I didn't realize it was such a short and easy train ride from Brugge to CDG nowadays (I haven't been there in years and thought you would have to transfer and it might take 4 hrs). Anyway, given that, I agree it makes just as much sense to stay there at the end, if you want. It's a long travel day with that and the plane ride, but it works.

I think the Normandy area actually sounds pretty good, it's just the other way -- I don't really think staying around Strasbourg but not in it would probably be optimal for you, it was just an option.

Thank you all again. Just read all the new replies. Well, we ended up planning to go to Paris first from CDG. Train to Orleans, pick up car, then drive to and through Loire Valley, Normandy, coast, Rouen,(3 nights for this area) up to Brugge for two nights, drop off car at airport and stay at hotel airpoet the night before we leave. Probably isn't the best order of travel, but that's it.
I'm determined to go SLOW and not try to fit everything in. We will be back again. Last time we took the kids to Europe we moved too fast and all ended up grumpy. It is my fault, I try to do too much...but not this time (I promised!).
So......arrange shuttle to Paris from CDG because we are 5 people or taxi????
What areas do you love in the Normandy/Rouen region? What areas do you love in the Loire region??
Thanks!

Also, What CDG airport hotel would you suggest for the night before we fly home?? We would need 2 rooms for the 5 of us and we fly out of terminal 2.

I think you are being too ambitous in your travel plans particulary with children in tow. Make sure you reserve a car that is big enough for all your luggage. 5 people need a big trunk. If you are driving you want to make sure all your luggage fits in the trunk so it does not attract thieves. Colmar is a much more beautiful town than Strasbourg and is highly recommended. The wine region around there is very beautiful and picturesque, but know that you are going in high season and it will be very crowded. Normandy is also worth seeing for great cuisines, wonderful history both World Wars, medeival tapestries at Bayeux, Mont St Michael, etc. The Loire Valley is very near Paris, full of wonderful chateauxs and castles, gardens, including the one that inspired Cinderalla's Castle in Walt Diseny World. Brugges is only worth a day in my opinion. Rouen, Chartres, and Versailles are all also worth seeing. Know that you can easily get to Paris by train/subway and not pay taxi fares from the airport. Also I highly recommend renting an apartment in Paris. You will get a kitchen so you can shop the wondeful markets in Paris, it is far cheaper than paying for several hotel rooms, and you will feel like a native. I recommend the Apartment CitiHotel near the Lourve. It comes fully furnished, 2 bedrooms, with all dishes, sheets, towels, etc. Train travel is very fast and convenient in Europe, but not necessarily cheap. You can order EURAIL tickets yourself and check scheudles from their web site. I would buy your tickets now and not wait as again you are travelling in high season. Make sure you get reserved seats or you may have to stand all the way. Also know that with a train ride you have to carry all your luggage yourself, lifting on top of luggage racks. There are no checked bags on trains. With 5 people that is a lot of luggage to keep track of and carry. Also make sure you have room in your bags for souveneirs you plan to buy. Bring paper plates, napkins, plastic forks, and a wine corkscrew and maybe a small knife so you can enjoy picnics by buying the wonderful cheeses, bread, fruits that are everywhere. This is particurlarly easy to do if you check your bags. If you plan on carry on only, forget the knife, unless it is a plastic one.

Leemickus....Do you think we need to get train tickets ahead of time if we are only using the train from Paris to Orleans and maybe from CDG to Paris??
As for the car trunk, with 5 people and luggage we have to get a wagon or a van. Both cars have no "trunk". Your luggage is exposed.

One big glitch in picking up the car in Orleans is to make sure you have the size car you need. You would be much more certain of this at an airport, in my opinion.
I also wonder why you don't just go north to Rouen to pick up the car since that is where you are going. I don't think you have time in 3 days to SEE anything with the schedule you have now.
3 days in Normandy is marginal as it is.
You may be missing some rather spectacular things also. For example, you could go to Chartres to pick up the car and be sort of on the way. You could get it at CDG and drive north along the Seine ( a lovely drive), stop in Vernon/Giverny for Monet's house and garden en route to Rouen. Part of the charm of Normandy is not driving the autoroutes but the more rural back roads. The distances are not great so it isn't that much "slower".

Good comments above. I would however add that you can simply buy paper plates and napkins, whatever, when you purchase your food at the marché, don't haul that kind of stuff over.

Gretchen, thanks for the advice. The reason we were heading south was to pick up the car and see part of the Loire Valley. We want to stay in a chateau there since my daughter has been researching them for us. Maybe just go towards Chartres? Then over to Normandy, Rouen....The reason we are not going to Rouen first is that we are heading south first and then north to finish in Brugge.
We are not going to see EVERY place of interest or beauty, I know that. We will do what we can. What we don't see we won't know we've missed! Ha, ha. We love to people watch anyway and are probably the fastest people in and out of musuems (sorry everyone, but I'm being honest). Just give us some pastry or ice cream and we're happy!
What do you think the best Chateau is??
Thanks!

One of the most moving places that I went to was the village of La Roche-Guyon. http://www.cometofrance.com/village-...che_guyon.html
This is near Giverny (Monet's House) but really only accessible by car. You can visit the castle which is now a museum and was Rommels headquarters under Nazi occupation. The town is worth a 1/2 day visit, combined with the visit to Giverny.

Thank you tinarose! That sound memorable. I'll plan on it.

I , of course, realized that you were not going to Rouen because of going south. I think you will have to scratch Rouen from your itinerary also, if this is what you are going to do. I can't really remember the chateaux at the moment. I think it was Chambord that we visited last on the way back to Paris from Limoges. We did the others many years ago. Someone will recommend.

Spending three days in Paris is not enought time. I have been to Paris six times, and I am always amazed at how many sights the city has to offer me.
If I were you, I would use Paris as a base and take some day trips to other areas such as Versailles, Giverny, the Loire Valley and Rheims. Rheims is in the Champagne region and is accessable by train. It also boasts a magnificent cathedral. Day trips by train are lots of fun and very adventuresome. Your teenagers would probably like a trip to Disneyland Paris as well.
Pick up a Paris Fodor's guide and you can get some great ideas on day trips from Paris. Also contact the French Government Tourist Office for additional information.

Trish, Be very careful to rent a vehicle large enough for 5 adults and luggage. We had a "van" in France a few years ago and could only fit one large suitcase in the "trunk". Fortunately with just 2 of us it was OK.
We usually take the train from Paris and pick up the car in Normandie or the Loire. Car rental is often just across the street as in Caen.
Normandy is wonderful as is the Loire. In Bayeux the Churchill is a plain hotel with very nice bathrooms. For the Loire you might take the train from Paris to Amboise and stay here: www.manoirlesminimes.com/ My favorite chateau is Villandry.
I am so jealous as I wait more than a year to return to Paris.