A quiet holiday around Istanbul

I found a newspaper article about Istanbul countryside. This is:

Ditching the guidebook to explore the green and pleasant lands around Istanbul.

Excerpts:

... Just two hours away from the former capital of the Roman Empire, serene Lake Sapanca's welcoming 40km shoreline tempts picnicing travellers and boutique spa hotels make for a beautiful overnight stay.

And just west from where the Sakayra river meets the Black Sea is Acarlar Longozu, a 16km stretch of water once dominated by ash trees and now billed as the world’s second-largest underwater forest...

...Perhaps a better-known watery stop-off, is the pristine Lake Abant, which sits 1,328m above sea level and has a positively alpine feel to it. If the locals are to be believed, Prince Charles and Camilla have holidayed here, looking for a little peace and quiet.

I can certainly see why they would. Surrounded by pine trees in the steep hills that border the water’s edge, this is a perfect spot to while away a day when the sun is out. Horse riding is an option, although a leisurely picnic and gentle walk seem to fit with the backdrop of the calm waters...