We will be traveling with two teenagers who want to see "the countryside" from Paris. I'm thinking of taking the train to Blois and renting a car for the day. We would arrive by 9am and depart at 6pm, so by the time we rent/turn in the car we still should have 7 or 8 hours touring time. This will be in November next year.

I think we would head straight to Chenonceau and spend no more than 2 hours there. Then time for lunch. Would appreciate some recommendations. We would love to find a country place, maybe with outdoor seating, not too fancy....more tailored to locals, rustic, simple fare.

After lunch, perhaps the Chateau du Clos Luce to see Leonardo's inventions. Then back to Blois to spend whatever time we have left. Does this sound do-able? Given the destinations I've described, can you recommend any particularly lovely routes to take?

I'm open to all suggestions....so long as it doesn't try to pack too much in. Thanks, everyone!

Yes doable. Get a Michelin 1:2000000 map and stick to D roads (departmental or local) that usually have little traffic and go thru small villages - which typical have a cafe with a noon repast or lunch- maybe someone will know some of these for recommendations - never seen many 'country restaurants' except at fancy chateau-hotels.

No need to book trains Austerlitz to Blois in advance as these are mainly TER or regional trains with a fairly cheap and flat fare structure -discounted tickets via St-Pierre-des-Corps are train-specific for TGVs and no faster to Blois.

That said you may want to do a cheap TGV Paris-Montparnasse to St-Pierre-des-Corps and head to Chenonceau (and Chenonceaux the small town it is in) as I believe it is quicker than from Blois. S-P-d_C is on the southern edge of Tours so well out of heavy traffic and probably even closer to Amboise than Blois and if book early at www.voyages-sncf.com could be cheaper all told and faster to Chenonceau(x). For lots on French trains check www.seat61.com (especially booking online tickets yourself); general info www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com.

The Clos du Luce is hardly a chateau but a large house with nice garden -yes copies of Leonardo's various clever for the time inventions are on display and that is its key calling card - not for the house itself.

A few blocks from Clos du Luce are a string of tgroglydyte houses - one of them has a popular restaurant: www.lacaveauxfouees.com

L`Epicerie in Amboise.

No question, after leaving the Chateau Chenonceaux walk out and cross the street and dine at the wonderful inn, Auberge du Bon Laboreur. Check that it's open for lunch the day you're there, but we stayed there some years ago, and its restaurant continues to amaze, I believe with one Michelin star.

The restaurant La Bon du Laboureur is very good, but it is more on the fancy side, tailored to tourists rather than locals and the fare is not simple. Wish I could suggest something that fits your criteria but can't. Perhaps somene else can.

Crimey, that should be Auberge du Bon Laboureur.

We would love to find a country place, maybe with outdoor seating, not too fancy....more tailored to locals, rustic, simple fare.>

Sounds like La Bon duLabourere don't fit that criteria - try some un-touristed village and the local cafe for their noon tables which are locals mainly and a great value. They won't appear in guidebooks or Michelin guides probably.

Relais Routiers is a string of independent restaurants offering tradition food originally for truck drivers - these are places that could fit your criteria:

https://translate.google.com/transla...m/&prev=search

I'm probably being too particular about lunch options, thinking the kids will be ready for some simpler fare by then. I think the suggestion of more un-touristed villages is a good one. And it will probably work well with the unstructured way we're planning that day.

Thanks so much!

Amboise has several places that serve pizza etc. simple fare. Sorry I can't actually give you names as I don't remember specifics. Amorino is an excellent place for gelato on the street next to the castle.

If you do via Blois to rent a car you can do a drive by of Chambord, from the outside the most impressive of any Loire chateau and the most monumental

or time nearby Cheverny chateau for the popular feeding of the hounds kids may love better than any chateaus - 11:30am 4 days a week in November so probably inconvenient time frame for you:

https://translate.google.com/transla...ml&prev=search

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2xUgdgsjcdA

Both I think are on nice back roads route to Chenonceau.

If it's the odd nice warm day consider the French tradition of le picnique - maybe on banks of Loire at Amboise - plenty of boulangeries and stores selling take-out stuff.