In Sept., day trip to northern French beach

Hi, I would suggest this beach trip as an overnight doing it this way: take the TGV from Paris Nord to northern France, to Arras, (Nord Pas-de-Calais), ca. 40 mins. You can get a rental car near the train station area, (it used to be the Mercure Hotel where Hertz was, don't know if it's still the Mercure). Several hotels of different price ranges are within two blocks of the station. From Arras drive towards the coast, numerous small beach towns there. It's a very doable outing but sunny weather can't be relied upon. I've done this in June and August, nice and interesting area the Pas-de-Calais.

Mr Steves never mentions it in his fascination with Honfleur, but the town has been a spiffy beach resort since the mid to late 1800s.(Listen closely to Gigi the next time it's on.) The town's pretty good for an overnight. You can drive up easily in two hours from central Paris and probably work in a couple or three hours in Rouen either coming or going. From the center of town to the beach it's about a mile hike. There's no rail service to Honfleur from anywhere. In Nord-Pas-de-Calais, Dunkerque is also an old-time resort. It's about a three-hour drive from Paris. The beach at Honfleur is west of the channel into the harbor. At Dunkerque, it's east of the recreational marina. The Honfleur beach is quiet and rather deserted. At Dunkerque the area is built up with restaurants and such right at the water.

Omaha Beach is also pretty wonderful.

From what I hear you'll probably be used to it coming from Oregon, but I'd like to reiterate that warm and sunny weather can't be relied upon in Northern France in September.