One of the hidden gems of the Mediterranean, the tiny island of Corsica is a unique phenomenon. Settled over the years by almost every nation to have an interest in the region, its culture is now a fertile mixture of French and Italian – with a strong streak of Corsu, the island’s own native language.

Holidays in Corsica are either spent relaxing on the beaches that ring the island, or driving up into the maquis – the incredibly dense forested mountains that make up virtually the entire island’s landmass. The mountains and forests also mean that Corsica is teeming with game such as rabbits, deer and wild boar!

All this brings us to one of the greatest pleasures of a Corsican holiday – the island’s strong and delicious culinary tradition! As you might imagine, Corsican cuisine is a mixture of French and Italian, but with a distinctly individualistic slant based on the ingredients that can be sourced locally.

Cured meats and artisan cheeses are in great abundance on Corsica, thanks to the climate and the small-scale farming that takes place in the picturesque mountain villages. The wine and liqueurs of Corsica are phenomenal, with the local strains of grape being held in high regard by French epicures and the chestnuts which are ubiquitous throughout the forests of the island making delicious warming liqueurs – as well as seasoning everything from roast dishes to stews.

The average Corsican does not take the subject of food and drink lightly – as with the French, locals will take their time over a three-course lunch with wine. During holidays in Corsica, almost everyone who visits comes to be hugely impressed with the overall standard of the restaurants and cafés.

The various foodstuffs of Corsica break down into four basic categories:

Meats

Corsica is famous for its wild boar – usually described on the restaurant menu as ‘sanglier’. This will either be roasted with two veg (and perhaps some chestnut sauce), or accompanied by pasta or polenta. Other meats that are popular in Corsica include veal served with locally picked olives (veau aux olives), young goat (cabri de lait), partridge (pédrix), roast woodcock (bécasse) and the mouth-watering tianu – a slow-cooked game stew.

As mentioned, cured meats are also extremely popular, and most restaurants offer a selection of cured or smoked ham, salami, pig cheek, black pudding and liver sausage. Only Spain comes close!

Dairy Products

With dairy in Corsica being very much based on local cottage industries, the cheeses are unique and fascinating. Look out for the brocciu – ewe’s cheese – which is very tasty, and similar in style to goat’s cheese. A word of warning, though. If you see ‘fromage de tête’ (‘head cheese”) on the menu, be aware that this is not dairy – it’s a dish made from seasoned pigs’ brains! Of course, if that’s your thing, feel free to tuck in…

Seafood

The other thing that Corsica has a lot of, apart from forests, is coastline, so the seafood selection is pretty good. Sadly, this does not come especially cheap due to the dwindling fish stocks in the Mediterranean region. However, this does not stop it being delicious. Crayfish (langoustine), red mullet (rouget) and sea bream (loup de mer) are quite common, while trout from the fresh inland streams is always a good option for those averse to red meat.

Desserts

If you can still face another thing after being stuffed with a traditional Corsican feast, then you will be looking at a milk or egg-based dessert, usually cheesecake, or flambéed soft cheese tart (fiadone). Chestnuts make another appearance in beignets – sweet doughnuts, which are sometimes filled with cheese.

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With so many amazing amusement parks around the world, it’s good to know which ones rise above the crowd to become truly wonderful experiences.

This ‘magnificent seven’ represents a global selection of parks which combine clever theming with top quality rides and a great visitor experience. With many offering on-site accommodation, you could even plan your next holiday around one of these entertainment Meccas!

Universal Studios Islands of Adventure, Florida, USA

An epic theme park split into seven islands, each with a different theme. The entrance to the park brings visitors into the Port of Entry island, where a huge variety of shops and restaurants can be found. Guests can then explore the rest of the islands, with themes such as Marvel Super Heroes, Toon Lagoon and Jurassic Park. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter was added to the park in 2010 and has proved a huge draw for visitors.

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Europa Park, Germany

One of the busiest theme parks in the world, Europa Park welcomed 4.25 million guests in 2011. Located in the south-west of Germany, Europa Park is split into fifteen themed areas corresponding to various European countries, as well as other areas such as Children’s World and the Enchanted Forest. 54 rides, including the Silver Star hyper coaster make this a world highlight for thrill seekers.

Fuji-Q Highland, Japan

Home to the world’s steepest roller coaster, the Takabisha, which has an insane 121 degree freefall. Fuji-Q Highland is a Mecca for roller coaster fans, and also offers the ’4^th dimension’ roller coaster Eejanaika, which has seats which rotate 360 degrees as the coaster speeds around the track.

