine valley, Val d’Anniviers, about a 40 mins. drive. I settle into the new Chandolin Boutique Hotel, a traditional Swiss-style building with a stunning view of the Alps, and spa. Meals are delicious and creatively presented. Sommelier Thomas Scheidt serves fantastic wines from the region.
Chandolin Boutique Hotel, traditional Swiss-style
View from my room
Day 3: Moiry and Grimentz, Val d’Anniviers
Moi, in deep contemplation at Moiry Lake. Moiry Glacier in the distance.
By mini-bus, we drive up, up, up into the Alps for a guided group tour of glacial Moiry Lake and Dam, in Val d’Anniviers, 4,000m, at the timberline.
Continuing on, after a few white-knuckle, hairpin turns, we reach an alpine pasture where we visit a remote dairy farm and learn about making raclette from a master cheese-maker.
Isabelle, Master Cheese-Maker
Swiss cow
For lunch, we stop in the quaint village of Grimentz, at the Hotel et Restaurant de Moiry. Carnivores in our group (all but me) are served a traditional plate of dry meat, cheese and rye bread – and Valais wine. I enjoy a lovely veggie soup.
Then it’s time to learn how to make rye bread from an ancient recipe. In a smoke-tainted antique bakery, we roll up our sleeves, roll the dough into form, and put it into a wood-burning oven. We sip on delicious Valais fendant wine while waiting to taste the bread.
Day 4: Sierre and Saas-Fee
We being the morning – in rain – doing a Vineyard Hike and wine festival that is held along a 6km Vineyard Trail, from Sierre to Salgesch. Walking along are vineyards, wineries, local winemakers with samples of their wines, food stalls serving delicious raclette, live music, and incredible views of the surrounding area.
Walking along the trail
Then, it’s a train and bus ride to Saas-Fee, a car-free village and ski resort, one of the highest villages in Europe. I check into the Hotel Ferienart Resort & Spa, and settle into a large, comfortable room with a view of the mountains. There are three restaurants and a fabulous traditional Swiss breakfast buffet, and the spa facilities are impressive.
Ferienart Resort & Spa
Next is a cooking class with Swiss chef, Holger Schultheis, at the restaurant he owns with his wife, Iris (also a chef), Restaurant Swiss Chalet. We are making steak tartar and, for me, vegetarian pasta. Since I am vegetarian, I opt to make the dessert, a chocolate fudge dish. The cooking lesson is fun, albeit harried. At dinnertime, along with 10 of my new friends, we eat, drink Valais wines – and the atmosphere is divine.
Dessert I helped to make
Day 5: Saas-Fee
The one day annual Nostalgic Culinary Mile festival is on, highlighting local food specialties and live music. Many festival goers come in costumes from yesteryear. I taste a range of culinary delights and the local wine.
Me posing with a couple of young women in costume
Saas-Fee village getting ready for the festival
These guys were great.
Serving-up a traditional Swiss dish
Traditional costumes by festival-goers
After strolling up and down the street a few times, we board a cable car headed up to the glacier, and go for walk. We meet some friendly marmots, a comical rodent that whistles when they see hikers coming, and feed them peanuts.
Then a stop for hot chocolate takes the chill off.
Finally, it’s dinner at the Fierenart Hotel. The hotel manager gives a tour of the room that singer George Michael filmed Last Christmas. Ooh-la-la.
Day 6: Sass-Fee and Allalin Glacier
Cable car from Sass-Fee village up to the Allalin Glacier, at 3,500m. Members of the Swiss ski team are returning after their last run. Lunch is at the Revolving Restaurant Allalin (360 degrees), which provides a panoramic view of the mountains.
Next is a visit to the Allalin ice cave filled with ice sculptures. There is an avalanche simulation with lighting and sound effects, though I pass on it. The ice cave is entered through a 70m tunnel into the ancient glacier by an “underground” alpine train, which itself is a rush.
Then, it is back to the Restaurant Swiss Chalet to meet the first Swiss female chef to receive a Michelin Star, renowned Irma Dütsch.
Finally, an Italian dinner at the Ferienart Hotel.
Day 7: Saas-Fee and Geneva
I take the 6:30 am bus for Visp, to catch the train to Geneva airport, to fly home to Toronto.
