@ StCirq -- you were another of the wonderfully helpful people who made sure I understood my options and the logistics, so again, my thanks!

Oh, you're so welcome, kja!

Thank you all again for all your help. I will follow Stu advice and will skip Loire Valley this time and will leave Paris for the end of our journey. Most likely we will take a train to Rouen and train back to Paris from Brittany. It might cost us a bit more but I don't need aggravation at the first and last day of my driving route.

Regarding 4-day trip to Italy - I would combine Tuscany and Florence in one day and get it down to 3 days total. Jokes aside - 17 years ago I drove my family from LV-Zion-Bryce-North Rim of GC-Death Valley-Yosemite-Tahoe-SF in 10 days. I was young and restless. And stupid. And it was a Cadillac....

kja has great taste is towns. Others advise on choices are excellent. While Brittany's roads have improved from the years that I lived there, it still is pretty slow going once you get off the autoroute...and you DO want to get off and discover the little hamlets. Coastline drive a must but hit some of the interior of Brittany as well.

My favorites for overnight stays are Honfleur, Mont St. Michel, Dinan, Concarneau and the Abbaye de Fontevraud. Ploumanach is very special at sunset and I loved visiting Forte La Latte on the Emerald Coast.

Have fun!

@ klondike -- thanks! I don't know what I missed; I do know that I thoroughly enjoyed what I saw. :-)

We went to Normandy/Brittany last summer and spent 2 nights in Rouen, 3 nights in Dinan and 2 nights in Caen. All 3 were good based for visiting different attractions and areas. Visited Mont St Michel on the way to Dinan, Bayeux tapestry and D-Day beaches from Caen.

I did a trip report a couple of years ago that covered around a week in Brittany (among other places.) Our time in Brittany was among the best we've spent in France, and that covers a fair amount of ground. For what it's worth, http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...-movements.cfm

Oops, just noticed that the OP is probably in France at the moment. Bon Voyage!