We will be taking a train from Lucca through to Paris. We are trying to decide if we should stop in a small beach community in the south of France and then through Tours to Paris. We have 5 days to get to Paris...thoughts?
Posted by
near NY, NJ, USA
445 posts
You don't mention when you are traveling but I assume it is during the summer since you will have your children with you. Let me tell you, the beaches on the Riveria will be jammed, the roads will be bumper-to-bumper and you want to aoid the area like the plague. Everyone goes to the South of France in summer....and August is the worst month. Perhaps someone has an alternate suggestion?
Posted by
Boston
4132 posts
I'm not sure what is best but agree with Maryann that the French Riviera is probably not going to be very pleasing. If the sea is your cup of tea you'd probably do better with the Italian Riviera--think the Cinque Terre. But of course that will be crowded too.
Provence has magnificent Roman antiquities and a few swimming holes--you can combine both with a swim at the Pont du Gard; I also remember a swimming beach n Fontaine de Vacluse, an interesting spot. Or you could swing through Annecy and even to Chamonix.
A lot might depend on what the kids like to do. They are not too young to be involved in the planning process. Good luck!
Posted by
Memphis
32 posts
Hopefully someone will correct me if I'm outdated, but...if you are committed to Riviera, you might try Juan les Pins. I was there some years ago in June and it was a very hopping, funky, youthful town. We ate at a restaurant where the tables were actually in the sand on the beach. youthful/rock music was heard from all around, etc. It was young chic, I guess. We stayed nearby (walking distance) in Cap d'Antibes. Nice is also good with kids, in my opinion. The old area has lots of little shops, cafes, etc. It's an urban beach town.