The Loire Valley

This weekend brought two visitors to our home. My brother-in-law and his wife. I was particularly excited to see them for two reasons. One, I've spent very little time with my new sister-in-law since her marriage into the family and was looking forward to getting to know her better; and two, with them we went to the Loire Valley and went castle hopping. We had an amazing time (despite the challenges of taking a two and a four year old). My favorite site was the chateau Chanonceaux.

It's a graceful, feminine even, castle that spans across a river. It's full of larger than average rooms for the time-period, wonderful tapestries, and a ball room that sits right on top of the river, as seen here:


It is surrounded by carefully manicured gardens, and even has a hedge maze that my four year old managed to hide in while we fretfully looked for her and called her name. Luckily, very luckily she was quickly found, but not before thoroughly scaring me and her father.


Inside each room was an amazing fresh floral display the likes of which I've never seen before. In a word--Spectacular. Here are two of my favorites--keep in mind that they were both over 3 feet tall so the pictures don't do them justice.



All in all, we had a lovely day, and would highly suggest this as a destination if castles are your thing.


So, Internet....What are you summer plans? Are you, like me, going to be inundated with family? Or will you be traveling somewhere new, or somewhere familiar? I'm truly interested, so do tell.