IF YOU GO…
Where to stay in Valais:
Bains des Saillon (4 star), Saillon | Reservations: www.bainsdesaillon.ch/en/
Chandolin Boutique Hotel (4 star), Chandolin | Reservations: www.chandolinboutiquehotel.ch/
Hotel Ferienart Resort & Spa (5 star), Saas-Fee | Reservations: www.ferienart.ch
Getting there: the closest international airport is Geneva.
Getting Around: Best to have a car, but public transportation is efficient and easy. The Swiss Travel Pass provides unlimited rides on trains, buses, cable cars, boats and entrance to many museums and other attractions.
Resources: Swiss Tourism and Valais Tourism
I was a guest of Valais Tourism. Opinions are mine.
Shannon Skinner is an award-winning television and radio host, international speaker, author and travel journalist. Watch her interviews at ExtraordinaryWomenTV.com. Tweet to her at @Shannon_Skinner.
Valais, Switzerland vineyard hike and wine festival
Every September, the Valais region of Switzerland, in the heart of the Swiss Alps, holds a unique event, Marche des Cépages, or “walk of the grape varieties.” It is a celebration of Swiss wine, folklore and food, that brings out thousands of people, and not one to miss for any traveller who is interested in wine and gastronomy.
The walking trail takes you through vineyards and past many homes of the winemakers
I had the privilege to attend the walk of the grape varieties earlier this month. Since Swiss wine is hard to get your hands on outside of Switzerland (because they export so little of it, less than 2%), I was thrilled to have a chance to sip on the local wines and learn about the grape varietals, terroir and the industry.
We started off in the morning…how early is too early to start drinking wine?
This isn’t even the most stunning view (it rained too hard to get great shots of the most picturesque area, sad!)
The one day event is held along the 6 km Vineyard Trail, from Sierre (‘Siders’ in English) to Salgesch. The trail actually links the Valaisian vineyards and the Wine Museums based in Sierre and Salgesch. Along the trail are vineyards, wineries, and incredible views of the surrounding area. There are 80 markers along the trail that provide information about the local area, so it is really an open-air museum. It takes about 2.5 hours to walk the trail.
We started in Sierre, where we met our guide, but it is possible to also start in Salgesch. Our day began at the famous 16th century Château de Villa, the “temple” of wine in Valais, which has a stellar restaurant and an “vinotheque” wine bar/cellar, where 640 Grand Crus from over 100 vintners are available for wine tastings (they also have wine seminars). After we picked up our festival passes, a wine glass for sampling, and tickets for wine and food, off we went along the trail to see the sights and meet the winemakers.
Local Valais winemaker, Katia Zufferey, giving us a taste of her wine
Here is her wine, along with grapes from her family-owned vineyard
Local winemaker, Maurice Zufferey, and daughter, Anaïs, who accompanied us on behalf of the tourist board
Along the trail, approximately 50 Swiss wine makers from the Valais region set up tables and booths, offering tastings of their wines. Along the route, there are offerings of many culinary delights, such as the Swiss traditional raclette (melted cheese served with a potato and pickles), local food from Valais region, both traditional and contemporary music and entertainment.
Famous Swiss raclette cheese
Another local wine. It was raining so hard we had to park ourselves at a spot that had an awning.
Acapella entertainment
An organ grinder! How could this not put a smile on your face?
Unfortunately, it rained for the entire day (for some reason every time I attend a festival in Switzerland it rains). But people, and loads of them, came out regardless of the rain. There were families and young children, with some mothers pushing prams.
Families, babies and dogs came out in the rain
Another one of many stations set up by local producers
The 2018 festival will take place on September 8th. For more information and tickets, visit Marche des Cépages.
About Valais: The Valais (known as ‘Wallis’ in German) is a canton (like a province) in southern Switzerland, and is absolutely stunning. It is Switzerland’s most important wine region. The famous Matterhorn and is here, as well as upscale Alpine resorts, such as Zermatt, and many vineyards and orchards are found along the Rhône River. In addition to being Switzerland’s home to many vineyards, it is filled with fruit orchards. Rare spices are grown here, including saffron. The mountains surround you, as far as the eye can see.
Where to stay: Here’s an idea. If you are looking for an awesome view of the Alps and like to be in nature, Chandolin Boutique Hotel is a new 4 star classic Swiss chalet-style “sustainable” hotel that is well positioned in the Valais area for lots of sight-seeing and hiking (ski in winter). About 45 mins from Sierre, it has a breathtaking view, the rooms are cozy and it has a fabulous spa. The restaurant is inviting, impeccable service and it has a superb wine list with many Swiss wines. Address: Chandolin Boutique Hotel, Les plampras 10, CH – 3961 Chandolin. For information and reservations: contact. The bus goes to Chandolin from Sierre. (I will be writing more about this hotel in my next post).
