Things To Do in France with Family:
France vacations your kids will love
Things To Do in France with Family: in which country should you spend your vacation by the sea, in the mountains or in the country, or even all three at the same time? Climbing volcanoes, descending streams, counting castles, navigating canals, cycling through vineyards? In France, of course, unique in the world! What if you take advantage of sunny days to discover one of its magnificent regions and get your fill of activities, walks, visits with your children? We promise you will not be bored, in fact, you will have to come back….
Feel great in the Pays de la Loire
For vacations in the West, the best choice is to follow the river in the Loire countries. With their beautiful castles, Saumur, Angers and Nantes can be discovered on two wheels on the Loire à Vélo. But why not, also by toue. This typical small flat-bottomed fishing boat that can also be habitable, so convenient and practical for short cruises. Is the estuary and Saint-Nazaire in sight? After a visit to the large liners of the Escal’ Atlantic and the Espadon submarine of the impressive naval base, head for the beach! The choice is yours between those on the Côte d’Amour or Côte de Jade, the large bay of La Baule, and the coves near Pornic. For a fishing trip or a night like no other, on stilts, facing the ocean, a pêcherie can accommodate the whole family. Here, salt marshes are part of the landscape, as in Guérande, just outside or a little further south in Noirmoutier, Vendée. It is not easy to catch the salt flakes! Fortunately, the salt workers will be happy to guide the little hands.
A flood of delicacies in Normandy
“But, Mom, where did the sea go?” In Normandy one learns to read the tide calendar: it is he who will decide what will become of the days. Does the shoreline reveal its miles of sand at low tide? Let’s go. Take advantage of it for a land sailing competition on the sand or a great family walking fishing trip. Does the sea rise at or near the speed of a galloping horse? Treat yourself to a kitesurfing or sailing tack on the Normandy Landing beaches near Caen, or some paddle boarding at the foot of the cliffs of Etretat. And at any hour, regardless of the tide, head to the farms where you can go to snack on crepes and apple juice or camembert canapés to enjoy with a glass of cider. In Deauville, you can also nibble on… “parasols – parasols,” a delicacy made with apples, caramel and salted butter reminiscent of
those most famous in Normandy!
An ocean of green in Alsace, Lorraine and Champagne
Ready for a big plunge into the forest? Direction Grand Est, its mountain ranges and on natural parks! In Alsace, between visits to castles and wineries, set off on the assault (strollers included) of the new Chemin des Cimes, which winds for more than a kilometer over the forest roof, between 5 and 23 m high. From the top of the observation tower (29 m), the whole family brushes up on some geography: the 360-degree view encompasses the Rhine plain, the Black Forest and the Northern Vosges. Enough to make one want to spend the night perched in a cabin at 750 m above sea level. But since you have to come back down someday, let’s already take a look at the region’s wide range of lakes. Sail a solar-powered boat on Lake Gérardmer in the Vosges or kayak through the pine forest of Lake Pierre-Percée, in Lorraine… How about pushing yourself to the shores of Lake Der, in Champagne? Lots of water in the land of the king of wines! With its 4,800 square meters and 6 beaches, it is like a sea inland, to be discovered by bike, on foot or of course on the water
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A whole world in Occitania
Undecided between the sea or the mountains or even the countryside? In Occitania, there is no need to choose; the region is a world unto itself. In the Pyrenees, you get close to the peaks by getting your fill of excitement: observing the vault of heaven from the Planetarium of the Pic du Midi (2,877 m) or spending a night with wolves, bears and marmots in a lodge in the Pyrenees Wildlife Park-that’s how to make the little ones’ eyes sparkle! Still craving the fresh air? Get out your hiking shoes to try some sections of the new GR 736, which connects the springs from Tarn, in Lozère, to Albi: 300 km through the Grandes Causses and Cévennes Nature Parks, and magnificent villages like Sainte-Enimie. And stages to suit all ages: you can alternate between hiking with donkeys, paddling, canoeing or mountain-biking! Then all you have to do is glide down the Canal de Midi, by bike if you still have the strength or on a barge, from Toulouse to Sète. We told you there was also the Mediterranean in Occitani
The 5 senses tour in Provence
What scents will your children remember about Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur? The fruity scents of freshly pressed oil savored under an olive tree in the Baronnies? The sweet scents of jasmine in Grasse, the perfume capital of the world? Or the sweetness of an almond-scented calisson to be nibbled on in a centuries-old patisserie? It will also be without, shadow of a doubt, the taste of adventure! Pedaling around the Massif de l’Esterel, whizzing down Mont-Ventoux on an electric scooter, galloping among the pink flamingos in Camargue and in the flamboyant ochre of Roussillon or Provençal Colorado, or crossing the Gorges du Verdon by electric boat… what a beautiful vacation in France!
