by Andre Sanchez

Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, and you can always be sure of  traditional Scots hospitality and welcome if you decide on an Edinburgh vacation. You will never be short of things to do or places to see, and the city is the perfect mix of the old and the new.

Edinburgh has many superlatives, such as the Forth Bridge, at 1.5 miles the longest cantilever bridge in the world when completed in 1890, and still second to Quebec, and also the Forth Road Bridge, the longest suspension bridge in Europe in 1964. It also boasts the Scott Monument, built in honor of Sir Walter Scott, that can be ascended by means of an internal staircase to provide a fabulous panoramic view of the city from the top.

However, there is more to Edinburgh that just bridges and monuments. Whatever you enjoy doing on vacation, Edinburgh has it.  Miles of beach close by, a wide variety of sports, cuisine to die for and any form of entertainment imaginable. Visit Edinburgh during one of the many festivals and you can enjoy what this breathtakingly beautiful city has to offer while also partaking in the events of your choice. 

The International Festival is a celebration of a wide range of arts and cultural events, while the Edinburgh Fringe that is run concurrently provides and alternative view of the arts and comedy. The Edinburgh Military Tattoo is one of the better known events that take place during the festival that runs throughout August.

The International Science Festival and the Edinburgh Book Festival are just two others of a number of events run right throughout the year. While on the subject of culture, Edinburgh also boasts a large number of museums and art galleries, from the Children’s Museum in the famous High Street to the Scottish National Museum close to the University, and from the Scottish Portrait Gallery in Queen Street to the National Gallery of Modern Art set in extensive park land.

It is the Castle, however, for which Edinburgh is most famous, with its famed One O’clock Gun, Mons Meg and the Stone of Destiny all open to visitors. The castle overlooks the beautiful Princes Street, named after the sons of King George III after he had complained about its original name of St Giles Street, Edinburgh’s patron saint.  This famous street is lined with shops on one side and the Gardens on the other, a large expanse of green land separating the New Town from the castle and the Old Town, at one time an expanse of water, the Nor’ Loch which for centuries had been the trash dump of Edinburgh.

There are other famous streets in the city other than Princes Street, one being Rose Street which is the place to go if you are feeling thirsty (or ‘drouthy’ as Scots call it!).  Here you find the best in Scots hospitality, including the Rose Street Brewery that, until recently, brewed its own beer.  Sadly, the brewery is now a restaurant.  Rose Street is packed full of pubs and eateries of every kind imaginable.

Another famous street is referred to as ‘The Bridges’.  These are two bridges running from the new to the old part of Edinburgh, although you would not know that they were bridges since the arches have been built up with tenement houses, and the lower parts of the city are now underground vaults and streets. This is where the ghosts of Edinburgh reside, and while it is now a commercial source of revenue from interested tourists, many sightings are nevertheless reported and it is brave person that will stay in the vaults overnight. Edinburgh has many famous ghosts!

If you are a keen sportsman, the city boasts two senior soccer teams, and is the home of Murrayfield, Scotland’s international rugby union stadium. However, it is golf that draws most people to Edinburgh.  It is the ideal base for a golfing vacation in Scotland. There are no less than 18 golf courses in the city itself and about 12 within 10 miles of the center. Gullane, Muirfield, St. Andrews and Carnoustie are all within an hour’s drive, so you have three of Scotland’s British Open Championship courses on your doorstep plus in excess of 20 more within 20 miles.

The hospitality in Edinburgh is second to none, and you can experience traditional Scots entertainment at a wide variety of venues end events suitable for residents and visitors alike. From the unmitigated luxury of Prestonfield House Hotel to any one of the hundreds of friendly guest houses and bead and breakfast establishments, you will be make welcome in this cosmopolitan city, whatever your nationality.  Edinburgh is very accessible with an international airport, easy motorway access and a direct train service from London and other major UK cities.

You will never forget your Edinburgh vacation, nor the Scots hospitality your received, and you will likely return.  You will need a year before you have seen all there is to see in Edinburgh.

Enjoy Scots Hospitality with an Edinburgh Vacation was originally published at http://www.globallifenow.com