Classic Swiss-style Chandolin Boutique Hotel
The view from my room…awe-inspiring
Hotel Restaurant
Getting there: The closest major airport is Geneva (179 kms). Also Bern airport is close (180 km). If you are coming in to Geneva, best way to get here is to take the train from Geneva (airport or city centre) to Sierre (2.5 hrs). To drive is (2 hrs). Check out the Swiss Travel Pass offerings. Train and bus travel is Switzerland is easy and convenient.
Resources: Valais Tourism, Swiss Tourism and Sierre Tourism.
Have you tried any Swiss wine from the Valais region? What is your favourite? I would love to hear from you. Tweet to me at @Shannon_Skinner.
I was a guest of Valais Tourism and Chandolin Boutique Hotel. Opinions are my own.
Shannon Skinner is an award-winning broadcaster, international speaker, author and travel journalist. She is based in Toronto. Watch her interviews at ExtrarodinaryWomenTV.com. For information on her speaking engagements, contact her at Shannon (at) ShannonSkinner.com.
This Swiss hotel and thermal park is ideal for wellness travel: review
The healing and therapeutic benefits of hot springs has long been known. While hot springs and thermal baths can be found around the world, Switzerland has a unique thermal resort for those travellers interested in taking the plunge.
View from the hotel rooms overlooking the thermal park and spa buildings. All rooms have a terrace and southern exposure, for a breathtaking view of the Alps.
Les Bains de Saillon (the Baths of Saillon) hotel and thermal park is a large resort, located in Saillon in Switzerland’s Valais region (between Sion and Martigny), in the heart of the Swiss Alps. It is set on a visually stunning property set alongside the famous Rhône river and surrounded by many vineyards and fruit orchards. It is mild enough that almonds and figs grow here.
“We are famous here in Switzerland,” says Céline Antonioli, the hotel’s catering and seminars manager, a friendly and energetic woman who oozes passion about the property and life in this warm yet slightly windy area of the Valais region. “And, of course, we also attract many international guests.”
The newer building was designed with a curve to it
The complex is comprised of two buildings; one is a new hotel that opened a year ago. There are a number of heated pools, both indoor and outdoor. It has a thermal “river,” and an almost Olympic-sized outdoor swimming pool. There is an area for children that includes a waterslide and small pool, for some family fun.
Céline Antonioli
And of course, there are several sauna options and a hammam, and a wide-range of spa services and fitness facilities. (Note: a “spa” in Switzerland means nude, so be prepared). Local Swiss products are used for spa treatments. Athletic visitors have access to a state-of-the-art fitness equipment and classes.
Night view of the thermal park and spa centre
The thermal park is available for use for the entire day, for both the public and hotel guests. Many visitors, from professional athletes to families to tourists, come to enjoy the enormous thermal park. They sees more than 1,000 guests per day (at the minimum). For security purposes, guests are provided with a wrist-band with an electronic “chip” to access the facilities.
Hotel lobby is bright and contemporary
The resort has 148 rooms, 6 themed restaurants (from pizza to burgers; one is self-serve with direct access to the swimming area) and free outdoor parking. There are also rental studios and apartments. Best of all, it has a breathtaking view of the Swiss Alps.
Céline Antonioli, in front of the new hotel
Guest arriving with a friendly dog for their stay at the hotel
Dogs are welcomed here, as the property is pet-friendly. I saw a few dogs happily enjoying themselves. “They can go anywhere, anytime,” adds Antonioli.
As for my thermal bath experience, I truly enjoyed swimming and relaxing in the pools. The water was not too hot. I understand they have to heat the spring water to make it warm enough for the therapeutic properties. There was not a big crowd. I could swim around indoors and then jump into the outdoor pool, and go back inside when it got chilly (hey, it’s September after all). The hotel provides a bathrobe and slippers for guests to walk to the baths. (note: I did not take my camera into the spa facilities for privacy purposes, so I don’t have photos of the pools to post here – please see the hotel’s website).
Overall, Les Bains de Saillon is contemporary and comfortable, and relaxing, and its facilities were designed for guests to destress and family fun. It worked for this writer!
