I will be in Lyon, France for 6 weeks in May and June teaching at a university. Can anyone suggest good weekend trips? I would also appreciate recommendations for fun activities and restaurants near our apartment in the 6th district by Massena. Thanks so much.

Sorry for typo ...forum post should read from Lyon

Bernachon is a must-visit chocolatier and pastry shop in the 6th.
As far as activities go, a walk/bike ride along the Berges du Rhône is delightful. It is in walking distance from the 6th.

I would suggest a weekend in Burgundy. Beaune, Dijon and Tournus (and its lovely romanesque church) are all easy to reach by train from Lyon, and I guess you could hire a car and tour some villages in the province. It is very beautiful.

...plus Cluny, Bourg en Bresse (Brou), Vienne and St. Romain en Gal, Annecy and it's Lake, Lake Geneva, Chambery and it's castle, Chamonix Mont Blanc, La Grande Chartreuse .....

Not a weekend trip, but just an afternoon or morning to the restored medieval village of Perouges, less than 20 miles northeast of Lyon.

Thanks so much everybody. I hope to be able to fit in most of these trips during the 7 weeks we are in Lyon. Any suggestions about hotels or B+B's in any of the areas suggested?
Also, any restaurants that you really liked in Lyon? I don't eat red meat but my husband does so we need a restaurant with some choice.

Keren,
Thank you so much. Bernachon sounds wonderful and we'll definitely check out the bike ride along the Berges Du Rhone. Is it easy to rent bikes? We have been to Burgundy Beaune, and Dijon on Butterfield and Robinson bike trips and loved the villages but will give Tournus a try.

neckervd,
Do you have any suggestions where to stay in any of the places you mentioned. I would love to visit Switzerland and the idea of a castle is intriguing. If you had to pick a favorite spot for a 2 night trip, what would it be? We will be traveling by train.

grandmere,
Thanks for the suggestion. A day trip when family/friends visit would be a great idea. I assume the train runs there from Lyon.

Once at Lyon, you will realize that there are some hundred castles in the Rhone-Alpes area and some dozens in neighbouring Western Switzerland.
For a short 2 days train trip to Switzerland, you may visit Montreux (Chillon castle) and Gruyeres (castle ). Google for these places. Other castles not far away would be at Aigle, Thonon, Lausanne, Vuffles, Morges, Rolle, Prangins (Swiss national Museum), Nyon, Coppet ......

Bernachon IS wonderful. Their chocolate bars are out of this world but they sell all kinds of chocolates, in various forms and sizes. And the pastries...there was something which had pistachio in it, some cake or other boy oh boy. If you've ever been to the famous candy shop in Paris, l'Etoile d'Or, it used to have Bernachon chocolate bars but at the original store in Lyon you can buy them paying Lyonnais prices, which are much cheaper, you can eat/drink at their caffe or pick up goodies to enjoy later...really, staying at the 6th without visiting Bernachon would be a great shame.
http://www.bernachon.com/fr/
Tue-Sat -8:30-19:00, Sun - 8:30-17:00
This is where I read about them for the first time:
http://www.davidlebovitz.com/2006/01/two-great-taste/

I just walked the Berges du Rhône so I can't advise on hiring bikes, the tourist office in Place Bellcour should know about them. When you go/ride all the way south and cross the bridge, you can now visit the Musée des Confluences which was recommended on your other thread, and in general see what they're up to renovating the quartier. Back in 2012 when I visited the museum had not yet opened.

I also think Vienne is well worth a visit, it has character and a certain charm, I still kick myself for having given it only 2-3 hours when I was day tripping from Lyon.

And not exactly Lyonnais fare, but I loved La Crêperie du Major in the 1st.
http://www.yelp.com/biz/la-cr%C3%AAperie-du-major-lyon

Thanks for the helpful advice. I am a big walker so I'll definitely walk the Berges du Rhone… and the chocolate sounds wonderful.

But you could also hire a bike, many people were riding along. Locals, of course, but I'm sure you could find places that rent out bikes for short periods. I think they have a municipal renting system. This website might be useful:

http://lyon.angloinfo.com/informatio...cling-in-lyon/