PnaH

We are attending a friend's wedding in the Bordeaux region in early August and will be traveling with our two-year-old toddler. We are hoping for some advice about traveling in Southern France.

Is there a seaside town or two, with character or history, and definitely a good few restaurants and market, near Bordeaux that you could recommend settling in for about a week? As we are traveling with our toddler, it is much easier to do daytrips to explore the region than to move from hotel to hotel or town to town overnight.

I have long ago when much younger been to Cap Ferret but do not have clear memories of it -- only of staying with family friends with a charming little bungalow 10 minutes walk from the beach! I am open to suggestions for Cap Ferret or other places!

Thank you!

StCirq

Cap Ferret is nice - there's a petit train there that kids love, the beach is sandy, and there are nice seafood shacks close to the beach. I can't speak to accommodations there, though.

Arcachon is nearby, the town built up by the wealthy Bordeaux wine widows, so some nice architecture and good restaurants and a boardwalk. There's a nice beach there, too. And the Dune du Pylat is close by.

Michael

Here are some pictures of the area, but it might be a little late for August reservations:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/mksfca...63616289/show/

PalenQ

The Pylat Dune is stunning! Arachon is a bustling port town that seemed right nice but Cap Ferret I agree is a neat town with a safe sandy beach.

https://www.google.com/search?q=dune...=1600&bih=1075

surfmom

I spent a summer in Royan - nice large cove beach. Is def a summer resort and would be perfect for a family.

StuDudley

We stayed in the Sauternes area for 4 nights in 2012 and did a day-trip to Arcachon, which exceeded our expectations. Lovely architecture in the Winter Resort area. Excellent sandy beach with lots of outdoor dining spots along the boardwalk. It would be a great place to spend a week and visit other spots in the area. Here is what we visited from Sauternes:

The pg is the page the site is described in the Michelin Atlantic Coast Green Guide (my 2012 version) and the star (*,**,***) is the rating given to the site in the Green Guide. The Cad is the Cadogan Guide for the area.

June 13 Wed
Michelin Drive Cotes de Bordeaux pg 149
Cadillac/Chateau 9:30-12:30 2-6 Cad pg 197
Sadirac, Creon - market day in Creon Cad pg 193
Mich GG drive pg 150 Entre Deux Mers
Ch Cazeneuve** 2-6
Ch Malle* 2-6 Cl S, Su winery pg 153 gardens + 30 min guided tour/tasting may not be tour

June 14 Thursday
St Macaire* pg 149 Cad 198
La Roel, Monsegur Cad 199, 195
Mich GG drive pg 153 Sauternes & Barsac Cad pg 204 – Excellent description
Ch Villandraunt 2-6 guided 1 hr – get there at 1:30
Ch Roquetaillade** tours @ 3 & 4 guided 1 hr - call to confirm pg 106 05 56 76 14 16
Bourideys Cad 207

June 15 Fri
Arcachon & surrounds 1 ¼ hrs to get there pg 76 & 80 Get map at TI
Ch La Brede* 2:30-5:50 call to confirm

June 16 Sat
Bazas* pg 105, Cad 207 market day

Stu Dudley