Ferrari World, Dubai

Ferrari World boasts the world’s fastest roller coaster, the Formula Rossa, which reaches speeds of up to 149mph. The rest of the Ferrari-themed park includes attractions such as the V12 log flume ride through a recreation of a Ferrari engine, as well as a variety of experiences which give visitors a glimpse into the history, manufacturing and racing divisions of the illustrious company.

Cedar Point

Cedar Point ties with Six Flags Magic Mountain for having the most rides in one park. 75 rides, including 17 roller coasters, mean that visitors to Cedar Point have a huge variety of experiences to choose between. The park has won the “Best Amusement Park in the World” award from magazine Amusement Today for the past fourteen years straight!

Terra Mítica, Benidorm, Spain

Not the biggest or flashiest park in the world, but a much-loved traditional theme park for families enjoying their Benidorm holidays. Areas are organised into seven areas themed around various cultures, such as Greece and Iberia, and 25 rides range from water rapids to the Magnus Collossus wooden roller coaster with a double drop and reaching speeds of up to 92kmph.

Alton Towers, UK

The most popular theme park in the UK, Alton Towers is located in the grounds of a semi-ruined country house which was once the seat of the Earl of Shrewsbury. The house and gardens form a beautiful addition to the resort, rides and other attractions, which include Nemesis – one of the world highest-rated inverted roller coasters – and Oblivion, which was the world’s first ever vertical-drop roller coaster.

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Did We Miss Any?

Have we missed your favourite theme park or thrilling ride? Let us know by leaving a comment.

Holidays and holidaymakers have long been one of the mainstays of New York City’s economy, alongside Wall Street and its status as a shopaholic’s paradise. However, the city government now wants to make tourism even more important to the Big Apple over the next few years, with the city fathers determined to see holidays bring in $70 billion of revenue by 2015, attracting some 55 million visitors over this three-year period.

Surely this ambitious-sounding target shouldn’t be too hard to achieve, since New York holidays have been increasingly popular for many years. Visitors from the UK and Europe love to touch down in the metropolis and experience for themselves the iconic sights and sounds that they have seen over and over again on the big and small screens.

Of course we can point to the well-worn tourist attractions of NYC – spectacles such as the Empire State Building, the Statue of Liberty and Times Square are rightly famous and continue to pull in millions of visitors every year. But one of the truly wonderful things about New York, like London, is its sheer scale and diversity. Not only do you have the central perks of Manhattan, but the different characters of the other four boroughs – Brooklyn, Queens, Bronx and Staten Island. These contain many quirky little attractions, as does Manhattan itself, that are well worth a look when visiting the city – especially the free ones! Here are a few to whet the appetite…

The Sopranos Sites tour, Manhattan-New Jersey

Fans of the iconic 90s TV show will love this funny and fascinating guided coach tour, which whisks visitors out the city to the neighbouring state of New Jersey, to visit key locations from the show – including the Bada Bing! Hosted by a wisecracking bit-part actor from the show itself, you are treated to a Cannoli pastry and the chance to meet a mystery star from the “family” Fahgeddaboudit!

The Louis Armstrong House Museum, Queens

Hop on the Subway to the borough of Queens and pay a visit to the jazz legend’s former home, now a museum/shrine maintained with care by New York City Department of Cultural Affairs and Queens College. Marvel at Armstrong’s music room and many souvenirs of a life on the road, and discover some things you may not have known about him – such as his obsession with laxatives!

Staten Island Ferry, Lower Manhattan-Staten Island

New Yorkers may view this ferry as a routine part of commuter transport, but to the visitor it is a great way to grab a grandstand view of both New York’s working waterfront and the Statue of Liberty. Best of all, it’s absolutely free, helping visitors make the most of their cheap holidays in the city. The ferry leaves every half an hour or so and the journey takes another half hour. Hop off and explore Staten Island, or simply relax and return to Manhattan, it’s up to you.

Coney Island, Brooklyn

Until restoration efforts began in the mid-1980s, the Coney Island beachfront was a symbol of decay in New York, with its eerie boarded-up fairground stalls and dilapidated rollercoaster. Nowadays it is a thriving summer attraction, with 10,000 or more visitors every day. Try some of the boardwalk’s thrill rides, such as the aforementioned Cyclone rollercoaster or the double-ring Wonder Wheel.

Top of the Rock Observation Deck, Manhattan

If you don’t fancy the massive queues at the Empire State Building, but still want to gaze upon New York’s skyline from on high, this six-level observatory atop the Art Deco skyscraper at 30 Rockefeller Plaza is perfect, with the upper decks some 850 feet above street level. From the decks you can see landmarks such as the Chrysler Building, Brooklyn Bridge and a commanding view of Central Park.

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