The Missouri Botanical Garden: an Oasis in St Louis
As is the case with most major American cities, St Louis, Missouri, underwent rapid industrialisation over the course of the twentieth century. However, unlike many of these cities, St Louis also managed to preserve a large amount of its natural parkland: today, it is home to just under three million people, yet it houses a staggering total of 105 open parks. These include Forrest Park, which is one of the world's largest urban parks and is even larger than New York's Central Park; the Saint Louis Zoological Park; and the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial, a 91 acre national park situated on the riverfront along which the city was first established in 1764. However, the most interesting and perhaps the most widely applauded of St Louis' many parks is the Missouri Botanical Gardens.
One of the oldest of its kind in the United States, the Missouri Botanical Gardens is a National Historic Landmark and has continued to live up to its mission statement - "To discover and share knowledge about plants and their environment, in order to preserve and enrich life," - since its inception in 1859. Founded by Henry Shaw, a nineteenth century botanist and philanthropist from Sheffield, England, it is often affectionately known as 'Shaw's Garden', and is today one of the leading botanical research sites in the world. When Shaw built his estate, the Tower Grove House, in 1851, he saw the great potential of turning the grounds surrounding his estate into a botanical garden, and spent years planning and funding its development.
Now stretching over 79 acres, its horticultural exhibits have been constantly updated since its initial creation. In 1882, Linnean House, which is thought to be the oldest continually operated greenhouse west of the Mississippi River, was added. This century more additions have been made: in 1915, the Gladney Rose Garden became a new feature; in 1977, 'Seiwa-en', the largest Japanese Garden in North America, was established. This was joined in 1995 by the Grigg Nanjing Friendship Chinese Garden, designed by architect Yong Pan and characterised by gifts from the Chinese city of Nanjing, St Louis' sister city.
In recent years, the gardens have played host to a diverse cross-section of events: these include Chinese Culture Days in May, the Japanese Festival on Labour Day weekend and the Best of Missouri Market, which features more than 120 food producers and craftsmen from all corners of the state. These annual events have helped put the Missouri Botanical Garden on the map of essential places to visit in St Louis, and every year more than three quarters of a million people flock to view its beautiful sights. Accommodation is not a problem as there are a variety of hotels located in the vicinity, including the spacious two-room suites provider, Homewood Suites in St. Louis-Chesterfield. However, when marvelling at the beauty of the Missouri Botanical Garden, it is always important to keep in mind the importance of its "unseen garden", the internationally recognised research infrastructure that has been the key to its survival all these years.


3 Best-Kept Clothing Store Secrets in Paris
Oh mon Dieu! Not all of us visiting Paris have the wherewithal to spend $1000 on this irresistible couture blouse, or the all-time favorite little black dress. Let us be realistic: going on a shopping spree in Paris can be hard on our finance. Fashionistas of the world, let's sin no more, and shop smartly from now on!

Expensive? A matter of area, mostly
Those of you who visited Paris already know that from a shopper's perspective, the city is divided in broad sections where stores of the same trade tend to congregate. A mosaic of many colors, tastes, and price ranges.
Say, you are on the Boulevard Saint Germain, in the upper part of the Saint Germain des Prés district. Designer clothing stores, sidewalk cafés and restaurants abound in this area. Draw nearer the river Seine and your footsteps lead you where the art galleries cluster together. Walk a bit to the east, towards rue de Buci, the clothing stores become less expensive.
From Saint-Germain, walk up the Rue de Rennes, towards the Montparnasse area. You'll be crossing the Rue Du Four where even more expensive clothiers line up the facades. But continue on to the Saint Sulpice metro station, around which many clothing stores offer cheaper garments and accessories.

Sales season in Paris
In another area of the city, not too far from the old Opera house, the Boulevard Haussmann became the homestead of the department stores over a century ago. The Printemps store was built there in 1865, followed closely by the Galeries Lafayette, in 1893. Department stores are not unlike Ali Baba's treasure cave: clothes, shoes, jewelry, watches, accessories, perfumes spread on a five-story high, gigantic floor space.
Department stores offer a very convenient way of shopping for fashion: thousands of upscale items can be found over acres of floor space. This includes apparel, accessories, perfumes, cosmetics, watches, shoes, and other goodies. A great selection, but bargains are far and between except during the sales seasons.
The latter are a tightly regulated business in France. There are two sales seasons, winter and summer. Their starting dates are a matter of administrative decrees, and each of the two seasons last six weeks only. The Parisian winter sales season starts at the end of January, the summer one begins in late June.

