Please take a look at a guidebook.

We don't know if you like natural sites, culture, historical buildings, food, scenic drives....

If you take the coastal route, not much until you get to Arcachon and Cap Ferret. If you like super-tacky beach towns followed by endless and flat sandy pine forests, it'll be a treat.

You may want to look at my trip report from last summer; click on my name to find it.

La Rochelle and the areas near-by:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mksfca/sets/72157622845839973/show/

Speaking of endless and flat sandy pine forests, have a Pineu de Charentes or 4 for me. Delicious aperitif wine native to the Charentes region.

Rastaguy, have you ever driven through Les Landes? Totally ruined my assumption that there couldn't possibly be an unattractive region of France (well, maybe if we'd come across some of those legendary shepherds on stilts, but we didn't)...until we discovered the hell that is Mazamet.

I do love a Pineau de Charentes, but don't ever make me drive through Les Landes again.

I've driven through the Landes. It is not large enough to take that much driving time to make it boring. It's only a two hour drive between Bayonne and Arcachon or three hours if one takes the discovery road suggest my Michelin.

correction: suggested by Michelin.

As others have said the Landes is not the most exciting place for views nor are there the usual beautiful ancient towns and villages but if you want wide open beaches with wild waves, empty sand dunes and shady pine woods to walk through then it provides all these.

The huge number of campsites prove how popular the area is with holiday makers from Britain, the Netherlands and Germany as well as the French themselves. Although StCirq describes the towns as super-tacky I don't think they can hold a candle to British seaside towns in this regard. They are holiday towns and nearly completely dead out of season.

We loved the area around Vieux-Boucau-les-Bains and Messanges when our kids were young and also enjoyed a short one day visit last year. We felt that things did not seem to have changed too much over the years. But it is a place to stay and relax on the beach rather than to sightsee.

Agreed. I love Las Landes for the superb beaches, great cycling and camping opportunities in light forests. Still different strokes and all that.

Michael,
I enjoyed looking at your beautiful photos. You have a good eye for composition! I notice there is a photo of a causeway, looks like it links the mainland to an island. Could that be Ile d'oleron (sp?) by any chance? We will be staying there for 3 nights this summer, which is why I ask.
Thanks.

It's the Ile de Ré.