Getting there? I flew from Toronto to Geneva. With my Swiss Travel Pass, I then took a train from the Geneva airport (to Martigny) and a bus (2 hours). The bus stop is right in front of the hotel. Super easy, safe and quick!
Salle “Pierre à voir.” This room is available to rent for events.
Deluxe contemporary bedroom in new hotel
Bains de Saillon. © sedrik nemeth
Just to compare, this is a family suite in the former hotel. A different style. Nice & functional.
Functional furniture that is also a hidden bed.
Suites have lots of space for parents and kids to share
Thermal park manager extraordinaire
Bains de Saillon. © sedrik nemeth
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DETAILS:
Price From: $ 300-475 Cdn (pax) for a double room “Superior;” and $ 350-520 Cdn (pax) for double room “Deluxe” in the new hotel (inquire about rates and specials). Includes breakfast and access to thermal park.
Who goes? It well-known in Switzerland, so it attracts many local Swiss guests, but also international guests; business travellers, as well as couples, singles and families.
Style/Character: A stylish, luxury hotel, 4-star, contemporary. It is owned by the BOAS-Swiss Hotel Group.
Service/Staff: Courteous, helpful and professional staff, and excellent service. Restaurants were speedy with food service.
Rooms: 148 rooms and suites; all contemporary, stylish, luxurious and comfortable. All rooms (range from standard to family suites) have a terrace and offer magnificent views of the Alps. Includes a small coffee machine, room cleaning service, large bathrooms that are well-lit, bathrobes and slippers for going to the spa, and lots of closet space. WiFi is free in the rooms.
Food/Drink: There are six on-site options:
- e Restaurant des Baigneurs: self-service with direct access to swimming pools
- La brasserie: a nod to the famous “Café de Flore” in Paris
- La Carnotzet: Valais specialties in a “chalet” ambience
- La Pizzeria “Piazza Granda:” pizza/pasta on an “All’Italiana” village square
- La Treille: snacks and relaxation in the shade of a pergola
- Le Swiss Burger Bar: delicious homemade burgers
- L’Espace Gourmand: the Chef’s specialties for connoisseurs
- Salle “Pierre à voir:” for small and large banquets
The wine list has Swiss wine options; available for viewing on the website, along with the restaurant menus.
Amenities: On-site fitness centre, business centre (fax/photocopy), hair salon, podiatrist/pedicurist, physiotherapist, and rooms are available for rental for special events.
Women traveling solo-friendly: Yes.
Family-friendly: Yes
Disabled Access: Yes
Pet-Friendly: Yes (dogs can go anywhere, anytime, even in the restaurants). A small, extra charge applies.
Local shopping: Not a shopping destination. Nearby is the tiny historical old town of Saillon, about 20 mins. walking distance. There is a small gift shop in the complex.
What not to miss: a spa treatment.
Nightlife: If you are seeking an exciting nightlife, you will need to find another spot.
Value for Money: At a minimum room cost of approximately $ 300 Cdn, you get excellent services, comfort, convenience of spa and fitness services, in a new facility and a peaceful setting with a breathtaking view.
Reservations: https://www.bainsdesaillon.ch/en/
Location: In Saillon, Valais, 146 km from Geneva (between Sion and Martigny). Address: Route du Centre Thermal 16, 1913 Saillon, VS – Suisse, Switzerland | +41 (0)27 602 11 11 | +41 (0)27 602 11 52
Resources: Valais Tourism and Switzerland Tourism. Hotel chain: BOAS-Swiss Hotels. Swiss Travel Pass: click here.
I was a guest of Les Bains de Saillon and Valais Tourism. Opinions are my own.
Shannon Skinner is an award-winning broadcaster, international speaker, author, travel writer and wine specialist. Tweet to her at @Shannon_Skinner.
Inside Switzerland’s Kasperskian Caviar: caviar with life
On a recent trip to Switzerland, I had an opportunity to visit a caviar production facility. Kasperskian Caviar is a relatively new company (2015), located in the Valais region of Switzerland, right in the heart of the Swiss Alps.
Kasperskian Caviar, “Caviar with Life.”
Considered a luxury food item, and possibly the world’s most expensive food, caviar (also called roe) is a delicacy comprised of salt-cured eggs of sturgeon fish (many species). The roe can be either fresh or pasteurized. However pasteurization reduces its value from a culinary and economic standpoint.
