Nice in early December
 

Anyone have day trip ideas from Nice (other than St Paul de Vence, Monaco, and Eze, which we've done before)? Thanks.

Along the coast, Villefranches-sur-Mer and Antibes are worth considering (some pictures of both at http://www.kodakgallery.com/gallery/...8%3A1613811775). In the backcountry, consider taking the Train des Pignes to Entrevaux (pictures at (http://www.kodakgallery.com/I.jsp?c=...g&x=0&y=-run25).

Cannes, Cap Ferrat, Menton, Villefranche and Beaulieu. Even better, Ventimiglia and San Remo for the huge market. Most of these towns are accessible by train.

Will you have a car? If so, head to Biot--a perched village, but the glassblowing workshop beneath the village is fascinating--and Valbonne, possibly Châteauneuf-du-Grasse.

One more thing: look for santon fairs. Those are the little to medium-size clay figurines of French villagers, and some Provençal houses as well. Fun to collect.

We recently visited Villa Euphrisi (sp?!) on Cap Ferrat and really enjoyed it. You get a nice audio-guide included in the entry fee and the gardens were wonderful (tho maybe not in Dec.) There is another villa nearby, Villa Kerylos that might be nice too. You can walk around the Cap if the weather is pleasant.

The Villa Kerylos is well worth visiting, the location is fantastic. It was owned by the Reinachs who married into the Ephrussi family and they were all related to the Rothchilds. I found "The Hare with Amber Eyes" by Edmund de Waal fascinating reading after visiting both these villas earlier this year.

We visited Villa Ephrussi once in January and the gardens, while not what they were in June when we saw them, were still delightful. The temperature was around 50 and quite pleasant for walking around.

I will be in Nice early December for a week.

Planning on doing the usual day trips to San Remo stopping at Monte Carlo on the way for a visit to Monaco to enjoy the view.

Will also take in Menton and Ventimile always on Friday for the hugh market full of fake watches cheeses and flowers.

If the trains are running I will take a train to Tende which has the most exciting views going up the Alps. Have done it in the past and you dont have much time in Tende but the ride is spectacular.

Don't usually spend a lot of time in Nice as I use it as a base for seeing other places but always like a stroll along the Prom and visit the port area for seafood at Cafe Turin
http://www.cafedeturin.fr/Accueil.html

The square at Place Garibaldi has great seafood stalls and if Cafe Turin is busy ,as it usually is, you can always pop in next door to Chez Pistol same type of food and less expensive because it has'nt the name Turin.

Only at Nice for 4 nights so that,s about my lot.