We are going to spend 6 days in Paris, including Versailles and possible a Loire valley day trip. For the second half of our trip we were thinking it might be nice to choose somewhere accessible by train to stay for 3-4 days.. with the intention of having a more laid back few days. We love water and outdoors… whether it is hiking or just sitting outside eating pastries. Suggestions on where to go? Or just stay 10 days in Paris and make more day trips? I am overwhelmed with options and am afraid to pick the wrong one!
Posted by
Sapulpa, OK, USA
6485 posts
Relax! There are no wrong options. You’ll get plenty of suggestions here.
When is your trip? How many people? Ages?
Posted by
Australia
1072 posts
I would spend the 3-4 days in the Loire valley. I am looking at spending three nights in Amboise and will be spending six nights in Paris in October.
Posted by
OP
3 posts
@jane- next summer. It is a girls’ trip with 6 women (20’s-40’s) but we are not party-ers
Posted by
Virginia
625 posts
I would recommend the Alsace region. It has charming towns to visit
Posted by
Somerville, MA
640 posts
For water and outdoors I recommend Annecy. It’s accessible by train, on a beautiful lake. You can spend one of your days day tripping to chamonix.
Posted by
Chicago
8500 posts
If you are flying round trip to Paris then I recommend you start at your out of Paris destination and finish in Paris so you don't waste the second to last day which is prime vacation time, rushing back to Paris to get the plane the next day. (or train if you are coming from the UK). Just head to your secondary site by train after arriving in Paris -- that first day is a waste anyway.
Some possible side areas. I'd choose Brittany myself -- Maybe St. Malo as a base for traveling to other places in the area e.g. Dinan, Dinard, Cancale, even Mont St. Michele although it is trickier. In summer there is a bus in the morning and then back in the late afternoon - or was when we were there.
https://janettravels.wordpress.com/2020/11/24/all-the-light-we-can-see-st-malo/
Alsace with a base in Strasbourg would be good. Lyon is nice. We once spent 4 nights in an apartment in Annecy and did a quick side trip to Chamonix from there and it was terrific. Not much to do in Annecy but it is beautiful.
https://janettravels.wordpress.com/2023/03/27/quick-trip-up-the-aiquille-du-midi-chamonix/