Side Trip from Paris? Recommendations needed please
 

You all helped greatly with our trip to Italy this past May, so I am back!
DH and I are headed to Paris for 10 days this September. We would like to take one (1) night to do a side trip somewhere, but we are not really sure where to go. Right now we are thinking Amsterdam, but would like some suggestions from Fodorites! We have only traveled to London and Italy, so we prefer anywhere other than those areas. We really don't have any specifics (history, romance, location, etc) so please just throw out your suggestions :-)

Thanks!

What about someplace closer: Versailles, Giverney, Fountainbleu, Chartres, etc.

Have you seen the American Cemetary and the Peace Museum? That is an amazing trip. Go to the Museum, then maybe spend a night in Rennes, then out to the cemetary the next day. Also see the British Cemetary, located near the American one - slightly inland.

Since you have an overnight, you don't need to use it for places like Chartres/Fontainebleau etc, which aren't really experiencing different places that much. I think Amsterdam is a good idea, or Brussels. Within France, I'd suggest Lyon or Strasbourg.

I agonized with a similar question for months. We have finally settled on Lyon, but our trip dates have a lot to do with that. We'll be there over New Year's, so we had to consider what might be closed.

Our other top contenders were Strasbourg (good for that season, but too far away from CDG for our return trip), Normandy (we were excited about the scenery and seafood, but declined because of the season), and Reims (the champagne seemed a perfect attraction for NYE, but after further research, we discovered all but one of the champagne houses are closed at that time of year).

When we go back in warmer weather, I think we will be inclined to stay in Reims for a night. A town like Honfleur, in the Normandy region, seems it might require more travel time, so I'd probably alott more than one night for that trip.

Meanwhile, if you choose Lyon (only 2 hours from Paris on the TGV), please let me know your thoughts as we'll be following in your footsteps in December!

AmiLynn,
I am thinking of the same thing for early April..right now Lyon and Paris sound good.

I loved Normandy. Beautiful countryside, fabulous food, and the American and British cemeteries are very , very moving.

Let us know what you decide

Mt. St. Michel is one of the coolest places I have ever been. Once I visited on a day trip and once - with our four kids - we stayed overnight on the Mt. It was wild. It's very spooky there at night. we all loved it.

One time took a train out of Paris to Quimper - about 4 hrs but that was nice since we were tired from our flight. Lovely lovely little town. Great food. I love Normandy and Brittany.