Accomodations in Loire Valley

Amboise for charcuterie and 'Tarte au Nougat'!

Stay in or near Amboise, which is a pleasant town. You could stay at Chateau de Pray, which is outside of town, but is a chateau, and serves dinner as well.

Chateau is amazing, my wife tried to get hired there so she could stay

"Input on specific sights in the Valley would also be appreciated."

Here's a list, starting from Tours and first going southwest, then east towards Amboise:
Villandry
Azay-le-Rideau
Chinon
Usse
Amboise
Chenonceau
Chaumont
Cheverny
Chambord

You'll need some time and a guidebook will be a plus.

There's no question that Amboise and many other places EAST of Tours are magnificent. I took the OP to mean, where could be stay WEST of Tours on the way to Normandy. But it depends on how many nights you have, and whether you want one or two hotels.

We chose to slight (to our touring detriment) the East, and stayed at the fancy Château de Marçay, 37500 Marçay - Chinon. But you could stay much more cheaply in a chain hotel, or in a place with more character in the old city of Chinon. In between in price, but too close to Tours is Château de la Bourdaisière, which has a lot of charm anyway. We didn't consider a hotel, but Dol-de-Bretagne and Coutances looked nice, and Vitré and Dinan even nicer. (You didn't mention Mont St. Michel ... )

We never planned to stay in Azay, but that might be nice, with a superb chateau. Because we like gardens, Villandry and Chateau de la La Ballue (NO interior, private residence) were very nice. We spent a few nights in Villa Reine Hortense, Dinard, for St. Malo and Mont St. Miche. This was a little cramped, but very James Bond and his lover-weekend. Perhaps Dinan would be better except during beach season - we were too early for the beaches in Dinard.

This previous thread on staying in the Loire Valley for the west chateaux may have some good ideas. I posted about the place I stayed in Azay le Rideau but others had good suggestions also:

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/france/suggestion-for-base-for-western-chateau-in-loire-saumur-chinon-azay-or

I’d recommend the Hotel la Roseraie in Chenonceaux, located a few minutes’ walk from the entrance to the Chateau. It’s three star and good value.

Avoid the crowds at the chateau by either visiting at the end of the day and staying the night at the hotel or sightsee thru the Loire and stay the night at the hotel and be the first on the doorstep to see the chateau next morning. Drive to the coast in the afternoon.

Bonjour !
If you come in the Loire Valley, consider to stay a little bit more than one night ... there are so many interesting things ! If you arrive with the speed train (TGV) from Paris, it is worth to stop in Saint-Pierre-des-Corps (TGV station for Tours) as it is easier to drive from there as from the center of Tours. Many rental offices in this station. Depending on the arrival time, you can visit Amboise and Chenonceau (at the end of the day for this castle as somebody already said), stay in the area (Bed and Breakfast is a great experience to share local french way of life, particularly if you can share the dinner with the hosts). The day after, go to Chambord and Cheverny, stay one more night at the same place (no need to change of bed every night !), and then, on the road to Normandy, go to Villandry and/or Azay-le-Rideau. This will give you a good taste of the Loire Valley castles ...

We stayed in one of the prettiest B & B's I ever seen. It is very close to Chenonceau, so it is a good location in a small village away from tourists.

www.leclosdelachesneraie.com