Hello Fodorites Long time No Post: My husband and I are popping over to Paris for about a week, and I would like to spend one day doing a day excursion outside of the city. I am looking for people who could recommend good outfit for booking this. We travel frequently to Paris and have seen Versailles, and Fountainbleu usually we rent a car, but this time out I want to be guided about.. I am thinking Normandy, Mont St. Michael.. Anyone wowed by a Parisian day trip?? Thanks!

Oh PS we are going in May, budget plays second to experience and we LOVE history in any shape or era!

I like Robespierre's idea in the Frommers pages - take the early train from Paris (6:42am) to Caen and hire a guide from there (with car) You can return on the last train from either Caen or Bayeux. Look up his detailed post there.

Don't pop all over before I get there. I am going on my first trip too.

I visited Giverney and Monet's gardens ... fabulous. Don't miss the American Museum next door.

The gardens at Giverny would be lovely at the right time -- I think May would be nice for spring flowers.

If you hit a rainy patch: it's been a while since I've visited, but a trip to the Chartres Cathedral is wonderful if you are into church architecture, especially if you can schedule a guide. We stopped here en route to the Loire area one year.