martin.j.jophnson1,
Normandy is a large area. I highly recommend having a car. You have a week, so I would take a train to Rouen (getting there in the afternoon). Visit the cathedral, then walk under the clock and explore the medieval old town (charming, half-timbered buildings, Joan of Arc sites...). Spend the night and rent a car next morning to head to the coast. Take the D road along the Seine instead of the A road (autoroute). Follow the Route Des Abbayes and stop at the ruins of the Abbey of Jumiege. You can head for Honfleur or Entretat to spend the night and explore around there the next day. Stay another night and leave first thing in the morning for Bayeux. Stay there 3 nights (2 full days). One day see the tapestry, cathedral and museum, stroll around the town, find a cider-tasting drive. Next day spend the whole day seeing whatever WWII beaches and museums along them that interest you. Or take a full day tour with one of the companies that offer them (about $150.00 per person for a full day). After 3 nights in Bayeux, drive to MSM the next day. A neat town to stop along the way is Villedieu-la-Poelle and, if available, visit a lace-making or nmetal-working location/museum there. Stay the night at MSM. You can return the car at Rennes or Caen and take the train back to Paris later that day.
I think that is seven nights. What I want to emphasize is that Normandy is more than the DDay beaches. Don't miss all it has to offer!
Bonne chance et bon voyage!
