Why Melbourne Is the Vacay Destination You Shouldn’t Miss

While deciding to go away for the weekend is easy, deciding where to go is not. With so many great places to go and so little time to do it, you’ll want to go where you can experience everything and anything, without having to go to and from, a one-stop vacay destination so to speak. And there is no place that can be considered the ultimate on-stop vacay destination than Melbourne, Australia. Whether you want to challenge yourself by learning a new language, studying new culture or simply finding yourself, Melbourne, with all its many attractions is the place you’ll want to go. rnOf course, in addition to tons of shopping and sightseeing that you can do in any other place in the world as well, Melbourne simply goes beyond more than just giving you excuses to spend your hard-earned cash. Especially on the weekends, Melbourne transforms from a busy city to a vibrant melting pot, a place where cultures don’t clash and collide but connect. It opens itself up to everybody and caters to whatever you are into – arts (free art exhibitions and art shows by local artists down at Victoria), food and wine (you can try your hand at being a Master Chef at any of the gourmet restaurants at the South Melbourne and Pahran Markets), sports (get a kick out of going on Melbourne sports tours with guided tours in cities that play hosts to Australia’s most popular sporting events) or maybe just simply going on day trips that promise a whole day of fun with the whole family like trips to Yarra Valley, one of Australia’s premiere wine regions. Check out www.experienceyarravalley.com.au for more information about this picturesque wine region. rnPlanning a trip to Melbourne these days is easy when you do it online. Most Melbourne weekend activity websites are chock full of tips and suggestions about what you can do by yourself or if with your family, friends or special someone. From simple sightseeing to winery tours complete with free wine tasting and lunch, there’s more than enough to fill up your day as far as getting your fill of adventure and experiencing new things are concerned, as you will be able to see for yourself when you log on to sites like www.experienceyarravalley.com.au. rnA trip to Melbourne isn’t complete without a side trip to Yarra Valley. With very friendly locals to serve as your guide, touring this exquisite piece of heaven is an experience you won’t forget. Get your gourmet on with visits to quaint cafes and stores like the Innocent Bystander and Uncle Fred and Aunty Val's Lolly Shop and Produce Store. The Innocent Bystander prides itself on an ever-changing menu made from the fresh produce the valley is renowned around the world for while the Aunty Val’s Lolly Shop and Produce Store is where your kids can get their fill of both the best local and international standard sweets like coconut ice, aniseed humbugs and the highly-recommended cinnamon and clove brandy balls. If you’re into nature and love animals a lot, you can check out zoos, parks and farms like the Big Bouquet which is an alpaca stud and flower farm, where you can get to know more about alpacas and take in the wonderful smell of gerberas and anthuriums that are popular in that region. rnOf course if you’re planning a romantic weekend getaway, Yarra Valley offers winery tours that you and your special someone can check out, to either scour for a wedding venue or simply enjoy some time alone. The tours not only give you an idea of how the best wines are made, but also free lunch and tastings of their best produce…not one to be missed but certainly to be very moderate about. So when you plan your weekend getaways, make sure you don’t miss out on catching some serious scenery that will instantly relax your mind, body and soul. Go ahead and check out Melbourne and what it has to offer.