The Michelin Green Guides are quite good.

I'd buy it, because you will want it with you. It's not something that makes sense to photocopy.

Not sure about interlibrary loans. I can buy an out of county membership to the metro libraries (in the big city) but I am morally opposed to paying for something that should be free! I live in the South and some things are just wrong here :) When I lived in Nevada we had a statewide library system. I could use my card anywhere in the state including the university libraries. It was a shock to move here and be so limited. I can hardly get the latest bestseller. Usually just wait for the paperback and purchase it myself!

Sorry about my rant.

After some thinking and research I had already decided to purchase the LP Brittany/Normandy and the RS Paris 2011 along with the Michelin map of Brittany and most likely the Streetwise map of Paris.

Definitely think we will try to stay up late for the night cruise. Only nightowl in the bunch is the teen!

The night crusie may turn out to be one of your best memories!

Michelin Maps are very good.

Wow, this sounds like a great and memorable trip! And of course you've gotten great advice so far. A few thoughts, in no particular order:
* I definitely agree that navigating (our big American!) suitcases in the Metro is no picnic! Fairly straightforward on the RER, but keep in mind that the train will get more crowded as it approaches the city, and there's not a lot of time in the station to disembark. (We usually start edging towards the door a stop or two before we need to get off.)
* Bertillon "glaces" (ice cream) on Ile St. Louis
* your guidebooks probably say this, but look for restaurants that say "à emporter" (take-away) or "traiteur" (catering) in the window; not infrequently these will be ethnic foods such as Chinese
* for non-museum-goers, Musée d'Orsay is worth it just for the view from behind the clock faces! Also, since it's a former train station, it has a lovely open floorplan that somehow makes it feel less stuffy than just looking at paintings ;)
* driving: FYI, once you're outside of towns/cities, most intersections are small roundabouts - no stoplights like we're used to here. Be aware that faster drivers *will* pass you on the one-lane routes (but that doesn't mean there's anything wrong with your driving!)
* speaking of driving, will you be getting an automatic or manual transmission? FWIW, I've always had a good experience getting automatics from AutoEurope in France. (One time they were out of whatever economy car we'd reserved and we got a brand new Mercedes!) Make sure you specify pickup/dropoff in Rennes at the train station - we didn't, and had to take a taxi to the airport to get ours!
* I loved the Bayeux tapestry but the kids might be bored: it's long and narrow and dimly lit to preserve it...
* it has been many many years, but I spent the beginning of July on the beach in Brittany when I was a teen, in a town called Trébeurden. I remember a wide expanse of beach, a group of kids my age, and lots of good food! My hosts made huge salads and heaps of seafood. And the other teens would take me along to a local crèperie, which I remember as if it were yesterday: long wooden tables outside, and round after round of savory galettes, sweet crèpes, and bubbly cidre... Mmm! :)

We spent a few days in Dinan and the area a few weeks ago. Your rental house looks lovely.

Here's our trip report: http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...-movements.cfm

ggreen - Thank you for all of your tips!

gardyloo - Yes, I read your report and loved it.

trvlgirlmq, you're very welcome! I'll add more if I think of anything else :)

At low tide, there is a sandy beach below the ramparts of St. Malo.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mksfca/...7624616164661/

One of the stages of the Tour de France starts at Dinan on 7 July. My guess is the whole place will be a hoot, but also a bunfight. I'll be there and I'll look out for you all.

Hmm, okay, may have to rethink the itinerary. Dinan is really high on my moms list and I don't want to miss anything or have to fight for parking or lunch.

Michael - Finally looked at your picture. Might be a nice alternative as it's not as far away as the other locations I had researched. Our house does not have computer access so I will have to get all the tide information before we leave. More weekend research!

We may try to do Dinan on the 7th still. It might be fun and certainly something we will probably ever experience again.

Will the official race site have times so we will know when the masses (tv crews) might be leaving?

"Is Champs de Mars the only place to really be? We don't need to be with the crowds but would like to be able to see them fairly well."


We were on the Champs de Mars this year for the fireworks and arrived about 1 1/2 hrs. prior. We found a spot on the grass and sat there. Everyone stood up when the fireworks started. The fireworks are actually behind the Eiffel Tower if you're on the Champs de Mars so it probably would be better to be on the Trocadero side of the Tower.

We booked a hotel walking distance from the tower so we didn't need to take the metro. The crowds were very well behaved.

July 15 we took the TGV to Rennes and spent the day here, then rented a car the following morning. This is a pleasant town and car rental was easy. I used the Rough Guide to Brittany & Normandy and the Michelin Book for planning. each are excellent.

Have a great trip!

Images2 - Thanks for the information. Unfortunately our apartment is about 3 miles from the Eiffel tower. We'll chock it all up to the experience and sleep in the next day.

Brittany guide books. MMMM
I suggest you surf some tourist information web sites. For instance there are still some (pretty well intact) castles in the area and kids just love running over them. To get a quick look at what is available move to a google map of Britanny and surf the word "chateau" should give you some ideas

Google Images of the towns of Fougères and Vitré. Both very medieval, would make a great daytrip from your gite in Brittany -- if you can fit them into your schedule. (Funny how a week seems so long...until you start planning the time.)

In lieu of or in addition to a guidebook, here's a useful site: www.france4families.com/default.htm

We were in Dinan for the last "tour" and the local police close off the road way before and after the race passes through so be aware you could end up on the wrong side

We had a lovely trip to Brittany in spring 2008. You can read our trip report and see our pics at: http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...rip-report.cfm

We loved Dinan!