Hi!
This forum is always such a wealth of information, I'm hoping for a few suggestions as we plan a fall trip for our family. Grandma & Grandpa, Mom & Dad, 4 kids (15, 13, 5 & 3).
We arrive in Paris 10/16, fly or train to Spain on 10/30 (several options, will book this week pending suggestions). G&G are seasoned travelers/drivers in France. First time outside of Paris for Dad & kids (1st for kids).
Dad & older kids are huge history junkies, especially military & middle ages. We will very likely rent 2 cars for flexibility (approx same $$ as van for 8). G&G may do alternate activity with littles on museum days. Looking for gites or AirBnB, mostly rural areas.
We initially considered skipping Paris altogether, spending a few days in Northern France, working our way south through the Dordogne, ending in Carcassonne. I fear this route is too rushed with too many 1-2 nt stops (=lots of time packing, moving, etc).
I'm thinking it's much more realistic to spend the time just in northern, mostly west of Paris. Suggestions on logical home bases to clump sightseeing? Suggestions on itinerary? Include a couple days in Paris, or too expensive/logistically complicated for a group as big as ours??
- Paris (2-3 days), historic core, Eiffel Tower, possibly sewer tour, military museum.
- Rouen/Giverny (1) Giverny still pretty in Oct??
- Normandy beaches, museum, Bayeaux, Mont St. Michel (3-4) MAYBE - coastal towns St Malo area, Jules Verne park in Nantes
- Loire Castles (2?) best with kids? Giverny & Chenonceau?
- Guedelon castle MAYBE Versailles or Fontainbleau.
I need to nail a lot of these details down now so I can get booked, but I'd appreciate any suggestions. My tendency is to jam-cram trips, but
I'm trying to rein it in a bit! Thanks for any input.