Help ... Various about France
 

With the help of experienced nice travellers on fodors like Stu Dudely, StCinq and others I planned my last three summer trips. The first was to Provence ( with Avignon as a base) and Tuscany (with Pienza as a base) and the second to Dordogne (with lovely Sarlat as a base). We also saw Loire Valley on the way from Dordogne to Paris ( base was Tours). All went very well and the bases were convenient. We also covered cote Azure (base was Nice).
This summer we have less time and an infant of 2 months old ( in addition to my 5 year old baby)..it will be the last two weeks in Aug and first week of Sept.
We have to start in Paris for 6 days or say first week. I need to look for two more bases ( in two other areas/region. i want to choose something near Paris ( not more than 3 hr driving if possible)..I also need to go back to my country from either paris or Lyon...
I read on Fodors site that Britany is your third favourite.
Can anyone recommend something similar to the regions above (although I know those are the best)...
I was doing a lot of research and have a kind of some ideas like:
1. Paris to Rennes to Angers ( fly out of Paris)
2. Paris to Lyon to Geneva to Turin (fly out of Milan) - I know Switzerland and Italy but my son and husband would like Geneva and I always wanted to see Torino (not sure if it is worth it?)
3. Paris to Bordeaux to Carcassonne to Barcelona (fly out of Barcelona - this is the most favourite as an idea but I realise the most inconvenient driving wise)

We will rent a car and like to drive to see countrysides so using the train is not an option 1. Cause we don't travel light and 2. We like as to be flexible to stop anytime and see the country side.

Feel free to comment on the three ideas and also to recommend another areas if you like.
Another specific questions for my own info and sanity: 1. Which is nicer? Rennes or Lyon? 2.Languedoc or Brittany is nicer? 3.Brittany or Burgundy?4. Lyon or Bordeaux?

Forgot to mention but am sure you figured out our interests from the locations we already have been to:
Lovely villages with cobbled streets alleys
Nice green country side with mountains or not
Ability to visit nearby areas with least amount of driving
Nice food and lively piazzas or centres and nice old part if it is a city or big town...with cafes and restaurants...
Sea or river or fountains as a view!
The base to be convenient with Macdonalds if possible (for my son)!
Thanks in advance

With your stated interests, a 3-wk trip that includes a week in Paris, and an infant and 5-yr-old, I would go with Brittany (though I don't know whose 3rd favorite it is or in what context "favorites" were defined). Not that the others a bad options....

And since you have already seen the Loire Valley, you might consider some time in Normandy (which would also seem to meet your criteria) rather than a return to the Loire. (Although I certainly thought Angers worth visiting!) Just a thought.

It is a bit further, but what about Strasbourg, and the Alsace region: Riquewihr, Equisheim, Freiburg, Colmar, etc.? You could then, if you chose, drive down through Switzerland and home from Lyon. Stay in Perouges very near Lyon.

Thanks a lot for the suggestions....I did some research and I don't know why my heart is leaning towards Burgundy region more than Brittany...although both are on my list to see...
Hope others will try to give me some more suggestions / answers to my specific questions given my interests...
I know both of you tried to give me straightforward answers which I value and appreciate but I wish for some details....

Each of the Alsace villages or towns has the picturesque quality you seek. Riquewihr has been named in one survey as one of the top ten prettiest village in France. Many artists go to Colmar to paint. Just google some images! The villages are quite close together, so easy short drives from one to the other.

Strasbourg has a gorgeous center with cathedral and famous clock, surrounded by little shops and restaurants, etc. It has beautiful timbered buildings and a river running through with old buildings and restaurants on the banks. You could take boat trips as well. You would be near the black forest with some castles. Also, fine wines and places to do some tastings.

Perouges ia also on that top ten prettiest villages in France list. It is about twenty-five minutes outside of Lyon, set in beautiful countryside. Google some photos. You would be close enough to Lyon to visit the city for walks and great food. About all the details I can give.

We just got back from Alsace and it ticks all your boxes (even a KFC, subway and McDonald's in Colmar)

We loved our stay in Riquewihr and enjoyed many gorgeous villages nestled in the Vosges hills and vineyards. Cobbled streets, great food...I could go on...all within very short drives along the Route de Vins.