Frédéric Cherpin, Marketing and Sales Manager, Kasperskian Caviar, leading a tasting of the caviar. Since I’m a vegetarian, no caviar for me!
Enter Kasperskian Caviar — a unique company in the way it produces its caviar to maintain both culinary and economic value – and sustainability. Not only is it sustainable, it is ethical.
Kasperskian Caviar (the name is a play on Russia’s Caspian Sea) has created a sustainable business model and ethic, which they refer to as “caviar with life.” They produce pure caviar from sturgeon fish (Siberian/Baeril variety) while they are alive using an innovative method that retrieves the eggs of the female without harming them. Typically in caviar production, the fish are killed to retrieve the eggs, but that is what sets apart the Kasperskian company. So “caviar with life” means the fish provide caviar when they are alive.
The caviar master (yes, there is such a thing), takes the pregnant fish out of the water and quickly “massages” the fish and it releases its eggs. This happens in under one minute, since the fish obviously cannot stay out of water for long. After the eggs are retrieved, the fish goes back into the water and may again provide eggs for caviar (sorry, guys, the male fish meat goes to market).
It takes 5-10 years to get eggs from the sturgeon, one of the reasons caviar is so expensive.
The company uses the highest quality water from the Swiss mountains, which is why it based in Switzerland (another reason is one of the investors happens to be from the local area). Their sturgeon produce large, soft, high quality eggs, as a result. Only salt is added to the eggs with no preservatives or other additives, so they are pure and natural, and the highest quality of caviar one can get. This means, of course, a higher price, but for caviar lovers, it may be well worth it.
The lobby of the Kasperskian Caviar building
Each of the 1,000 fish in the production facilities – some as large as small sharks – have a name. It takes 2 years to determine the sex of the fish. Once the females are identified, a small “chip” is put in the fish to track its weight, food, health, etc., so they know everything about them.
Caviar pairs well with Champagne Frédéric Maletrez. Cheers!
While the company is currently only offering the Siberian/Baeril sturgeon variety of caviar, plans are under to produce another variety later in the year, in December 2017. As well, they have a halal certification, enabling them to export to the middle east in the near future.
The Valais region of Switzerland is absolutely stunning
As a vegetarian, I can’t vouch for the taste of the caviar, but I certainly found the tour educational and insightful. From the comments of those around me who did try the caviar, it was apparently quite tasty. For lovers of caviar in Canada, the company is not yet making their product available in Canada, but exporting soon is possibly within their sights.
For more information, visit: Kaspersian Caviar
Resources: Swiss Tourism and Valais Tourism
Arrangements courtesy of Valais Tourism. Opinions are my own.
Shannon Skinner is an award-winning broadcaster, international speaker, author, travel writer and wine specialist.
The world’s 10 happiest countries to put on your travel ‘love list’
Would you visit the places where people are the happiest? As a traveller, this sounds ideal because while every country has its own beauty and hidden gems, it is always the people, to me anywhere, that make or break a trip.
Norway (photo: hh oldman)
This past Spring, Conde-Nast Traveler magazine put together a list of the 10 Happiest Countries in the World. This was based on the United Nations World Happiness Report. I’ve been to many of these countries and read this report when it came out, but after the story appeared in my Twitter feed over the weekend, I decided to list them here for you, dear reader, to put on your ‘love list.’
New Zealand (photo: John Tripperson)
So if you have not yet visited the happiest places on Earth, get to it!
1 Norway
2. Denmark
3. Iceland
4. Switzerland
5. Finland
6. Netherlands
7. Canada (woo-hoo!)
8. New Zealand
9. Australia
10.Sweden
As a Canadian, I am pleased to see Canada on the list. What stands out to me, though, is that the United States did not make the cut.
If you have a favourite spot in one of these top 10 happiest countries, tell me about it at @Shannon_Skinner.
Love xo
Shannon
Shannon Skinner is an award-winning television and radio show host and producer, speaker, author and travel writer. For more information, visit: ExtraordinaryWomenTV.com and ShannonSkinner.com. Tweet to her at @Shannon_Skinner.
Travel tips for vegetarians
For 30 years now, I have been a vegetarian, which, without getting into rigid labels, I simply define as someone who does not eat meat. I’m often asked how I manage when travelling around the world. For the most part, I usually do not have any problems, or I find a way to get by.
