hi there! going to paris in july for 5 days. have already been once (last year) and spent one day in versailles...do not want to return there, but do want to take a day trip somewhere else..have been reading the fodor's guide, but what do you guys suggest as the best day trip from paris??

thanks in advance!

The D-Day beaches of Normandy are within range for a day trip by train or car.

There are guided tours and do-it-yourself tours. What kind of budget do you have in mind?

budget is extremely flexible...but we prefer a kind of "do-it-yourself" sightseeing day, as opposed to following a tour...can you do that at normandy?

Sure.

Take the first train from Paris St-Lazare to Caen.
See the Peace Museum.
Get a day pass on www.busverts.fr, the regional bus line.
Travel down the beaches at your leisure, stopping to absorb a little history.
See the Mulberry Museum at Arromanches.
Have lunch at Port-en-Bessin.
Continue to Omaha Beach, Pointe du Hoc, and the American Cemetery.
Visit the D-Day museum in Bayeux.
Finish with a tour of the Bayeux Tapestry.
Catch the last train from Bayeux to Paris.

The more preparation you do beforehand, the more you will get from your experience. Spend a few hours studying the history of the battle, troop movements, famous encounters, and how the invaders dealt with the topography.

If you familiarize yourself with the events leading up to the Battle of Hastings before you get to the Tapestry, you can save most of an hour by fast-tracking around a long diorama.

Giverny (Monet's home) is a wonderful day trip. You take the train to Vernon in Normandy (1 hour, maybe?) and then a bus to Giverny.

Chartres is a very pretty town with an amazing cathedral - only a brief train ride away.

And I believe there is a new high speed train to Strasboug - very different from Paris due to the German influence. Great food, midieval town center, nice folk museum.

If you want to do a long day bus tour you can get to the Loire and see a couple of the major chateaux (but that may remind you too much of Versailles).

Chantilly..easy to get to, interesting and a beautiful garden.