Near Bordeaux - Day Trips and 1 Overnighter
 

Hi. I'm traveling to France in May with my husband and son (5 y.o.). This is our itinerary:
-US to Paris
-drive to Angles-sur-l'Anglin - 1 night (and visit nearby St Savin)
-drive to Bordeaux - 11 nights
-Paris - 3 nights

Planned day trips from Bordeaux:
-Brantome - visit abbey & nearby Grotte de Villars
-Chateau Roquetaillade
-Phare de Cordouan

We'll be staying with family in Bordeaux for 11 nights so we hope to do 4-5 day trips. Any other suggestions?

Also, any thoughts on where we should stay for 1 night (max 2-3 hour drive from Bordeaux)? Someplace that is lively at night (not too remote) where we could walk around in the evening for dinner, etc. This overnight trip will be late June on a Tuesday or Wednesday night.

DISCLAIMER - We've been to Bordeaux 3 times over the past few years and we love it...good food, wine, etc. But we also enjoy exploring surrounding areas - like Arcachon & Cap Ferret (thanks StuDudley...my son loved the dune du pylat!), Bordeaux Zoo and St Emilion. Also, we are planning a 2 week trip to the Dordogne / Perigord area plan in June 2013, so we don't want to venture on this trip to far out west to Sarlat or Rocamadour.

THANK YOU :)

I was going to suggest a stopover in Brantome, till I saw it on your daytrip list. There's actually a lot to see in that pocket eg. Chateau Bourdeilles, St Jean de Cole, Grotte de Villars, Chateau Puyguilhem. You could stop at Perigueux and explore the Old Town on your way back. That still leaves heaps to explore in the Perigord Noir and Pourpre on the southeast side of Dordogne next year.

rosemaryoz - When I started planning a few months ago I came across info on Brantome and I knew this would be one spot I'd like to go to. I even looked into staying overnight in or near Brantome but wasn't impressed with any of the accommodations (the decent looking hotels in Brantome were a bit too much $ considering the reviews they got on tripadvisor).

I'd reconsider staying overnight in Brantome so that we could explore more the next day. Do you have suggestions for accommodations? We like B&Bs & Inns, too.

Thank you!

I would leave out Brantôme and the surrounding area for when you are in the Dordogne, perhaps even staying in the area. When we take visitors there, and we are only 45 minutes from there, Brantôme and Bourdeilles, with maybe a coffee stop in St. Jean de Côle takes all day.

Are you familiar with the Charente, its cognac and pineau (tastings available at individual producers according to signs placed on the <i>départementales</i> and its Romanesque churches?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mksfca/...7622845839973/

What about the Gers (Armagnac area)?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mksfca/...57627163616289

Hi Michael -
I was just getting ready to start reading your trip report that includes La Rochelle (another spot we are considering). I can't recall who recommended the Cognac region (either recently or last year - maybe StuDudley - I really can't remember), but I'm looking into it as well. Thanks for suggesting Charente & Gers - I'll do some research (and thanks for the links...that's always helpful!).

You probably know more about the area but have a look at
Bergerac
Cahors
Ile de Re (go bike riding)
Toulouse is a bit far but take the train maybe

Consider the Eco-musée des Landes in Marquèze and the train ride on La Rhune. Your son might enjoy both. Stay for the night in St. Jean de Luz. You might want to look at my trip report from last year which covers what I call the Aquitaine but was mainly the coast south of Bordeaux and a couple of days in Basque country.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mksfca/...ith/5976236068