Destinations in France?

Jan, that sounds like a great plan. As you probably know, Paris is France's rail hub, so you could go just about anywhere.

Of the two destinations you ask about, I would say, Provence hands down. It's easy to get to, there's lots to see, and the culture and character of the region are very different from what you will find in the north. Much less to see and do in Bordeaux unless you are into wine.

But you are not limited to those two choices. You say what you don't care for, but what do you like? There's Alsace, with a German accent, and Normandy and Brittany, which do not even boast much of a wine scene. (They drink cider there.) In the Perigord, NE of Bordeaux, there is fabulous history and cave art.

Wherever you go, if you crave the countryside, you'd do well to rent a car. And for some destinations you can arrange to fly home from another airport, saving you a return trip to Paris.

And late spring is the perfect time for this trip. have fun!

My first choice would be Provence--you could base yourself in Arles and travel around the region from there.

Alsace would be my second choice--we were there in December and stayed in Colmar and really enjoyed it. You could go to Strasbourg from there and also visit other smaller towns in the region.

If you have Rick's France book (or could get it from the library) you could read about the various regions of France and decide which fits what you're looking for! Bon Voyage!

Another option would be Amboise and the Loire Valley.

Stayed at Chateau des Ormeaux last July & had a Great time visiting the surrounding area and seeing The Chateau's of Chambord, Cheverny, & Chenonceau.

Also spent some time exploring Blois & Tours.

If you like chateaux and gardens, the Loire Valley is ideal. Either base yourself in Tours and take the train to castles like Amboise, Chenonceaux, Loches, Chinon, and Saumur. Amboise also has Leonardo da Vinci's old house and the villages/cities surrounding these chateaux can be worth a few hours' wander. That said, I still have to recommend Brittany. Having lived in France for a year (and not in Brittany), I still rate this as my favorite place to travel. Rent a car and combine Brittany and Normandy. Stay in Dinan, visit St. Malo, take the ferry to the Channel Islands (British), drive down to Carnac to see the standing stones, and eat lots and lots of crepes (Brittany's standard). Then head over to Bayeux in Normandy, see the Bayeux Tapestry, tour the D-Day sites, visit Mont St. Michel and return your car in Giverny, see Monet's gardens and take the train back to Paris. No wine involved there and you'll see a beautiful, and often underrated, part of France.

Another vote for Provence. We spent 4 days in the Luberon area and 4 days in Nice last fall and had just a fantastic time. So much to see and do even without the wine !

Thank you everyone for your fantastic responses! So many excellent options to choose from. Your enthusiasm and the level of detail is really helpful, especially to someone who hasn't been to France at all.

I totally agree with Mandy's post....Normandy is our absolute favorite part of France. It is magical!

Jan.. We have done the same trip and are doing it again in October. We really like the beautiful area of Burgundy, just south of Paris 2-3 hours. It is the total opposite of Paris. We stay in Montreal at a wonderful gite , and see the Burgundy canal, Chateauneuf-en -Auxious, Flavigny (where they filmed part of the movie Chocolat). We rent a car and pick it up at Orly Airport. From there it is very easy to get on the A6 south. If you have time you can then go down to Isle -sur -la -Sorgue and visit the villages of Provence. We then drive back up, drop off the car and, shuttle or cab back into Paris, stay a few nights, and fly home. If you are interested in the places we stay, email me. Jane

Jan-I would agree with the Normandy/Bayeux votes-the D-Day beaches and the town of Bayeux shouldn't be missed.

I vote for Provence as well. I may be a bit biased though...I studied abroad in Avignon. :)

Another option would be to spend a few days in Provence and then take the train to Bordeaux. It takes about 4 or 5 hours, I believe...