caitg

I am planning 2 weeks in France in October this year with husband and 4 year old son. We would like to spend about 4 days in Paris and the remainder of the time in one area (preferably one place) elsewhere in France. We love gardens and scenery, enjoy visiting old buildings, like wine, don't need restaurants that do not welcome small children, not into art in a big way. We will probably have a car as it is hard to see scenery without one. We don't speak any French. We are coming from northern Spain so will not have to deal with jet lag or allow for much travel time.
Any suggestions on good places to base ourselves for just over a week at that time of year?
Thanks in advance.

StCirq

The Dordogne, within a 30-mile radius of Sarlat. You can visit the Costa Brava and St-Jean-de-Luz and Biarritz and Bayonne on the way there.

suec1

Well to the east of Paris, tha area around Beaunne is lovely wine country, good for motoring around. Then you have the Loire Valley or southern France around Nice. "It's all good". Put up a map, throw a dart? then check back in for some detailed advice.

AprilinParis

The Loire valley has lots of castles to visit and they are all unique. Cheverney (sp) has a feeding of the hounds every afternoon. Chambord has lots of grounds and parks surrounding the castle so there is plenty of room for a 4 year old to roam. Also Villandry has the most incredible gardens including a maze.

glaciermeadows

Either Burgundy around Beaune and Sarlat as suggested are beautiful in the Fall. I was in Burgundy last April and rented a gite near Sarlat for a week. Harvest in Burgundy would be special and easy to get to from Paris. I especially love the Dordogne great fortifactions, caves and historic sites. Can not go wrong either way. driving in both areas is a lot of fun.

iris1745

Good suggestions. Here is a little info on Burgundy and Sarlat. Richard www.burgundyeye.com http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/sarlat

caitg

Thank you to everyone .. have started already started reading in more detail about some of these places.

Echnaton

Cote d'Azur is perfect in October - warm, but not hot, sunny, clear, still warm enough for swimming.. You have beaches, scenery, museums, picturesque towns, wine, food, entertainment...

grandmere

Alsace is beautiful at that time of year, and the towns and villages along the Route du Vin as well as the larger city of Strasbourg are wonderful.

sheila

I will put in a bid for the South West. Weather lovely- beginning to break, but that gives you warm days with views of the snow clad Pyrenees.

I would probably look at somewhere like Marciac in the Gers. That way you would have easy access to Madiran, and Saint Mont and Jurancon; and are an hour or so away from wine regions like Buzet, Gaillac etc.

You're less than 3 hours from the Bordeaux vineyards and Bergerac too.