Three Things to do in France…NOT in Paris

The time we spent in Paris was one of the highlights of our travels.  The amount of things to do, places to see, cafes to patronize, and people to meet are endless.  So endless that I have decided to emit Paris from this post completely.  Here are a few places in France to visit that are not in Paris.  Any one of these would be a great addition to a 7 to 10-day France trip that includes five days in Paris and 3-5 days in one of these places:

Normandy, France

The first thing that comes to most people’s minds when they hear Normandy is WWII.  Yes, Normandy offers what I consider to be the best spot to pay respects to the heros of WWII, regardless of the theater.  To me, it’s beauty represents the soldiers who not only fought here, but all over the world.  Normandy makes a great family destination as well, as the beaches are still a vacation town, with hundreds of bed and breakfasts scattered throughout the area.  You can also spend a day visiting one of France’s most iconic treasures, Mont-saint-Michel.

Rhône-Alpes Region

France can also be an amazing winter sport destination as well.  Paris will be less crowded when it’s cold, but just as beautiful.  Head to the Rhône-Alpes region for some downhill or cross country skiing in France.  With over 50 miles of downhill slopes and over 25 miles of cross-country trails, Chamrousse is a great place to spend a few days relaxing and skiing.

The Loire Valley

The Loire Valley, AKA the Garden of France is the place to go for winos everywhere.  In Central France, the number of vineyards seems to be endless, and each one seems to be unique in it’s own right.  A visit here wouldn’t be complete without a stop at the Chateau de Chambord, the grandest of all chateaus in France.  Rumor has it that Leonardo da Vinci designed it himself!