MPLux

Hi all! I will be traveling to France for the month of June with my wife and 2 year old. We're planning to stay in Paris for the first two weeks including a few day trips. We're undecided for the 2nd part of the trip. Looking for itinerary suggestions for the day trips from Paris and suggestions for the 2nd part of the trip (more critical).
- We would prefer to take trains over renting a car, but not opposed to driving if needed (especially for the 2nd part of the trip).
- Husband likes to see it all. Interested in Dordogne. Also interested in Strasbourg - but just started looking into the numerous options. Not totally sold on the south of France/ Provence region as we're coming from Florida and it seems beach focused.
- Wife is interested in culture over beaches given we're coming from Florida, not as into history but likes a local 'feel'.
- We want to spend at least 3 nights in any one location/ accommodation.

Thank you in advance!

-MPLux

bilboburgler

as well as Strasbourg you might also look at Reims or Epernay where Champagne comes from

StuDudley

""Husband likes to see it all."

Impossible to see all of France in 2 weeks. We've been there for over 150 weeks, and still have some new & interesting places to visit on our upcoming trips this year.

""Not totally sold on the south of France/ Provence region as we're coming from Florida and it seems beach focused.""

Wherever you are getting your info - don't get it there anymore. The Vaucluse area of Provence is not near any salt water. Think vineyards, lavender fields, medieval hill villages, Alps, canyons, rolling hills, Roman ruins, art, wonderful cities (Aix, Arles), farmer's markets, cozy cafes, etc.

Alsace/Starboiurg is nice - but far away from the Dordogne. Not practical in 2 weeks without a car.

An ideal trip would be to take the TGV from Paris to Avignon (Provence), rent a car, and stay in/near a small hill village in the Luberon for 5 nights. Then head west & stay in the Gorges du Tarn for 2 nights. Lots of canyons & caves with stalactites & mites. Then continue west & visit Carcassonne for a couple of hours. Then head north and stay in the outskirts of the Dorodgne near St Cirq Lapopie or Rocamadour for 2-3 nights. Then on to the Dordogne near Sarlat for 5 nights. Drive to Brive la Gaillarde, return the car, and take the train back to Paris. Or drive to Toulouse, stay the night, and fly home from there.

Actually, if you are keen on seeing lavender fields, to the above in reverse - start with the Dordogne & end in Provence.

Stu Dudley

kerouac

Without a car, Alsace would be the place to go. The TER regional trains in Alsace go up and down all of Alsace to most of the small towns. An alternative would be to stop in Metz, where the TER regional trains go up and down Lorraine from Luxembourg to Nancy. In Dordogne, you really need a car to appreciate the region.

Note: if ever you go to Luxembourg, all transportation in the country is free of charge -- trains, buses and trams. It's the only country in the world to have made all public transportation free.

FTOttawa

Endorse Stu’s advice, though with a two year old in tow, you might consider changing bases less frequently. Gites where you can retreat at nap time are perfect. You might also consider making your major transfer from Provence to Carcassonne by train so that the restless toddler can run up and down the aisles.

When you leave Paris influences your decision, but if it’s mid June already by that point, do the Luberon first, as dollars to doughnuts the lavender will already be attractive by then.

Two year olds and caves (as in the Tarn and Dordogne) can be a sub-optimal mix. On their feet, they slip, or have your spine screaming as you stoop to hold their hand; in a back carrier, they touch the walls and formations, undoing centuries of gradual concretion.

It’s also probable that responsible rental operations in the Dordogne won’t let you bring the child in a canoe or kayak. But you can still ride in a gabarre, the larger boats, and of course visit castles and gardens to your hearts’ content.

StuDudley

Have you personally used the train to visit the "most popular" villages? The trains run every 30 mins and stations are close to villages north of Selestat. But south to the "most popular" villages, the stations are about 5-7K (Ribeauville, Riquewhir, Kayserberg) from the stations. Can't seem to get to Haut Koenisbourg. Eco musee south of Colmar would be a challenge also. We were just there for 2 weeks, and I would hate to only use a train to get to all these wonderful villages which sometime only take a drive-through or a 20 min visit.

Stu Dudley

Stu Dudley

KayF

Just to throw in another idea - how about Vannes, Dinan and St Malo? You could add in La Rochelle if you wanted. All lovely places, I enjoyed the market in Vannes, there are beautiful old buildings in all three places, so picturesque. Have a look at Google Images or I can post a couple of photos if you like. We visited most of these places as part of a four week trip in France, all by public transport. St Malo was visited on a different trip, by ferry from Portsmouth.

MPLux

Thanks, Bilbo! We've got these marked as potential day trip from Paris. Unsure exact plan yet - but will be getting into the details in the upcoming months.

MPLux

Thank you, Stu! We're starting to look into Provence and Dordogne in more detail. We tracked down your Dordogne guide from an earlier post and giving it a read as well.

bilboburgler

Stu knows his stuff but if you want a train based bit of your holiday you will find Avignon/Arles/Nime all nicely linked by train

The Paris/Reims/Epernay bit works nicely too

seat61.com is a useful place to start

snsw0144

Grasse in France is the famous perfume capital, if your wife likes perfume then don't miss it, it has charming sunshine, golden beaches, quaint little town!

Underhill

Re Grasse: while I always enjoy visiting that town, it's rather a distance from the golden beaches of the Mediterranean--at least half an hour's drive to Cannes, for example. In Grasse itself there's an excellent folk museum, the perfume museum, and one perfume factory. The old church is well worth a visit, as are the small streets adjacent to the rose garden atop the car park--good variety of small shops.