Daughter and I have 2 weeks in September. Interests include Belgium, northern France Ireland. She spent semester in Paris and is fluent in French. trying to get ideas that include some variety but not too much time spent traveling between locations. Assume we will be using non automobile modes for travel. Any ideas?
Betty, if you don't have any special interests - chateaus, wine, Normandy beaches, etc., take a look at the tour itineraries in the Our Tours section of this website. This gives you a few good basic itineraries to start from, that you can do on your own.
Local flavor, architecture, museums, and would like to check out some breweries/pubs with local beer (we have started home brewing). Would like to expand out of Paris, but challenged with staying on public transportation and getting to/from Ireland.
Betty have you considered Brugge, in Belgium? Probably the best-preserved (or at least reconstructed) medieval city in all of Europe. It's full of chocolate, beer, canals, old churches, museums... It's touristy, but worth it IMO. Highly recommended.