A lot of people have plans to travel in France in 2009, as many posted on this thread.
If you're like me, you may also have a "wish list" for future travel... places you want to visit at some point in the future.
I have a map of France on the wall of my office (right behind my computer monitor), with pins in all the places we've been. Driving through doesn't count! I would love to visit all of the regions of France, ideally some day every departement.
Here are the places I'm most interested in visiting in the next few years:
- Cote d'Azur. I have only a limited experience and would love to spend time in Nice, Menton, Villefranche-sur-Mer etc. I'd also enjoy getting to know more of the Var, away from the sea.
- Brittany. Never been!
- Area around Annecy. We've only driven through.
- Lyon. Have driven through several times, but never explored the city.
- The Pyrenees. Maybe a future hiking destination?
- Alsace. We spent a week there on a long-distance walk a few years ago and loved it. Now I'd like to go back on a slow vacation and stay a week or two in a vacation rental.
What's on your list for future travel to France in some future year?
The Alps are my #1 priority next trip. We'd love to ski Chamonix, and that might happen in 2010. In the summer I'd love to tool around the Alps, hiking (maybe hut to hut), visiting the little villages, etc. I have the Michelin guide to the area and it sounds like there are so many worthwhile destinations.
My "wish list" includes more time - anywhere in France! We are fortunate to have been able to spend 3 of the past 4 summers in France. But, greedy me, I want more! Like you, Kathy, I want to visit all departments. I have fallen so in love with areas in which we've stayed that I feel compelled to return to those areas as well as explore new ones. Oh, and Paris....I'm not sure I'll ever be tired of Paris.
Posts: 919 | Location: Edmonds, WA | Registered: 01 April 2006
HI Kathy. Well, we MUST get back to Provence, to the areas that are most familiar to us. That is a MUST. At the same time, I'm equally driven to return to the Dordogne region, and expand our explorations to the Lot and the area which borders the Pyrenees.
AND we would like to return to Brittany. We were there for only maybe 5 days before, and it needed more time. We would also like to return to Burgundy, but only for a few days.
Bottom line, I'd go anywhere in France. I have a niece, a lovely girl in her mid 20s, working as an English teacher in Paris. We'd love to visit her and steal her away for an indulgent journey, or even a daytrip.
Too many places to go - I'll need many lifetimes to get it all done! I'll happily settle for every year or two, and I'm so lucky to be able to do that.
Linda
Posts: 943 | Location: Outlying area of Chicago | Registered: 15 September 2004
I'd love to travel to France anywhere. But I've been mulling over the idea of going there to study French for 2 weeks or more. I love sightseeing, but what I really love is interacting with the French people and learn to speak French more effortlessly. I'm trying to figure out how I can manage that with my family and work... I guess I'd have to go alone. It may be a long-term plan. Sigh.
Posts: 215 | Location: Burbank, CA | Registered: 14 April 2006
Great topic, Kathy! How to choose? ~ Paris, a few more times because there is never enough time in that city for me! ~ A week in Chartres, so I can spend more time in and around Chartres cathedral ~ Burgundy, when my son is teaching at L'Hys ~ Provence for a month, with a rental car and an unlimited VISA card ~ Nice and area, also with a car
"Paris is the city in which one loves to live. Sometimes I think this is because it is the only city in the world where you can step out of a railway station - the Gare D’Orsay - and see, simultaneously, the chief enchantments: the Seine with its bridges and bookstalls, the Louvre, Notre Dame, the Tuileries Gardens, the Place de la Concorde, the beginning of the Champs Elysees - nearly everything except the Luxembourg Gardens and the Palais Royal. But what other city offers as much as you leave a train?" ~ Margaret Anderson Brenda
we will be back in France for the 6th yr I think after doing Burgundy-Provence, Loire-Normandy, Dordogne Languedoc and Dordogne-Lot areas for 2 weeks each plus a week seperate in Paris - all were great great times
this year we fly into Paris and then take a train or plane hop to Strasbourg and then into the Black Forest for a couple of days and then head west for 3 days in the Alsace and 3 days in the Champagegne region before dropping the car in Epernay or Reims and taking a train into Paris for final 8 days. lovely B&B's and Paris apt rented so all set we think as long as the stock market cooperates!!
Posts: 64 | Location: Florida | Registered: 01 April 2007
In the rather far future (when I'm no longer tied to a teacher's schedule and can travel at times other than high summer) I'd love to spend time in: Languedoc Provence Alsace Lot
Burgundy, Basque, Brittanny. Let's hear it for the B's! I'll go along with them for the next Slow trip.
