Take A Trip To Jersey

By Author: Bonny Kominek
Total Articles: 230
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If you''ve never visited it before, the small island of Jersey off the coast of Normandy could be just the place in which to take a relaxed and uncomplicated summer break. Although the general atmosphere and lifestyle of the inhabitants feels more European than British, the island is a British Crown Dependency and therefore part of the UK.

To start with, if you''re looking for a place to stay, there are a number of choices at your disposal. Renting a private house or apartment on the shore will allow you a degree of privacy unlike that which is offered in a hotel, although you might prefer the slightly cheaper option of one of Jersey''s numerous bed-and-breakfasts.

Once you''ve got your accommodation sorted, it could be good to take advantage of the island''s extensive recorded history. With evidence of early Iron and Bronze Age settlements, Jersey seems to have been populated for over a thousand years, and some Neolithic carvings are on display around and about.

Jersey''s artistic heritage isn''t limited to the antique: around the turn of the nineteenth century, and moving on into the twentieth, a wide ...
... array of painters and photographers were captured by the island''s calm and distance from post-Industrial Revolution mainland Britain. Consequently, a few small and generally privately run museums are on offer to visitors, such as the Sir Francis Cook and Barreau-Le Maistre Galleries.

Although the island is far from large, it does have an active opera house, built at the turn of the nineteenth century and restored at the start of this one. This is, however, only one part of the rich tradition of performing arts on the island, most of which is confined to folk music.

In terms of sporting reputation, Jersey is hindered by its size; however, while it is not granted international representation in games between the various countries within the UK, it does participate independently in the Commonwealth Games, where it has enjoyed some success.

Perhaps the most popular group of sports on the island, and easily the most exciting for visitors to go and watch, are the motorsports, of which there is some variety. Hill climbs, sand races and go-karting all feature prominently among both professional and amateur sportsmen, and the island even boasts as residents a handful of former F1 drivers.

The general pace of life in Jersey is completely calm, and is worlds apart from the crippling stress of most of the UK. It is furthermore far from dull, and there''s more going on than just offshore banking, cattle farming, or Bergerac. Visiting Jersey will allow you not only to spend some time in a calm and quiet part of the world, but also to enjoy the experience of the old and established island culture. Bonny Kominek is an experienced travel writer who seeks out alternative travel destinations and recommends Octopustravel.com for Jersey hotels.