Vegetarian delights in the state of Assam, northeast India
Some destinations are heavy meat-eating cultures and that means eating in a restaurant can be tricky. In Canada, where 4 per cent of the population is vegetarian/vegan, you do not have to look any further than our own backyard of beef-province, Alberta (where my family lives) and its influence on menu items. Or Texas in the United States.
Internationally, India is a paradise for vegetarians. Having travelled there twice last year, I had no issues finding vegetarian fare, mostly because a good portion (30 to 40 per cent) of the country is vegetarian due to cultural and religious traditions. If you ask me, Indian food is the most flavourful food on the planet.
But not all nations are so accommodating to non-meat eaters. Some years ago, I visited Prague and, at the time, finding fresh vegetables and salads proved to be a challenge (the Czech Republic has one of the lowest percentages of vegetarians at 1.5 per cent of the population). The solution to my problem was a Chinese food restaurant, which made a delicious stir-fry that I ate several nights in a row (hey, you do what you need to do).
In Morocco, the cuisine is heavily meat-based, but I discovered tasty alternatives. In Thailand, the chicken never looked like chicken, so thankfully I was able to give it a pass.
In some cultures, some amount of meat is tossed into most dishes, such as Italian pasta sauces. Or vegetables are generally cooked in meat or fish broth, like in parts of Asia. And in other countries, meat and seafood is a separate dish from vegetables and grains. In Switzerland, I found it impossible to go without trying the cheeses, simply because they are Swiss.
Here are 5 tips for vegetarians (and vegans) when on the road:
1. Start with good communication: Learn to say “I am a vegetarian” or “I do not eat meat” in the language of the country you are visiting. This helps the wait staff understand what your requirements are, so you don’t mistakenly order a dish that could have meat in it. Not only does it facilitate understanding, it is being respectful of the staff.
2. Research and plan in advance: You can always research local restaurants that cater to vegetarians or at least have some meatless dishes. A quick Google ought to do the trick. There are also some apps that might be useful, such as FoodSpotting.
3. Pack protein snacks in your bag: As a vegetarian on the road, eliminating meat is one thing, but finding protein substitutions can sometimes be even more challenging. Pack nuts, and protein bars and powders, into your day bag to ensure you have enough protein in your diet while away.
4. Stay in a self-catering place: Having your own kitchen away from home helps you better control what you are eating. And it does not matter what your diet restrictions or preferences are, whether you are vegan, gluten-free, have food allergies, or a health nut.
5. Pre-arrange meals or take a packed lunch – If you are on a road trip, or taking daily excursions, pick up pre-packed foods and pack a lunch. Also ask your hotel’s restaurant the night before your day excursions if you can pre-arrange a packed lunch.
If you are a vegetarian or vegan who travels the world, I would love to hear what your tips are. Tweet to me at @Shannon_Skinner or leave a comment below.
Love,
Shannon
Shannon Skinner is a Toronto-based, award-winning television and radio show host and producer, international speaker, author and creator of ExtraordinaryWomenTV.com. Her passion is to travel the world and write about it. Tweet to her at @Shannon_Skinner.
UNESCO wine regions of the world
Mosel, Germany
Many of the great wine regions of the world are designated UNESCO World Heritage Sites. I put together a list of them.
UNESCO World Heritage Sites – Wine Regions:
Bordeaux, France
Champagne France
Burgundy, France
Loire Valley, France
Middle Rhine River/Mosel, Germany
Piedmont, Italy
Pantelleria, Italy
Douro Valley, Portugal
Lavaux, Switzerland
Tokaj, Hungary
Georgia wine region
This may not a complete list because there is no “quick” way to get a list from UNESCO and requires digging around a bit more. I will add to it if I find more regions.
Photo credit: courtesy German Wine Institute
Visit these water sites to get your creative juices flowing
Water has a profound impact on us. The human body is mostly made of water, about 70 per cent, and we cannot survive more than than a few days without it. Coincidently, 70 per cent of the earth is covered with water. A large portion of the population lives on a waterfront. Tourists travel all over the earth to see or bathe in bodies of water.
photo courtesy @VisitBritain
Water has many benefits. It impacts our mood. It is cathartic and healing. We meditate and reflect next to it. We play and exercise along beaches and shorelines. We sail and cruise on big bodies of water. There are sacred, holy rivers that appear in religious texts, and are used for rites of passage, such as baptism and spreading ashes after death.
