One October, we stayed 2 nights in Amboise and 2 nights in Chinon. We rented a car at Avis out of St Pierre-des-Corps, one train stop before Tours.

From Amboise, we visited:
-Chambord, Cheverney and the village of Montresor (also went into the chateau)
-Amboise - the chateau and Clos Luce.

From Chinon, we visited:
-Azay le Rideau
-Abbaye de Fontevraud
-Chinon - the fortress ruins and a good meander thru town, incl. the Sunday brocante by the river.

cparris: I like biking everywhere in France, including the Loire but i prefer the more rugged central and southern part of France - not only is weather guaranteeably nice in summer, if not too hot, which i love, but the villages are older - more Romanesque churches. I've also enjoyed very much Burgundy.