We are planning a trip in late May - early June to Provence/Côte d'Azur. We'd like to experience both the "traditional" Provence villages and also see the coastline. I will be traveling with my teenage daughters and husband. We like a mix of villages and history with some nature/adventure activity. This is the current plan and wondered if you have any suggestions on changes or ways to make it better.
2 nights in Paris when we arrive in France - think we can figure out activities in Paris.
take train from Gare du Nord to Avignon - pick up rental car from train station, tour around Avignon for the afternoon (anything you'd say is a must see here?) and then drive to St. Remy where we'd stay for five nights.
Ideas while in St. Remy:
-St Remy day - van gogh at St. Paul de Mousole, Glanum (roman ruins) 1km from town, rent bikes and ride to olive grove - are roads safe for casual cyclists like us?
-market day in Arles - roman ruins, drive to camargue national park to the "beach" - too much for one day?
Louberon Village day - drive to Gordes, picturesque towns, small walks
extra day - anything we should hit for sure?
Drive to Moustiers Sainte Marie stopping in Aix to look around for the day. Three nights in Moustiers Sainte Marie for some nature.
day one - Verdon Natural Regional Park - best hike in region (5 hours)? - Blanc Martel Trail (we are all in good shape, but is this too much to take on?
Day two - kayaing in Gorges du Verdon (Lac Saint Croix - 10 min drive) - lunch by lake and then ebike around the lake (any suggestions for vendors for rental bikes?)
Day three - depart for Nice/Villefranche-sur-Mer. Thinking we'd stay in Villefranche-sur-Mer to avoid some of the congestion of Nice - would be here for three nights.
Is the Monte Carlo palace tour worth doing? Think would be fun to get a sense of the wealth of the area.
What is the best place to go for a perfume tour? Grasse? Could we do that and Antibes for Picasso Museum if we have a car? Should we pack Eze in there too?
Any suggestion for a cooking class in the Nice area? Or the Matisse Museum? Or a boat tour?
Trying to gauge if it will be warm enough for any beach time while here.
Should we turn our rental car in when we arrive in Villefranche-sur-Mer and just take trains? Or is it good to have the freedom of the car? We will leave from the Nice airport after three nights in Villefranche-sur-Mer and think we could either take train to the airport or just drive and return car at the airport.
Any thoughts on making this itinerary better or more pleasing to active teens?
Thanks for your thoughts!