Just a few thoughts of some places that Rick recommends in the Loire valley, which I visited last week.
It seems like a lot of people here seem to use Amboise as a base for the Loire valley. I only visited Amboise for a day, but found it to be extremely touristy.
We stayed in Blois, and I think more people should consider this town as an option. Blois has a more local vibe, great options for food and shopping, and is very picturesque. We found the chateau to be surprisingly nice, considering that most people don't include it on their list of must-see chateaus in the region. Also, Blois is very convenient to access all the greatest hits of the area.
Finally, I did not have a great experience at the Chateau du Clos Luce. It is a small chateau and was overrun with people, making it hard to enjoy and even view some of the rooms. This chateau really needs timed-tickets. I would place this all the way at the bottom of my list.