Michigan recreation and places of interest
Michigan owes its scenic and recreational advantages to its central location on the Great Lakes and to thousands of inland lakes threaded by thousands of miles of streams. The Circle Drive around Lake Superior is an especially scenic route through the forest lands of the Upper Peninsula. The rugged landscapes common to this part of Michigan are particularly impressive in the Porcupine Mountains and at the waterfalls of the swift Tahquamenon River.
Michigan has well-developed facilities for year-round recreation. The lakeshores and riverbanks, lined with cabins, resorts, camps, and parks, attract millions of vacationers each year. There are more than 40 downhill ski areas and four times that number of organized cross-country ski trails. Many of the best alpine slopes are in the north, but there are ski slopes near Detroit and in the southwest. The northern two-thirds of the state has excellent snow for winter snowmobiling, and the coastal dunes and beaches along the Great Lakes provide summer attractions.
Michigan Travel Guide Introduction
Water. It’s the reason European explorers and fur traders arrived in Michigan long before they got to many other parts of the Midwest. With coastline on four of the five Great Lakes, Michigan was directly on the canoe routes that were the superhighways of the 1600s.
Water is also the primary reason travelers go to Michigan today. While the state has vast forests, stretches of farmland, large cities and small towns, it is water that separates Michigan from the other states — both physically and in terms of vacation opportunities. In addition to being surrounded by the small “seas” of the Great Lakes, Michigan has 11,000 inland lakes.
Monastries
There are several Monasteries within easy traveling distance of the main town. The Preobrazhenski Monastery lies about 6.5k north of Veliko Tarnovo and is the regions largest.
Although originally built in 1360 it has been rebuilt several times over the years. The views are excellent after the hike up the hill. Dryanovo Monastery has monks in residence and is located approx 30k south west of VT – set in a secluded spot at the bottom of limestone cliffs.
Arbanassi
Arbanassi is located just outside Veliko Tarnovo and is a great place for an afternoon trip. Today it is a holiday home location for some of Bulgaria’s rich and famous but it is a place steeped in history.
Some of the highlights open to visitors are the 16th Century Nativity Church, 16th Century Archangel Michael & Gabriel’s Church and the 17th Century Konstantsalievn House.
Veliko Turnovo Accommodation
Veliko Turnovo accommodation is available to suit all budgets, with new places to stay opening up all the time. We have decided that travelVT only list places that they have personaly stayed at; whilst no doubt we all have different tastes you can be assured that all these options are clean and offer value for money within there respective price brackets.
Low Cost Options
There is an excellent range of low cost accommodation available in Veliko Turnovo. As well as the traditional backpacker hostel accommodation there are also numerous guesthouses or ‘homestay’ type options. Accommodation in this section ranges from 5 – 15 Euros.
Activities Around Veliko Turnovo
There are a whole range of activities around VT to keep you entertained during your stay in and around Veliko Turnovo. Whether you are looking for action or something rather more sedate there is something for you; as a family or as an individual traveler!
Here we offer you just a taste of some of the activities available, in time we will add more detail to help you with planning some of these activities during your stay.
Bulgarian History Timeline
2007 Bulgaria joins the EU
2004 Bulgaria joins NATO
About Bulgaria
Like any other county, there is alot to learn about Bulgaria. We will not attempt to be a comprehensive resource. However in time we will be adding a recommended book list that you may want to consider if you want to carry out some further reading.
Here we just want to offer you a flavor and provide a little background information before you start researching your trip!
Sofia City Guide
You could be forgiven for thinking you may have made an error of judgment as you travel from Sofia International Airport to the city centre. The roads are over crowded and the buildings lining the roads hardly inspiring. Depending on when you arrive there is every chance of witnessing a lingering smog. However, if you give the place a chance and wait until you get into the centre you might start to change your mind.
Sofia is an emerging capital city, and whilst it arguably lacks an abundance of the delightful architecture that you might find in other Eastern European capitals, it has its own attractions. Development is happening all over the place and this can be seen by the emergence of many new bars and trendy shops. There are some great shopping opportunities along Bul Vitosha with all the designer labels and prices to match. There are some excellent restaurants in the city where cuisine of all kinds can be found, along with nightly entertainment options to suit all tastes
Tsarevets Fortress
The Tsarevets Fortress is one of the biggest attractions in Bulgaria. As you wander through the old town the fortress will come into view, sitting majestically upon Tsarevets hill. The fortress was first constructed by the Byzantines between the 5th and 7th centuries AD. Throughout the following centuries it was destroyed and rebuilt. The fortress reaching its peak in the 13th century when Tarnovgrad became the capital of the second empire of Bulgaria, before being destroyed again by the Turks in 1393.
Today not much remains of the fortress other than the patriarch’s complex and the Baldwin Tower. The patriarch’s complex, which is also known as the Church of the Blessed was built in approximately 1235. Today the church has been extensively restored and now contains some remarkable modern murals depicting some of Bulgaria’s history. It is well worth the hike up to the Church of the Blesses, if not only to appreciate the views of the old town from here. Leaflets can collected from the Tourist Information Centre in VT that will provide further historical details of the Tsarevets Fortress.