Maybe you’ve already seen the Louvre and Musée d’Orsay. You’re in the mood for a different kind of museum. There are many museums in Paris that are less well-known by tourists. These museums are fascinating and memorable and even sometimes “off-the-beaten-track”. (Not...
Smart shopping in Paris is easier with a few tips from a long-term resident. Here you’ll find ideas for getting bargains as well as the lowdown on where to shop. Whether or not it’s your first trip to Paris, you might like some tips for your spree. Here is your...
Juan-les-Pins and Antibes. Maybe you’ve heard of Juan-les-Pins…or not…but it has the charm and energy of Nice, its nearby neighbor. It even has a curved beach which hosts many hotels, quite a few of them high-rises on the waterfront. This popular beach town sits just...
Cavalaire-sur-Mer. Like many small beach towns on France’s southern coast, Cavalaire-sur-Mer began as a fishing village. It didn’t achieve tourist status until the 50s, but even today it’s a lesser-known treasure on the Cote d’Azur. This is a place I really liked and...
Sanary-sur-Mer. Nestled between Toulon and Marseille in southern France, you’ll find another seaside treasure, Sanary-sur-Mer. If you’re making a trip to Marseille, it’s not very far to visit Sanary, La Ciotat, and Cassis. Don’t you just love these small French beach...
La Ciotat. Wouldn’t it be nice to enjoy the Riviera without the price and snob-appeal? To taste the South of France coastline without the packed beaches, the secret is to aim smaller. The next few posts will feature French coastal towns you might not have ever heard...
Paris had record rainfall in the month of May this year. The rest of France was not spared, either. I was in the Languedoc region in late May and took my turn dodging raindrops. The weather in Europe can be touchy. Fortunately, the sun shines frequently in the late...
Marseille, the third largest city in France (and its oldest city) has a sunbaked maritime atmosphere all its own. It’s true Provence with the sunny charm you’d expect. Marseille is also historic (two millennia), and it’s close by numerous interesting places you can...
In my last post, I gave you a suggested circuit through eastern Brittany. This time, we’ll cover western Brittany, where you’ll encounter wild, rocky coastlines, lush pastureland, and unforgettable villages. If you’re starting off in Paris, think about renting a car...
Travel to the northwest corner of France and you’ll encounter Brittany. It is the land mass that reaches out into the Atlantic Ocean and touches the English Channel to the north. This region contains the most westerly towns and coastlines in France. Brittany brims...
You’re visiting Paris for a week or more. But wouldn’t it be nice to take a day trip elsewhere to get a different flavor? Here are some towns you can get to in two hours or less to enjoy a day trip from Paris that offers a different slice of this wonderfully varied...
If you are heading north from Paris to Normandy, you shouldn’t miss the historic and charming city of Rouen (pronounced Roo-on, with a nasal n.) This mid-sized town sits on the Seine River. Rouen is crisscrossed with medieval streets, dotted with half-timbered houses,...