SShprints

Have tickets to Paris in November. Not a first timer in Paris. Have also been to Loire Valley, Cote d'Azure, Brussels, Amsterdam but looking for a new destination for 2 days in mid-November. Any suggestions? Brugge is on my maybe list as are Saint-Malo or Reims. Other cities in France seem easy to get to..so we are open.

We love good food, sightseeing, museums. We are in out early 30s.

Thanks!

Sergey

Michael

Take the TGV to Lyon which is known for its food, which is a very walkable city; but if the weather is lousy, there are interesting museums.

longhorn55

I would go back to Normandy in a heartbeat, even in November. There's the excellent WWII museum in Caen, the American Cemetery and the Bayeux Tapestry (and museum).

Christina

Lyon sounds like a good idea, or how about Marseille.

Michael

I did not find Marseille as interesting as Lyon as a city for a tourist, although it is livelier and we had a fabulous bouillabaisse there.

StCirq

Of the ones you have listed, Lyon would be far and away my favorite.

SShprints

The ones I listed above are the ones that came to mind. Is there something better than I can do for 2 days that I didn't mention?

I've been to Marseille too actually.

There are many great cities in France like Lille, Reims, Strasburg, Lyon, Orleans, etc.. which is best for a quick visit from Paris?

StCirq

<<There are many great cities in France>>

Yes, there are those and scads more. I'd still probably pick Lyon. After that, La Rochelle, Troyes, Montpellier, Rouen...depends on how far you want to go and what area of France intrigues you most with regard to architecture, cuisine, local culture, etc.

MaineGG

We really enjoyed a daytrip to Nancy, but wished we had made it a 2-day trip. The history is interesting, the Place Stanislas is beautiful, and there are three good museums: Musée des Beaux-Arts, Musée Lorrain, Musée de l'Ecole de Nancy (Art Nouveau). A combo ticket for all three is available from the Tourist Office in Place Stanislas.

Christina

I liked Nancy, also, that's a good idea. I also like the idea of Montpellier, even though a bit farther but for a weekend, not too bad a distance.

I'll add another one -- Angers.

KathrynJane

Www.chateauvaulx.com. A perfect retreat for a lovely stay.You will never want to leave.

AussieFrance

If you like Art Deco, Nancy is definitely a good choice. We went in the dead of winter (it was snowing) and there were still plenty of things to do. Lyon is a good suggestion as well. There's Toulouse of course and it might be a bit warmer. And Lille is supposed to be really interesting. Don't forget the swimming pool turned into a museum at Roubaix. It looks sensational.

kerouac

Lots of places are great off-season. If you would like to see the sea, do not hesitate to go to a place like Deauville, Saint Malo or Le Touquet, for example. If the November coast has no appeal, I would recommened Lille, Metz, Nancy or Strasbourg. After all, you've already been to the south.

Bruges is also nice, but it is a bit more complicated to get to (few direct trains) and even out of season, one often must pay tourist trap prices.

Let me just dig up one of my reports about off-season travel (they are my specialty). Here, for example, is the charm of Deauville when everything is closed (some people love it, others hate it):
http://tinyurl.com/3mgnvm2

d_claude_bear

We enjoyed our two nights in Strasbourg as a stopover from Milan to Paris, but it is a rather un-French city. We found its Germanic nature quite charming.

nytraveler

Strasbourg is fascinating due to it's franco/german flavor and I believe is easily reachable by TGV. I would tend to go to cities in November rather than countryside - due to weather (chilly and often rainy) and short days.

IMHO Bruges is another good option for 2 days. I wouldn;t bother with Brussels - not my favorite place.

kelbo

My husband and I did a two day trip to Strasbourg from Paris last year and really enjoyed it. It was very easy to get to by TGV and we found the German/French mixture very unique and charming. It is a beautiful, historical city, yet very progressive as well. Also, the cathedral is absolutely unbelievable. A must see IMHO.

letsgetaroom

I recommend you Lyon, is very intersting and its charme will make it unforgetable. Just want to list a hotel whre I stayed and loved: http://www.hotelslyonfrance.com/metropole.html

FrenchMystiqueTours

There's not a bad suggestion in this thread. Although I've never been there I'd have to agree on Lyon, since it is the gastronomic capital of France, is interesting and has museums if weather is lousy (not unlikely in November). Seems a good match with your stated interests.