How to spend day of arrival At Cote d'Azur (airport)?
 

I will be arriving at about 9am and cannot arrive prior to 3pm where I will be staying just outside of Valbonne. I will have a car to p/u at the airport...and it will be a Sunday. Any suggestions for a "sidetrip" thats not too confusing...could include a nice lunch!

If you're an art lover, you could drive to Antibes, visit the Picasso Museum, and walk through the walled old town.

Or you could drive to the hill town of St-Paul-de-Vence and visit the Fondation Maeght private museum which features works by Leger, Miro, Calder, Braque, and Chagall.

Or you could drive into Nice and visit the Chagall Museum and/or the Matisse Museum.

Or, drive toward your destination and stop in Mougins for lunch a walkabout. Can another Fodorite suggest a nice place there? I only say this because your plane could be late, you must get your luggage and car. You might not have as much time to kill as you think.

Hope you will be in the area to visit, and linger, where TimS suggests above.

For your first day there, either Mougins or Antibes would be a great "day trip" but will still in the direction of Valbonne and should be a pretty straight forward drive.

Am presuming that you'll be getting back to Nice. Be sure to have a meal at La Cave de L'origine. It's fabulous authentic food.

Thanks for the gret info! I'm thinking I'll stay on a simple route, most likely to Mougins as I am traveling solo and might be a abit tired and navigating the first day could be challenging. I will be staying outside of Plascassier at Bramafam in Julia Childs house taking cooking classes all day and will have evenings free to explore.

As for the recommendations of where to eat in Nice , I do have Le Cave on my list and also Bistro Gourmand and Maison de marie and Flaveur...any thoughts? I am only there a day and night bfore returning home.

If you have any recommendations for lunch in Mougins or, if it gets late, Valbonne on the day of arrival that would be appreciated. Bon appetit!

OMG, I'm so jealous! If you like vegetarian food, Magic Pumpkin is wonderful and convenient to Nice airport:

http://www.frommers.com/destinations/nice/D48869.html

DH and I happened upon it and although we eat meat, we really enjoyed the lunch. It might put you to sleep though-there's so much of it.

Depending on your fatigue level, I'd get closer to your destination if possible.

I'd drive up to Gourdon for lunch stopping at Grasse and Vence en route

Peter

Hmmmm seems that the "pumpkin" is closed on Sundays...drat!
Any other recommendations ? Is it easy to get in and out of Nice ?