Poets write about it; consider R.W. Emerson’s brilliant poem, Water. It is a recurring theme in literature (e.g.) Avalon. In mythology and folklore, holy wells or sacred springs are entrances to other worlds. The fantastical “Fountain of Youth” for centuries has had believers thinking we can stop the aging process – if only!
What’s more, water boosts our creativity and inspiration. When we are inspired and feel invigorated, we can unleash our creative genius. This is key to following our heart’s desires and having a fulfilling life.
As a traveller, I like to seek out places near magical water sites where I can recharge my energy and get inspired for my creative work. It especially helps me get out of a rut. I’m not a beach bum, though. Mostly, I like to walk near the water, and meditate and reflect as I go. This kind of meditate walk has been the most effective way for me to dig deep into my creative reservoir.
Lake Geneva in Geneva at early dawn
If you are in a rut or want to find your creative juices again, consider travelling to a place near water where many others have found inspiration, and tap into that energy. Here are some ideas:
- Ganges River, India: the sacred and holy Ganges River is India’s longest river and has great importance in Hinduism. Millions of Hindus come here annually to bathe in the water to wash away their sins, and be freed from the death-rebirth cycle. The sacred, historical city of Varanasi along the Ganges banks is impressive, and people visit from all over to practice yoga and visit temples that are centuries old. It has inspired many creative works.
- Lake Geneva, Switzerland: Geneva, Switzerland, the “capital of peace,” sits on Lake Geneva, which is snuggled in the Alps and shared between Switzerland and France, Lake Geneva has a long history of inspiring artists. Mary Shelley’s novel Frankenstein got its inspiration here. Deep Purple’s song “Smoke on the Water” was sparked when a hotel on the lake caught fire. Charlie Chaplin, Audrey Hepburn and David Bowie lived nearby, and today singer/songwriter Shania Twain owns a castle in the area. Geneva’s promenade offers a pleasant experience to stroll and meditate.
- River Thames, London: the longest river in the U.K., the banks of the Thames in London, particularly, has for centuries drawn many artists, has rich history and, of course, is popular for rowing. There is something magical about walking along London’s riverbanks, where one can soak in the amazing historical architecture. When I lived in London in the late ‘80s, every Sunday morning, my ritual was to walk along the banks to meditate and reflect – a time I treasure.
- Lake Ontario, Toronto: For those who either cannot or would rather not travel to get the creative inspiration that water offers, we have, of course, a fabulous lake in our own backyard. Best of all, it is free.
Lake Geneva harbour during the day
Shannon Skinner is a Toronto-based, award-winning television and radio show host, inspirational speaker, author, and occasionally writes travel articles. For information on her speaking engagements and interviews, visit: www.ShannonSkinner.com and www.ExtrarodinaryWomenTV.com. Tweet to her at @Shannon_Skinner.
Photo credit: River Thames courtesy @VisitBritain. Lake Geneva photos are courtesy my Canon.
This article was originally published in Toronto Waterfront Magazine (winter 2017)
Will you be my Valentine?
Valentine’s Day is the day you either love or dread, depending on your relationship status, beliefs and income levels – and maybe how much you love chocolate. In years past, I have written about the importance of focusing on self-love and self-care on Valentine’s Day, regardless of your relationship status, rather than buying into the commercialization of the holiday, something I wholeheartedly believe.
Delicious Swiss chocolate truffles I discovered in Geneva, Switzerland
But on this Valentine’s Day, as a woman who is stubbornly independent and has bucked most traditions for most of her adult life, I feel something different. Of course I still believe in focusing on self-love and self-care on Valentine’s Day, as it is good for us to do so on every day of the year. On this holiday, though, I wish I had a Valentine. I have had wonderful Valentines shared with partners in years past, just as I have had several Valentine holidays alone. I have experienced both sides of the equation. So let’s just chalk up this fresh view to a case of a swinging pendulum.
This holiday, I wish I had a romantic Valentine who lives and breathes romance, who would send me the biggest most beautiful bouquet of roses, and who would show up at my door with a box of chocolates. Make that champagne-filled Swiss chocolate truffles, which I have been dreaming of since I tasted them on a recent trip to Geneva, Switzerland. I wish I had that Valentine who would fly me to an exotic island for the weekend and take me out for a romantic dinner at the most posh fine-dining restaurant, and maybe even surprise me with a little gift, like a strand of pearls. Make that Jackie Kennedy pearls. You know, like they do on, say, the Young & the Restless.
