sooz_25

I live with my husband and 3 kids in the Netherlands and my parents (75 years old) are visiting from the states. At this late date, we're planning to drive to Normandy next week so Dad (82nd Airborne, 30 years in the Army) can see the D-Day beaches but you can imagine that we're going to have trouble finding hotel accommodations for 7 people. I think I've found a hotel for 30 Apr - 2 May, but we want to stay one more day to make the trip more than a dash in and out. I will take my mom and the kids (7, 9, 10) to see Mont St. Michel while my husband and dad tour the beaches. Since we will already have visited this must-see, ideally, the third night could be spent at least an hour closer to Holland so we have a shorter drive home. I would appreciate recommendations for a French town near Bayeux that would be worth adding to our itinerary. Or maybe I should ask what would be entertaining for the kids?

Londonres

Arromanches might be a good place. It's known as the sight of the Mulberry Harbour from the D-Day landings; there's also a nice beach and other things to do. Here is a possible B&B that caters for groups:
www.normandybeach.co.uk/

Gretchen

We saw Normandy from Bayeux as a base and you might want to see if the Hotel Bayeux has rooms for you. It is a VERY economical hotel, the rooms are very large.
Your father will want to see Ste Mere Eglise (I'm not sure that is the correct name) but that is where the 82nd Airborne landed. We started there and worked our way down the coast to the main beach sites. Another site closer to Holland as you are asking is Pegasus Bridge which is near Caen. The beaches to the east were the Canadian and English beaches, and of course, there is the museum in Caen.
Your dad will, of course, see this with different eyes, but your kids will be pretty amazed at the museums. They will be very interested to see the gliders that were used to transport the troops. These happened to have been made in my home town.
Arromanches is indeed fascinating. And be sure to have a wonderful lunch at the seaside there.
And of course the American cemetery. I will say this about the museums that are EVERYwhere. Choose the main beaches and sites. See the Airborne museums, and maybe one or two others. After a while, there is a LOT of repetition of content--a lot of memoabilia, uniforms, etc.
Don't forget the Bayeux tapestry!

kenman

My wife and I had a nice stay at the Grand Hotel in Cabourg. Very old world, charming, a bit off the Normandy tourist track. Feels a bit like you were transported to the 1920s, with a big wide beach where the kids could romp. Another option a bit closer to Holland would be Honfleur -- lovely picturesque harbor right ouf of the Impressionist paintings, some nice hotels, a cute town worth strolling through. Enjoy.

Big_Red

These have nothing to do with D-day: Honfleur is a very picturesque town. A small harbor now used mostly for sail boats. Deauville and Troville are beach resorts (casinos etc).