http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/ Welcome to Been there. Your tips on the places you know - that you love, live in or have just visited - are what make this guide. http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/20082
In late August 2008, the owners opened another restaurant, Bristrot et Chocolat, which, although I haven't tried it, looks fantastic. It's located on Rue de la Râpe, near the Cathédrale de Notre Dame.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/20082 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/19429 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/19429 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/19040 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/19040 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/18904
You can eat here, joining dozens of families picnicking on the sloping park ground adjacent to this weekly festival. The Sicilian style restaurant ‘La Medusa’ serves a Wednesday dinner that has been cooked up using only produce purchased fresh that day from the stalls in the market (book ahead).

Within a short radius Columbia City has a pub (great local microbrews), a bookstore (Bookworm Exchange), a gallery, restaurants, a bakery (which serves coffee and treats), a cinema, as well as ethnic and independent shops that beg to be browsed.

If you are in town on the first Friday of the month then come along to ‘Beatwalk’ which starts kicking in around seven in the evening; many of the places described above are open until late, each with their own band, one five dollar payment gives you the freedom to wander from venue to venue people-watching and relaxing (you might even enjoy the music too).

It’s a lot of fun and not set up with tourists in mind, many of my neighbours arrange to meet up or just wander down knowing they will bump into friends. The 'south end' is the 'social end'.

If you have a car (or ride Metro 39) go down to Seward Park and walk the perimeter path that follows the lakeside around this peninsula, looking across towards the downtown skyscrapers, it is hard to imagine that you are in a major US city. Within Seward Park there is old growth with the biggest Douglas fir inside city limits, bald eagles nest here and one particular nest is easily viewed from the internal drive that goes up by the amphitheatre.

I have lived in Seattle since 1989 and I love the south end, it doesn’t get the ‘travel show’ attention of other more northerly neighbourhoods but it’s a quiet gem of an experience waiting to happen.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/18904 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/18747 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/18747 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/18396
Beautiful space - an amazing gothic Victorian building with great views, 11 acres of land, organic walled garden (lots of the food is grown on site) and a farm - and a really good atmosphere. It's three miles from Charmouth and Lyme Regis for seaside fossils and swimming. You can also go there as a volunteer - help out in return for free board and lodging.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/18396 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/18306 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/18306 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/18152 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/18152 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/18065 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/18065 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/18033 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/18033 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/17871 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/17871 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/17399 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/17399 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/13140 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/13140 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/12842
The best veggie BLT ever!

Loads of great dishes, massive portions.

Creamy wild mushroom and brie bake - mmmm!]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/12842 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/12829 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/12829 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/12292
A grass-roofed visitor centre houses the Grass Roof Cafe which is by far the finest vegetarian restaurant in Ireland and also has a really well stocked eco-shop selling fresh vegetables from the gardens, books, nice deli products and gardening supplies.

The Organic Centre runs courses throughout the year on subjects as diverse as micro-hydro energy production to basket weaving and humanure composting as well as many courses on gardening and cooking with organic vegetables and seaweeds and wholefoods.

There is a lovely relaxed atmosphere there and the staff are friendly and knowledgable. It's only €5 to get in and this is refunded if you eat at the restaurant.

Children are welcome and have great fun in the willow tunnels. Free kids activities are available in August.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/12292 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/12200 We had a fantastic lunch there and then went for a tremendous walk on Long Mynd and decided to take a later train back so that we could sample the puddings with tea. There is also a garden to eat in.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/12200 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/12088 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/12088 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/12084 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/12084 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/11887
Bon Cape for it grows its grapes organically and produce South Africa's only wines with Michelangelo stars (see www.boncaporganic.co.za).

And Soekershof Walkabout, Mazes and Botanical Gardens because also this farm does not apply fertilisers and other chemicals in the cultivation of its unique collection of plants. Above all this place is a huge leg stretching entertainment area with an educational twist.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/11887