I have one more question - Is there a beach I could take a train to for an overnight - would love to see the water and relax after a few days in Paris

You can go to a "beach" in Paris right now

goparis.about.com/od/events/p/Paris_Plage.htm

that's what i was thinking too! what greg posted. i'm fascinated with the entire idea, and would plan a trip just to be there during the time they set this up.

Although intriguing - I am looking for a "raal" beach.

I'm no expert. But Paris is a landlocked city. I just glanced at a map and Le Havre seems the closest point to get to the sea, and it's 110 miles away.

Le Havre or Honfleur? Honfleur has a pretty port area, but I don't know about beaches.

You could visit Arromanches and the D-Day beaches nearby. The American Cemetery is definitely worth visiting.

I realize that a beach is not close - but I would like a nice beach to relax and I am willing to train it south.

The west coast of France is only two hours away from Paris by car.

No car - only train - or of course - walk...

Your best option to find a very nice beach that is close to Paris and easy to reach by train is Deauville in the Normandy region. I don't think the train ride is more than 2-1/2 hours and the beach here is lovely. Huge beach with fine sand and the town is lovely too, if not also rather posh and full of tourists. Honfleur is just a few minutes bus ride up the coast from here and is a lovely ancient port village with half timbered houses, windy cobbled streets, small museums and galleries etc. and also lots of tourists. The beaches are just a few minutes walk outside of town. The view from beaches in Honfleur, however, is of the ugly industrial part of Le Havre. These are your best options as far as proximity to Paris.