Designer depot bargains
But outside the sales seasons, shoppers looking for bargain-basement prices and irresistible clearances must look elsewhere. It is my experience that the best bargain prices on clothing offered in Paris are found at designer depots.
Though it has become a brand name in North America, a designer depot is in fact a form of commerce. People like you and me bring in clothes we don't want to wear anymore, and get a little money from the shop owner who will resell our garments for a little more money to other people.
I can hear your blasé comments: "Tcha! Consignment stores! Thrift shops!..." Well, in Paris, designer depots aren't exactly your regular Salvation Army-type stores. Not at all.
Parisian designer depots are usually owned and managed by ladies with a flair for fashion. A number of them have a professional experience in the fashion industry, and if invited to do so, most of them can tell you right away which dress fits you well.... and which skirt makes you look like you dressed with a potato bag.
In 'designer depot", there is the magic word 'designer'. Parisian designer depots offer designer and couture clothes at deep, deep, deep discounts. And mind you, clothes in quasi perfect condition. Clothes worn only once. Well, maybe twice.
If you come to them with your regular hoodies, or your last season tennis shoes, or your mall-shopped polo shirt for that matter, do not expect to be welcomed. Expect rejection with a disapproving stare instead.

That's the address, silly!
Now not all designer depots were created equal, and where you go shopping for practically-perfect-in-every-way designer clothes is the true measure of your inside knowledge of the city.
I would like to recommend you three 'petites adresses' [the French for 'best-kept-secret places'] I selected amongst a host of others.
For those of you, ladies, who like the classic look, 'Priscilla' is the shop for you. Priscilla is lady who owns the place. She reveres such signature names as Yves Saint Laurent, Max Mara, Kenzo, Chistian Dior, and Sonya Rykiel. Her prices range from €60 for a skirt, to €75 for a jacket, to €130 for a lady's suit. Priscilla advises you to rummage around, and come to her place with an open mind. The shop is located at 4 rue Mouton- Duvernet, in the 14 th district. The nearest metro station is Mouton-Duvernet. Its opening hours are between 4:00 pm and 7:00 pm on Monday, and between 11:00 am and 7:00 pm from Tuesday to Saturday with a one-hour break at 1:30 pm.
My next address, 'Le Jupon Rouge', is situated at 9 rue de Rochechouart in the 9th district. The owner, Tania, describes here designer depot as "colorful, ethnic but not hippie, and certainly not classical in style". Tania offers a selection of up and coming French designers such as Bali Barret (a fencing-style vest for €45, cashmere blend cardigans for €45 to €100) and Vanessa Bruno (wool jackets, €90). She also carries more established signatures such as Agnès B (her signature black jacket is offered at €50), and vintage Ungaro blouses for €45. Ladies looking for shoes can fall for pairs of Stephane Kelian low-cut Cuban boots (€100), Repetto ballerina shoes (€40), or vintage low-heel horse-riding boots (€40-70). Tania opens her doors from Tuesday to Saturday, from 10:30 am to 7:30 pm with a one-hour lunch break at 1:30 pm.
In a totally different style, Griff-Troc is the designer depot you need to lose yourself into when you want to go chic-chic-chic. The owner, Beatrice, chose to specialize in perennial, classic basics in perfect condition. Chic has a heftier price tag, of course, but on the upside Griff-Troc offers brand names for 15-30% of boutique prices. On the shelves at the time I wrote this article, Beatrice had a Chanel suit for €1000 (vs. €5000 at Chanel's), a brand-new Chloe bag for €800 (instead of €1200), several astounding evening dresses priced between €1200 and €1500 (Chloe, Dior, D&G, Valentino), and Hermès silk scarfs on offer for only €150. She maintains a full selection of bags, jewels, and fragrances. Chic classic never dies, who cares about whether your Chanel suit is this season's or not? The busy boutique is located in the posh section of the 17 th district, at 119 Boulevard Malesherbes. The nearest metro stations are Villiers and Monceau. Its opening hours are between 10:30 am and 7:00 pm, from Monday to Saturday.

