Purchase Michelin Green Guides for Paris, Dordogne, and Languedoc.

Fly into Paris. Spend about 4-5 nights in Paris. Then take the train from Paris to Brive la Gaillard, rent a car, and visit nearby Collonges la Rouge. Then head for Sarlat and the Dordogne (1 1/2 hrs away). Spend your days before the wedding there. You and the kids will love the Dordogne - castles galore, caves with pre-historic paintings & stalactites & mites, canoe trips on the Dordogne, fascinating "cute little villages", beautiful countryside, farmer's markets, cave dwellings, medieval jousting, birds of prey show at Chateau Milandes, etc.

Then go to the wedding and return to Toulouse afterwards and explore Toulouse (one of my favorite cities in France). Fly home from Toulouse.

Perfect vacation.

Stu Dudley

Thanks Stu. I will look into your suggestions. Sound very intriguing. Not the type of thing that we would know or think of without some prior experience. that's the beauty of these forums.

We've spent 2 months vacationing in France almost every year since '99 when we retired early so we could travel more. All-in-all, we've been in France for about 3 years total - visiting almost every corner. Our two favorite regions are the Dordogne & Provence - followed by the Cote d'Azur (more so when we were younger) and Brittany. I have several "itineraries" that I've sent to well over 4,000 people on Fodors & aol. I have one for the Dordogne that describes our favorite villages, sites, markets, castles, restaurants, scenic drives, etc. If you would like a copy, e-mail me at StuDudley@aol.com & I'll attach it to the reply e-mail.

I also have an itinerary for the Languedoc - which includes the Toulouse region. If you have more than about 2 nights available after the wedding & before your flight home, I suggest that you explore that region too - Albi, Gorges de l'Aveyron, Cordes, perhaps St Cirq Lapopie, Figeac, Pech Merle cave, Cele River, and of course Toulouse. However, don't plan to be in any city on a Sunday or Monday morning when most shops are closed and the cities become somewhat deserted. The "touristy" cities like Sarlat, Collognes la Rouge, Beynac, Roque Gageac, Cordes, St Cirq Lapopie will have shops open - but not Toulouse, Albi, Perigueux, Figeac, or Cahors. Except for the Marais & Isle St Louis, most shops will be closed in Paris too on a Sunday.

Stu Dudley

From Auch, which has a cathedral worth a visit and a nice market of regional products, you could go to the Pyrenees--the high mountains of the Hautes-Pyrénées (Col du Tourmalet, Gavarnie, Lac d'Artouste) or the coastal area of Basque country.

http://www.altiservice.com/238-38078-Home.php

To whet your appetite:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mksfca/sets/72157623717915043/show/with/4529684840

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mksfca/sets/72157627163616289/show/with/5976266462

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mksfca/4929959915/in/set-72157623877915948

Stu, I will email you for the extra info- thanks again. Michael also thanks, great photos to get us more motivated. I guess Sunday would be a good choice for somewhat of a down day as tourist options sound limited. Should we expect hot weather?