Hi everyone. Wanted to say "thank you" for all of your advice and suggestions for our upcoming South of France trip. We leave on 9/12 and will be staying in Vence, Bonnieux, Mausanne les Alpilles, and Villefranche sur Mer for 3 nts each (actually 4 in Mausanne.) We are so excited!

Any final thoughts, suggestions on "not miss" things in these areas? We will definitely be taking along a lot of the advice we found here as well as Stu's itinerary.

Thanks again for everyone's help, and when we return, we'll be sure to post at least a short trip report about how things turned out.

The best way not to miss anything is to buy a copy of the Michelin Green Guide to Provence and to the Côte d'Azur before you leave and do some research. It's easier to find copies in English here rather than in France, especially for the area you happen to be in at the time.

Best advice is to tear up your return ticket.

Stu Dudley

We'll be in Vence the week after you! This will be our second visit and here are some of our favourites:

Chapelle du Rosaire (Matisse Chapel)

Linens/pottery: Poterie du Peyra on Place du Peyra

Pizza w/more than 400 choices: Le Pecheur de Soleil on Place Godeau

Route des Crêtes (St-Jeannet, Gattières, etc.)

Foundation Maeght (St. Paul de Vence)

Tourrettes sur Loup's artists' workshops on the Grand Rue

Matisse Museum (Nice)

Bread Museum (Bonnieux)

I agree w/Underhill, get a Green Guide and then see what attacts you and just wander. Have a great trip!

hi ihopp, I posted earlierbut my post did not appear???
We leave tomorrow and yopu will be visiting our usual stops.
We love Bonnieux and lunch by the fountain at Le Founil and visit a favorite embroiderie shop there.
In Maussane we have two places where we buy our olive oil. The coop Moulin Jean Corneille and Le Barres. Dining by the fountain in the square is fun. Try the bull steak. Lots of wonderful small shops. We'll spend one night again in St-Paul--de-V. Foundation Maeght should not be missed as mvor suggested. We have been twice. The exhibits change so sometimes the usual collection is not on view. I'm as excited as you. It never diminishes.

Thank you all for replying.

Stu, Mvor, and Cigalechanta, have wonderful trips, and safe travels. Who knows? Maybe our paths will cross in France.

Bon Voyage.