Making the Most of Your Time

Making the Most of Your Time

Lyon merits an exploration of several days, at least two, for its ample range of architecture, food, and culture. The wine country of the Beaujolais up the river Saône is another two-day visit, unless a drive-through directly to Bourg-en-Bresse is the best solution that time constraints will allow.

Medieval Pérouges is another good day's browse with time for a late afternoon and evening drive into the Alps to Annecy, where the Vieille Ville is an eyeful by day or night. Talloires, around the lake, is another lovely visit to plan time for, as is that legendary culinary shrine, La Maison de Marc Veyrat, in Veyrier-du-Lac.

The mountain resort of Megève is a place to either settle in for a few days or blow through on your way to Chambéry and the abbey of Grande Chartreuse. Grenoble offers opportunities for perusing masterpieces in its superb museum or following Stendhal's footsteps through the old quarter.

From Grenoble, Valence via the autoroute is a quick transfer to admire the cathedral and the art museum. From there, see the limestone wonder of the Ardèche Gorge on your way to Provence or, if you're headed back to Lyon, stop at Vienne for its Roman sites.