Next summer I’m planning a Mother-Daughter trip to celebrate my daughter’s high school graduation. We’ve already been to Italy twice with parties of 10-12 that included lots of extended family, this time it’ll just be the two of us! We’re thinking of either Portugal or France for this trip (never been to either country). The trip will be about 8 nights. If we choose France, we’d like to spend 3-4 nights in Paris, then get out of the city and see something else. We like to combine time in the city with time in a smaller town, usually on the water or in the mountains, someplace scenic where we can include some time to relax. Examples of itineraries we’ve loved were following up 5 days in Rome with a few days in Praiano on the Almalfi Coast for time on the beach, a day on a boat trip, but still plenty of shops and restaurants in Positano. Last summer we did Venice, then combined with Menaggio on Lake Como for time to enjoy the lake and the mountains, but still plenty of cute towns to visit along the lake.
Can you give us some ideas of similar trips for France…a scenic area that would be nice to follow up Paris with?
Would prefer to not rent a car and just use public transportation. We can travel in July or August due to school schedules. Budget is flexible…want this to be a trip to remember!
Thanks in advance for sharing your ideas!

Go to Alsace, taste the wine, walk up in the Vosges

With only 8 days, sticking to France would be ideal - you do not have the time really to include another country.* Is that 8 days on the ground or does it include your flights to/from home? If it does, you only have 6 days on the ground,. Are you flying home from Paris? If so, it is recommended to be in the departure city the night before your flight.

What are your interests? I'd spend some time reviewing France's many regions, possibly maybe looking at transit connections and times. Normandy offers a lot as does Alsace as Bilbo suggested.

Or, you could even consider spending the full time in Paris and having those "extra" days to really explore some of the day trip possibilities around Paris. Versailles, Giverny, Reims, maybe even Chartres.

*Another possible pairing: London. It is a fairly quick transit and you could fly into Paris and home from London.

If water is a priority, maybe Honfleur as a base for Normandy? or Ploumanach to see Brittany's Cote de Granite Rose?

With 8 nights, the last night doesn't count as the next day will be all the things you need to do on departure day. Also your first day won't count due to arrival day, jetlag, etc. So you are down to 6 days in Paris .If you want another place, just do daytrips, since changing location kills a day. You will have almost a week in Paris, where there is a month of things to do and see. Why go elsewhere? You want water? Take a canal boat cruise to La Villette or a trip on the Seine.

If you and your daughter have no interest in museums, several days in Paris can give you an overview of the city.
Day or nighttime tours by bus or by boat are perfectly good for that purpose.

As I count it, 8 nights gives 7 whole days, departure after the 8th night. It would be a good thing to get straight for planning purposes.

I agree with a few days in Normandy or Brittany added on to Paris.

Reims + Epernay (champagne country)

Lavandula

Like Bilboburgler, my first reaction was to suggest Alsace. My 20 year old daughter and I spent some time there a few years ago and enjoyed it. We didn't have a car but used local trains and buses (and our feet as we did a hike while there).

Wherever you go, I would head there on arrival in France and finish in Paris so you are near your departure airport for the journey home. I think spending the whole of your short time in Paris would be a lovely idea too.

I agree!

This has a double advantage. You won't have to change hotels a second time in order to be near the Paris airport the night before your return. And you'll be too tired on the day of your arrival to do much sightseeing anyway, so you might as well spend a few hours on the train.

There are direct trains to Strasbourg (the major city on Alsace) from from Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris, which take about two hours. If you want a smaller town, you could select one near Strasbourg.

Another possibility would get you a lake, and a second country. You could visit Paris first, on arrival, and then take a direct train (about 3 hours) to Geneva. It has a nice lakeside, and there are various boat rides you can take to other towns on the lake.

If you do this, you should buy a multi-city plane ticket, arriving in Paris and departing from Geneva, or vice versa. That way, you'll also save train travel expense and time.

From Geneva, I’d recommend getting to Chamonix for a day trip and doing the outstanding Mont Blanc cable car ride which takes you up to over 12,000 feet.You can also get off at lower stations for more stunning time in the mountains.Needs a decent weather day.

Annecy is also a pretty town on its own lake, very reachable from Geneva.

I’d thought of touring some of the magnificent Loire castles but I suspect that’s easier with a car though no doubt there are tours.Countryside is nice but not wow as such.Castles are wonderful.

You could also fly to Nice and spend a few days exploring the Cote D’Azur which has very good public transport…trains to Monaco, Eze, Beaulieu, Villefranche sur Mer(delightful). Or buses. Book lunch at the top of the tiny medieval village of Eze..the Chateau Eza offers a superb setting overlooking the azure sea from the lofty 1,400 foot high rocky dome of the village.One of my favourite areas in Europe.

why would you fly if you can train, more space, you can pack a picnic, see the countryside chat to people, visit the loo comfortably

We loved French basque region. We took tgv from Paris and stayed in St Jean du Luz. My husband went paddle boarding one day-it’s a big surf stop and has the added benefit of delicious food.

I disagree with the idea that "changing location kills a day," A 6am train from Paris can get you into Marseilles by 9:30am. Voila, you still have the whole day to enjoy. I would say it depends.

However, it is true you want to minimize journeys, so during a short stay you should book flights into one city and out of another.

Given your time and interests, I quite like the idea of Marseilles.

“I would say it depends”.
It does.

Getting up at 4:30 AM would certainly “ kill “ my day 🙂.

I guess it varies with one's diurnal rhythm. For some of us, getting a 6 a.m. train would mean getting up at 4 a.m. -- which would mean much of the previous day is shot and the rest of the travel day is spent in a fog. IME, changing a location doesn't necessarily "kill" a day ... but I think many people underestimate the time it takes to relocate.

I love Marseilles, but don't consider it a small town ... which is what the OP said was desired. And I, personally, would not want to try to fit both Paris and Marseilles into one 8-night trip -- IMO, each of these wonderful cities deserves more time than that would allow. JMO.

@ danon: We were posting at the same time!

I agree with often underestimated time for to/ from transportation and check in/out / pack part of changing locations.
The last few trips I took “ the room will be not ready until the afternoon “ didn't enhance my day.