More shopping tips to come
I will come back to you with other names and addresses in future articles on this topic. I personally enjoy shopping these boutiques, and based on the number of smartly dressed women I spot there, I am not alone in the belief that such bargains cannot be let pass. Till then, I salute all unrepentant fashion shoppers!

About the Author:
Phil Chavanne has written numerous articles on Parisian best-kept-secrets. His free travel guide offers many tips and advices to help you experience Paris to the fullest on your next trip to the French capital. Paris-Eiffel-Tower-News.com also gives you ways to save on booking a Paris hotel.


Thinking About a Daytona Beach Vacation?
Dear Future Daytona Beach Visitor,
Congratulations on deciding to head to the Sunshine State for your next vacation. Everyone knows that this fun-filled peninsula is well-equipped to show visitors a good time, so be assured that your much-needed getaway is certain to leave your muscles relaxed and your worry lines smoothed away into a week of smiles. Have you taken a good look at all that there is to see and do in Daytona Beach, the lucky focus of your upcoming holiday?
It's probably stating the obvious, but you'll be spending a good amount of time on the beach during this vacation. That's what you've been envisioning as you trudge through the grocery store and sit through yet another conference call, and it's about time to make your daydreams come to life. Daytona is blessed in this department, thanks to 23 miles of shoreline and free access to every bit of it. Like a giddy child, you'll probably find yourself a bit overwhelmed when you first glimpse the crests of so many sparkling waves intent upon washing your cares away.
Several parks with well-maintained facilities and ample parking can be found throughout the area, so pack a beach bag filled with paperbacks, sunscreen, and whatever else you'll need to while away the day by the sea. Stroll along South Atlantic Avenue until you find a good-looking spot, set up your towel and umbrella, and you're good to go. Volleyball games and snow cone stands are likely to tear you away from your high-priority napping and swimming, but you probably won't mind too much.
Another obvious draw that gets Daytona visitors' hearts pumping is the motor sports scene. Proudly known as "The Birthplace of Speed," this town knows how to jump start a regular day and get things moving. Watch the superstars of the track at the International Speedway or hit the Go Karts for your own brand of adrenaline seeking. Listening to the thunder of stock cars and hopping into a simulated race will allow you the luxury of a few thrills without putting yourself in harm's way, and you'll definitely appreciate the chance to exorcise some of the frustrations that have built up during all those hours spent stuck in traffic.
For further frivolity, dear traveler, check out Daytona's trolley boats, manatee cruises, parasailing adventures, hot air balloon rides and even a chocolate factory. Tours are available of all kinds, gearing towards nature, history, and simple, uninterrupted amusement, and will likely keep you and your companions on your toes. A word of advice, allow yourself plenty of time so as to avoid the dreaded last day of vacation blues for as long as possible.
If scary stories always delighted you, or at least caught your attention with their tendency to bring on goose bumps and cathartic laughter, be sure to join a ghost tour that will share Daytona's spooky secrets along a downtown route. You'll pick up some useful knowledge about the city as well, but don't be surprised if you end up feeling the prickly pleasures of being just a little bit scared.
If you've yet to start mentally preparing for your trip to Daytona, perhaps you need to hear a little more. The Boardwalk, beach bingo, skydiving, horseback riding, a casino, and an ice skating rink will compete for your attention, as will a plethora of shopping and dining options. This should be enough to get you started, so let your mind wander for a moment and see if you can't start to feel the sun warming your face and the sand tickling your feet.
For one final visual image that will start the ball rolling towards realizing this vacation instead of continuing just to yearn for it, picture a vacation rental. If you've never gone this route before, prepare for a lodging situation that will only add to your entire experience. Little details like décor and extra amenities like a fully equipped kitchen will make you feel welcomed with open arms into not just a temporary room, but a temporary home. Daytona Beach Vacation Rentals come in all shapes and sizes, and are worth investigating if you want to make this a distinctive and enchanting vacation for you and your traveling companions. Start planning today for the trip you know you want, need, and deserve.
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