My loving dh has given me card blanche to choose a great vacation for this summer but I am stuck. I have a 2+ yr old and my dh is not athletic... we love to sit a bistros and enjoy ethnic/cultural music and would love to people watch galore... I'd love a small town that we can meander through and enjoy. Any ideas where we should go?

There are thousands of places that would fit your criteria -- Care to narrow that down to at least a country??

hi, greeeneyes -

janisj is right - too much choice.

where have you been before? how long have you got? budget? do you want "culture"/countryside/swimming/beach? car or train? one place or more?

regards, ann

Well I have a week, the budget is flexible 5000.00 with flights or ??, We are leaving Sacramento CA, I have been all over Europe as a child but my dh has only done a med cruise from Barcelona, France, Italy.. for 10 days. We loved the feel of Capri when we visited but I am thinking maybe France, I am not big on the busy city or crowds so something quaint and private would be nice. Did that help?

With a 2 year old, we have enjoyed the following small town places: Ireland - Kilkenny, Kinsale, Killarney, Bunratty (car trip, not much exercise involved).

Switzerland - berner oberland - you can make this as athletic (or not) as you like, lots of restaurants with playgrounds so you can people watch while your child plays. Can do by train. Not sure about the music.

Germany - Rhine and Mosel river valleys - we stayed in Cochem and Bacharach and did lots of castles, boat trips, etc. Kids really liked this. Also done by train and boat.

hi, greeneyes,

in a week, i'd opt for the loire - pick up a car from paris airport, then drive to somewhere like saumur - a very nice little town, with lots to do round about. the chateaux all have big gardens that your 2 year old can run around in, and there's plenty to keep your and DH's interest for a week.

you might be able to rent a gite for a week - very nice with a child [try googling www.gitesdefrance.fr].

regards, ann

Annecy, France

This summer or next????

We love Provence for relaxing, doing nothing, people watching, lavender & sunflower fields, and sitting in cafes. However, things are starting to get very booked up for this summer. For only 1 week, I would just stay in one region (Provence) if you want to relax. Perhaps stay 4 days in the Luberon (see if Kevin has any availabilites - if he allows 2 YOs http://www.masperreal.com/index.html ) and then the remainder if the time near St Remy (lots of cafe/bistro opportunities there). These two areas are less than 1 hr apart, but a different "look & feel".

You can fly to either Paris CDG or the Brussels airport & take the inexpensive TGV to Avignon, or you can fly to Marseille.

Stu Dudley

I love Nice! And there are many very tiny towns close by, if you want an even smaller city. The area between Nice and Menton (Italian border) is stunning, with dozens of tiny towns dotting the coast. Or you can go inland a bit, into the hills, to Grasse, or Vence. One thing I love about the area is that it is France, but with a very distinct Italian influence (much more laid back). It's one of the few areas in France where they do speak English but have the patience to let me attempt my very bad French!

I've rented several apts in Nice, in the Old City, in the Port area and on the beach (not far from the airport, my least favorite).

-Ronda

Flying out of SMF will mean connections and a looooong travel day w/ a toddler. If you use SFO there are at least some places you can get to non-stop. But then you have to add on the nasty drive down I-80 to SFO so either way you will have a very long travel day and a half.

If it were me w/ only a week I'd pick someplace w/ relatively easy flights/connections. Like fly non-stop into Paris and then to Provence by train, or maybe into Paris and then to Normandy.

But you will have to factor in semi-last minute fares and three seats so it won't be cheap.

Thank you for all your ideas they are wonderful... if you think of any others please keep them coming you have all been very helpful TY