A wave of merriment in Brittany
Boarding. In Brittany, 2,700 km of coastline are available to your little pirates: from port to port, ancient vessels invite you to unforgettable sea outings in the wake of ancient pirates. In St. Malo, you play the bands of freebooters aboard the Renard, a replica of a Surcouf ship; in the port of Brest, you can take a sailing lesson on La Recouvrance, an all-wood goëlette; and in Camaret-sur-Mer, you can leave your bags in the salon of the “Grand Bleu” for a night cradled by the rigging. But you also have to go ashore in Brittany. Run across the moors in search of the incredible megalith area: 6,000 menhirs, a thousand dolmens and just as many questions from your budding paleontologists. You’ll find all the answers there: at Carnac, young and old will learn how to light fires, at Cairn de Barnenez they’ll hunt with spears, and at Monteneuf they’ll learn to lift stones better than Obelix! And if they can’t, the forest of Brocéliande and its magic fountain are just a stone’s throw away…
A very rich array of activities in Haute-France
Up there in the far north of France, Haute France has great surprises in store for you. And not only because there you can climb, via specially prepared trails, coal-black mountains. Just a stone’s throw from the magnificent Louvre-Lens museum, the old slag heaps of the mining basin are an amazing attraction. But you must also take a breath of fresh air on the Opal Coast, discover Boulogne-sur-Mer and Nausicaa, Europe’s largest aquarium, but also Le Touquet-Paris-Plage, time for a tonic landsailing ride, or Berck-sur-Mer and its multicolored kites. We recommend ending on a high note with a dive, 100% natural, in the sumptuous Somme Bay. Among sandbars and salt marshes, you will encounter seals diving just a few meters from the shore and thousands of birds to watch with binoculars. On foot, on the back of a donkey, by bike or even by canoe or kayak, the place is really worth a tour!
Beautiful nature in the Auvergne-Rhone-Alps
Marmots playing hide-and-seek with chamois, a glacier that can be reached by a little train from Chamonix, ziplines that make you fly from one valley to another… And then high-altitude lakes, walks among the alpine pastures and snacks to enjoy blueberry tarts. All this with Mont Blanc at your side. In the Alps, family vacations reach their peak! Further east, almost in the center of France, it’s like taking a trip to the center of the earth just waiting for little explorers: welcome to the Auvergne Volcanoes Regional Nature Park. Just a stone’s throw from Clermont-Ferrand and its lava stone cathedral, you can descend into the crater of the Pariou, visit the bowels of the Lemptégy Volcano, climb the Sancy or ride the Vélorail of volcanoes. Save some breath for an exciting nighttime visit to Vulcania in the midst of nature. What if you sleep in a buron, a typical Auvergne house?
A great treasure hunt in New Aquitaine.
We might as well warn you now: New Aquitaine, with Bordeaux and its vineyards, is the largest region in France! From the Cave of Lascaux in the Dordogne Valley to the ideal surfing spots of the Basque Country, via the Poitou marshes, the lighthouses of Île de Ré or the Futuroscope of Poitiers, not forgetting the beautiful forest of the Landes nor the great dune of Pilat in the Arcachon basin: the treasure chest overflows. Isn’t it a good idea to go and discover all these treasures and have an adventure with the whole family? A full-scale treasure hunt, called Térra Aventura, follows the concept of geo-coaching. More than 500 trails are scheduled throughout New Aquitaine. Clues, QR codes hidden in nature, riddles to solve, treasures to find… Each walk lasts between a 1 and 2 hours and is between 2 and 4 km long. Via the website, in 5 languages, or by downloading the free app, ready, set, go and may the best man win!
Pleasure baths in Corsica
Whether by boat or by plane, arriving in Corsica always leaves you speechless. For incredible is the beauty of this island, with its mountains plunging into the Mediterranean Sea, its paradisiacal beaches with turquoise waters where young and old never cease to swim, dive, jump… The Désert des Agriates inlet and the Scandola Peninsula Nature Reserve in the North, the coves of Palombaggia or Rondinara in the South… Between the two, nothing is more fun than taking the Trinichellu, the local little train. Wild pigs on the sides of the tracks, herds of cows or donkeys provide entertainment while the many stops reveal dizzying views! Don’t miss the chance to take a dip in the clear pools of water in the streams of the Restonica Valley or Vizzavona Forest. Also try canyoning, via ferrata and tree climbing amid the intoxicating scents of the bush.
But what a history in Burgundy
With its famous vineyards and world-famous grand crus, Burgundy is said to be the land of wine. It’s true! But here, you will also find…water! So, you can sleep with your families either in a barrel in the middle of the vineyards or on a barge at the flow of rivers and canals among the green hills, nautical stops and flowery locks. And this young sailors will love! To continue discovering the history of Burgundy, bicycles will help. Here’s the program: step into the shoes of a Gallic in Bibracte, relive the Battle of Alésia with Julius Caesar at the MuséoParc, participate in the construction of a fortified medieval castle in the forest of Guédelon. Not forgetting to play the great lord of Burgundy in the Hospices de Beaune before following the trail of the owl in Dijon-we already met someone who didn’t want to leave!
Castles, troglodytes and fairy tales in the Loire Valley.
We would like to visit all the castles one by one but, in the Loire Valley, along the King’s River and its tributaries, there are 23 major ones without counting the minor castles, as in Sologne, where you can count almost as many as the deer in the forest! You have to choose: the Castle of Cheverny, the Moulinsart of Captain Haddock in the adventures of Tintin, the Castle of Troussay, the little one of the bijoux of the Renaissance or even the Castle of Chambord, the most majestic, with its turrets, skylights and chimneys… A tour of a few days, on the back of a donkey to spare the legs of the little ones, your little princes and princesses will soon love the taste of life in a castle! To bring them back down to earth…a nice tour of the troglodyte caves of Saumur and Anjou. There are hundreds of them, ancient tufa quarries, the beautiful stone of castles, dwellings and mushroom houses. In Bourré, Stef, the cavern man does the honors of the 35-kilometer tunnel: treasure hunt and grape juice, like a real Troglodyte!
