Now we are headed to Paris and France

Larry, how much time do you have and when will you go?

Thank you for all of the wonderful ideas.

We are planning to go in late August, early September - for just over two weeks.

For Paris:

if you like to sketch at all, go to the Musee Rodin. I could probably spend three days there sketching - and they have convenient chairs and benches to sit on. I was not the only one sketching by any means!

For walking and taking in the culture try walking from Musee d'Orsay to the Musee Rodin and getting lost, or (at least during the day) walking down from Gare du Nord via Boulevard du Magenta to Rue du Faubourg St Denis until you hit the big arch - tons of street grocers and middle eastern/north african restaurants and cafes, plus right by the arch is a great place to get a petit dejeuner for a decent price (yes they have menus in all different languages, but seriously it's a good price and has a nice atmosphere) and a metro stop to take you to your next location, with a view of an awesome giant arch out the window (Porte Saint-Denis is its name, erected in 1672, if you were wondering).

Also if you like hiking try exploring Montmartre on foot - get away from the Sacre Coeur and metro stops and walk into a random bakery and you can get an amazing pastry along with the locals getting their daily loaf of bread.

I have no suggestions for your anniversary, but happy anniversary anyway!

I think the Dordogne region sounds spectacular. I haven't been to that area yet myself, but I've heard many on this sight rave about it. I've read all about it, and it does sound wonderful.

Hi Larry,
Not sure how much time you have for your trip but I think that it would be romantic to do as you suggested--rent an apartment but just stay in Paris. Alex has some great suggestions--visit museums, explore neighborhoods, eat wonderful food, paint, sketch, relax and live as a local!

Try Chamonix, France - Beautiful setting with mountains (lots of hikes) all around and a white water river running thru the town. Lots of side walk cafes. You can even take the cabel car across Mt Blanc and end up in Italy. You are also right on the Swiss border. One of the most beautiful places we have been. We stayed at a small hotel right on the white water river - "Hotel de l'Arve". It was lovely! Looks like a Swiss chalet. Prices were also very reasonable. We also thought Annecy was beautiful. Hope you enjoy your trip.

Savannah is also very beautiful!!

Jackie
Bowling Green, Ky

Larry, after you pick the place or places you want to stay, a good site to start your look for apts is on VRBO.com and Homelidays.com.

We use these two sites to find all of the apts that we stay in while we have traveled in Europe. Our apt in Paris a few weeks ago was thru Homelidays.

Another romantic thing to consider is the possibility of renting a "Gite" in a nice farm village, and do some country sketching for part of your trip. (Maybe a city for a week...and a country home for a week?)

Gites are usually small farmhouses that people rent out all over rural France. Their quality ratings are controlled by the French Government. (Make sure you get one that has 3 ears of corn, or better. gites-de-france.com)

Nice - for the sea, sun, atmosphere and Chagall and Matisse museums. Normandy - for Rouen and it's half timbered houses, Mont-Saint-Michel, and D-Day sights. You probably want to do more but those are personal favorites of mine.

The Dordogne is terrific. Beautiful countryside and Sarlat is a fabulous town. Beynac and La Roque-Gageac are classic little French villages. Also we enjoyed Vaisson la Romaine and the surrounding Cote du Rhone area.

Thanks to everyone!
Right now it seems we are headed to Paris and to Annecy with day trips from both.

From Rick's books, Lyon seems to be interesting- a definite day trip.

I love Annecy but have only been there for the animation festival in early June. BTW it is the BEST animation festival in the world and it's inexpensive. We would love to have some more exploration time. We have found several house rentals a short bike ride from the town. PERFECT!

Thanks gain,

Larry

Lyon is great--I highly recommend spending some time there. If you're there on a week-end make sure to check out the markets along the river!

We appreciate the touristy places and even Rick says Lyon is just that...

Thanks.

Oops!

I meant- "we appreciate the NON-touristy places..." which is what RS said about Lyon.

For me nothing better than to sit and sketch or paint at an outdoor cafe.

Here are some I put online...

http://tooninstitute.awn.com/Europe/index.html

Thank you!

Another good place for apartment or house rentals is francehomestyle.com.

For great people watching in Paris: the Luxembourg Gardens.

Both http://www.apartment-in-france.com/ & www.vacationinparis.com are great for apartments in paris.

Hi Larry,

I like your paintings--you'll find some wonderful locations to sketch in Lyon--really, anywhere in France!

In Lyon check out the old city!

Another good one is parisattitude.com

We like Iloveparisapartments.com and also vacationinparis.com

Lyon is fantastic. Be sure to visit the Parc de la Tete d'Or. A wonderful place for a stroll.
Antibes, very near to Nice also has a charming old town with picturesque dorways framed in flowering vines.