But, that is a fantasy and not my reality (at least not this year). And this is the problem with Valentine’s Day. It creates unrealistic fantasies and expectations. When these fantasies or expectations are not met, we get upset, hurt and even depressed. We become sad that we are alone, single, or not able to be with someone that would make the day feel complete or special.
I am reminded of the Law of the Many and the One, which I have learned through my work over the years with my mentor, Dr. John Demartini. It goes something like this: when you have the one, you want the many; when you have the many, you want the one. Take for instance, when you are married to the one, you fantasize about being single and available to the many; and when you’re single and tired of cycling through the many, you dream of being married to the one.
For this Valentine’s Day holiday, I thought, for fun, I would apply that law…
So today, instead of feeling sorry for myself because I don’t have that ONE special Valentine, I am going to reach out to all my MANY friends and ask: will you be my Valentine?
Love and light,
Shannon
Shannon Skinner is on a journey of following her heart and creating change in the world. She is a broadcaster, inspirational speaker, author and writer on many subjects including travel. Her inspiring keynotes are uplifting and transforming lives around the globe. To book her as a speaker for your next conference, contact shannon (at) shannonskinner.com. Watch her interviews with extraordinary women at www.ExtraordinaryWomenTV.com.
Follow me on Twitter: @Shannon_Skinner
Instagram: shannon.skinner
Blog: www.ShannonSkinner.com
Travel the world through all your senses
Ever since I was the age of 20, when after graduating from university and moving to the U.K., I have had perpetual wanderlust. My father once called me a rolling stone (as in a rolling stone gathers no moss) and a dear friend refers to me as a tumbleweed, though I’m not sure that sticks. What keeps me interested in seeing more of the world is that travel enables me to experience life through all of my senses, and I believe this has made me a well-rounded, better person.
Drummers perform at Rongali Bihu festival in Assam ’15. Yep, I’m a groupie.
Our lives are enriched by experiencing the sights, sounds, tastes, scents and textures of other cultures, as well as our own. Food, drink, music, dance, sports are all ways we can experience culture. By experiencing different cultures, we build bridges to connect and understand one another. We can only appreciate different cultures when we make a choice to experience them.
From my travels around the world, I have danced with the tribes in northeastern India (Assam) and saw living root bridges, remarkable natural architecture in the jungle, which was like stepping into a science fiction movie. I learned how to make tasty chocolate pots in Geneva, Switzerland. In Scotland, I traced my Stewart family roots, from the line of the noble Stewarts, which took me across the country to see castles, estates and farms.
I recall the pungent spices bellowing from the food stalls in Bangkok, and the salty sea air brushing my nose in the Caribbean. The image of the blue sea against crisp white buildings of Greece keeps me longing to return. In Venice, the taste of Italian ice cream while sitting in the piazza and watching beautiful people pass by. In Prague, the enchanting classical music in palaces and churches. The sweet voices of tribal children in northern Thailand as performed a traditional song and dance around a campfire. The roar of chants and cheers of passionate soccer fans in a stadium in England. The touch of the delicate woolen sweaters in the shops of Dublin, and the coolness of the stone wall of the oldest church in Scandinavia.
I remember swimming in salty springs in Turkey and dancing like a maniac in the clubs of Tenerife, and savouring the taste of fresh dates in Morocco. And hearing the monkeys playing in the trees in the earning mornings in Costa Rica gave me a case of the giggles.
Traveling the world has truly enriched my life. How has it enriched yours? I would love to hear from you. Leave me a comment or tweet to me at @Shannon_Skinner.
Read more about my travels at Shannon’s Travel Bag.
Some of this article is a re-purposed short excerpt from my book, “The Whispering Heart: Your Inner Guide to Creativity.”
Shannon Skinner is on a journey of following her heart and creating change in the world. She is a broadcaster, inspirational speaker, author and writer on the subjects of change and travel. Her inspiring keynotes are uplifting and transforming lives around the globe. To book her as a speaker for your next conference or professional development day, contact shannon (at) shannonskinner.com. Watch her interviews with extraordinary women at www.ExtraordinaryWomenTV.com.
Follow me on Twitter: @Shannon_Skinner
Instagram: shannon.skinner
Web: www.ShannonSkinner.com