Pics here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/pug_gi...7644953485474/

We also loved the villages on Burgundy...we preferred it to Brittany, enjoyed the food and wine more.

Pics here for Burgundy: https://www.flickr.com/photos/pug_gi...7607493717331/

And here for Brittany: https://www.flickr.com/photos/pug_gi...7607001299965/

Your young child may enjoy the beaches in Brittany more than a wine area.

It's hard to say which of any are 'nicer' as it depends on your tastes...hopefully my pics will give you an idea of what the look like.

Bordeaux rates the lowest of any region we have visited and we have visited a lot...so that would be eliminated for my tastes.

Keep in mind that renting a car in one country and dropping in another will likely incur a fee of several hundred euros...

I hope this helps!

Sassafrass, thanks for the extra details....
Jamikins, thanks a lot ...the pictures are lovely....
Very helpful indeed ....

I'd dump the idea of Bordeaux and Carcassonne. Lyon and Strasbourg and Toulouse and Rennes are far more interesting unless you're a wine merchant. Carcassonne is great - for half a day.
My choice from among what you're considering would be Brittany.

I would vote for burgundy, Beaunne is beautiful

StCinq .... Was waiting for your recommendation ... Thanks a lot...I think Rennes is a good base for Brittany?
leuk2, I am now between Brittany and Burgundy but a. Considering Dijon as a base....I feel safer in a bigger city with kids....If I will go to Burgundy, I will go to Beaune as a day trip...also Besoncon ...any other suggestions?

with children that age I would favour Brittany too, which would fit in very well with a Paris, Loire trip. it could well be hot in august, and you and the children might well welcome the sea breezes, walks on the beach, swimming, etc.

Another reason would be that your 5 year old, and you, would love the wonderful Puy de Fou at Cholet. It is a french theme park based on the history of the area, with Roman gladiators and chariots, troubadours, jousting knights, the most wonderful show of raptors, and a terrific son et lumiere at weekend nights.

http://www.puydufou.com/en?season=summer

I'm a bit puzzled as to why you would feel safer in a big city with kids - I'd have thought the opposite! The french countryside is pretty safe.

oops - sorry that I missed that you had already seen the Loire - but all of it? There's quite a lot to see and there are probably some areas that you missed.

an alternative would be from Paris to go north to Normandy to Bayeaux and Mont st michel for example, then south west to southern Brittany.

As you would need to leave from Paris, you might turn the trip round, going straight from CDG to Normandy [Rouen is an interesting place to stop for a night or two, and you could see Giverny], then Brittany, and finally Paris where you could return the car.

Rennes is a lovely city, one that is fortunately overlooked by most tourists. Yes, a good base for visiting Brittany, though I'd probably pick someplace smaller and farther to the west, like Josselin. Or someplace on the coast, like Vannes, which is just beautiful.

I'm curious too, why you would feel safer in a big city with kids. I've never felt unsafe anywhere in France, but safety never even crosses my mind in the countryside...unless it's hunting season.

Beaunne is wonderful, much smaller than Dijon, 20 minutes by train, very walkable pleasant city. 2-3 minutes outside the city you are in the typical burgundy countryside.
We stayed at a great place about 10 minutes outside Beaunne. I have to admit, we know the owners. Chateau labourde. (sp) they have a 1 and 2 brm apt. they rent out. In the countryside. you walk out the door and you are in the vineyard. gorgeous setting.easy to get to Beaunne. 2-3 minute drive to get croissants in a.m.

Thanks to you all...I owe you an explanation as to why bigger cities make me feel safer though...maybe the word 'safer' is misleading...what I mean and from experience from trips with my elder I found that with bigger cities you have more options for supermarkets, clinics, pharmacies, ppl staying late in the streets...that is all...those choices make life easier...example u ran out of milk, u can find the brand u want in this supermarket and if not, thre is a bigger one next streets....but I have never faced any life threatening situation in any of my trips to France or Italy or anywhere....

Vannes is lovely, but perhaps not big enough for your, misho - but Rennes should be. as many supermarkets and chemists as you could possibly want.

I don't think you would go wrong with either Vannes or Rennes, but FWIW (which may be very little!), I thought both delightful, and far preferred Rennes. Just my take on them.

Thanks to all...will finalise arrangements and bookings by mid July...will keep you posted and of course will let you know if I have more questions....