However, since our next trip will probably be shorter, we'll probably stay nearer the English Channel ports, pick out (or pick off) some of the towns we've not yet visited. I'm encouraged that some of these have already been mentioned: Lille, Metz, Strasbourg. To these I would add Nancy, Colmar, Troyes, Dijon, St Quentin. The list could be endless. I would choose two or three of these and potter slowly between them, stopping off in small towns and villages, aiming for the most scenic countryside along the way, and above all just enjoying being in France.
Posts: 980 | Location: West Sussex, England | Registered: 08 February 2007
This March we will return to Paris for two weeks. For future trips, I would like to go back to the Dordogne and also go to Brittany and Normandy--not all the same trip.
Posts: 192 | Location: Philadelphia | Registered: 11 March 2007
My wish list is long, my expectations are realistic. We'll be there in the spring, and we are still figuring out where to go. I know for sure that Brittany and Normandy will be in our sights.
Posts: 45 | Location: Amelia Island | Registered: 25 December 2005
I agree with Daniel--Paris, Paris, and more Paris!!... I always enjoy seeing other parts of France, as well, but each time I always go to Paris. In April I will be in Paris and Lyon. Can't wait!!
Kathleen
Posts: 108 | Location: California--Bay Area | Registered: 24 August 2005
I very much want to visit the Dordogne region, the French Alps, Alsace region, and the Pyrenees (sp?). But those are just my heavy hitters - there's barely a region in France I wouldn't enjoy visiting. 2009 is out, but definitely on my future travel list!
Anywhere but it must include Paris. We're going the end of May for a month--Paris for a week, train to Bordeaux, rental house in La Roque Gageac for a week, 3 more days in the area around St Emilion, then 5 nights driving through the Loire, train to Brugge for 3 nights and flying home from Brussels. Have been to most areas and would go back to any of them but always have to start or end in Paris.
Posts: 18 | Location: Southern California | Registered: 04 January 2009
I haven't been to France in years and years. At one time of my life, especially when we were living in Germany, we traveled there frequently and saw a good many areas of the country. That was a long time ago, however, and I've been thinking that a return trip is long overdue.
As much as I'd like to go back to places we visited previously, given the probability that we may only have one trip remaining, I think I'd like to go to areas where we haven't been.
Most likely, Kathy, that would be in your neighborhood, the Luberon, or Dordogne. After reading a bit about the latter here on SlowTravel, it really appeals to me.
I'd also, though, want to include a visit to my 2nd cousin whom I haven't seen since the mid-'60s. He might be in his home outside Paris or vacationing in the south of France. Either would be fine with me.
We're actually DOING what we've talked about for years - living in Aix for a month....and blogging about it of course! Loving every minute so far - even the highly unusual snowstorm!
We did our first France trip in the fall of 2008,and my husband and I fell in love with it, and three weeks were like a tease!Everyone said once we went we would want to return,and now I know that it's true!Our last 4 days were in Cote d'Azur (based in Nice) which really wasn't enough time for this area, and so we plan on returning in 2010 to see all the places we didn't have time for in the south of France with maybe a day or two in Italy... just wants me to get out all my guide books out again and dream and plan...I envy all those who are going back this year...
I think my wish list is just plain "to go again" It's been over a year since our trip to France/Italy and the desire to return has not lessened one iota. We've been busy with other travel commitments and work issues, but the yearning is still there. I get my fix by coming on SlowTrav and just lurking. Some of the posts are so vivid, it gets the "planning" mode hyper-active. I've googled/planned so many trips off reading trip reports, that my "favorites" site is overwhelmed.
But I'm like Arnold - I WILL return!
BC Brenda
Posts: 353 | Location: Vancouver Island, BC | Registered: 26 December 2006
Well, the trip that was planned for Paris in April, that was moved to my "wish list" last fall got moved off yesterday as the doc gave me the go ahead to start planning spring/summer travel! Looks like we'll return to Paris in end of July/early August.
So now, my France wish list, really anything outside of Paris. I don't know enough about the country yet to even say - as I'll have to educate but I know we've talked about a biking/hiking trip somewhere. Given that, something with some hills for Chris, but nothing too mountainous for me. Let the research begin!
One place with not a lot of people in August, where it's great to bike and do other things is … Paris ! I always find Paris quite lovely in August, with much less traffic, much less crowds.
Looks like we'll return to Paris in end of July/early August.
