Traveling with my daughter to celebrate her High School graduation and visit relatives in late June early July. We will be meeting my in-laws for 5 days of traveling throughout Paris, and would love some less obvious activities for a multi-generational group of women who have visited Paris before, and are looking for fewer tourist activities, but ones that are more meaningful for the group including art, books, Jewish history and cats (I know weird common interests).
The next portion of our travels will be between 7-13 days leaving Paris and exploring Eastern France and the Black Forest area. We will be staying with family for some portion of the time in Keltern, but also thought of exploring areas like Colmar, & Strasburg. We would love to do some short hikes and visit charming towns in the area. Any thoughts of special places that should not be missed? Also, debating between a rental car or train between towns, would it make more sense to drive if some of our destinations are more remote? Our primary goal is to spend time with family, but also would like this to be a very special gift for my daughter.