I'm working on my Provence itinerary. We're staying near Maussane, and plan to visit places in that area, but I wondered if it might be fun to visit a coastal town near-by. But in your opinion, is it worth the drive and the crowds? or ?

We'll have just spent a week in Venice, staying on the beach on the Lido this time around, so we will have gotten some beach time. But I'm just looking for some fun excursions for the boys...

A couple of years ago, we did a daytrip to Lerici from Lucca, in Italy, and had a blast. This was also in August, and we found the crowds manageable, but I'm not sure if this is comparable since this will be our first time to Provence.

Amy

Hi Amy,

I am by no means expert on this, having just been in Provence for a week for the first time, but we liked Cassis a lot. We took a bus from Aix. It was kind of crowded along the dock, but there were plenty of spaces on our calanque boat, and we found the trip really refreshing. I thought it would be a sort of bland putt-putt boat but it was NOT. There were whitecaps, and the boat pitched and heaved travelling between calanques, and I got (very happily--it was a hot day) thoroughly soaked. The photo is from the inside of the boat, where sensible Gary sat. The kids on the boat seemed to be thrilled by the drama of the pitching boat and of course by getting all wet. I saw some folks in kayaks along one calanque, close to where there was a small beach. Maybe a kayak rental for your fellas? I wish we had done that.

Hi amarena...

Our family did a day trip to Cassis at the beginning of August last year and we enjoyed it very much. You can read about our day here. We didn't end up going to the beach though (there are two right there by the port) as it was just too crowded and rocky. We are probably spoiled by the beautiful beaches of North and South Carolina. There are some other beaches at the calanques (one at Port-Miou I think you could easily drive too) that seem more natural and less crowded. And some people sun on the rocks. Be aware that you will likely encounter bathers in various stages of undress, if that is a concern for you.

But this topic has been discussed on Slow Travel several times, and some people have different opinions about Cassis in the summertime. Read this and this for some other inputs and ideas.

Kathy

Having just been in Cassis at the end of June this year with my husband and three children aged 14, 11 and 9, I would not visit in August. We didn't love the rocky beaches, although we weren't dissauded by the dress (or not) of the bathers. Cassis is gorgeous, we had some delicious seafood, and the calanques are spectacular -- but I'm sure it will be mobbed at that time.

Joan

We stayed in La Ciotat...cheaper, less crowded and only a 12k drive to Cassis and the Calanques. The boat trip was wonderful and a drive along the Route de Cretes was spectacular. We watched some crazy rock climbers, they were also studded all over the walls of the Calanques...
Cheers
Judith.

Thanks for all the responses. I'm not sure if it sounds like what I was quite imagining... And I need to research the "calanques" as I am embarrassed to admit, don't know what this is!

Amy, calanques are tall rock cliffs that stretch along the coast from Marseille to Le Ciotat. They are quite amazing. (See the photo below.) From Cassis as well as from some other places you can take a little boat tour out to see some of the calanques. The boats in Cassis offer several different trips of varying lengths and prices, including a different number of calanques.

In Cassis there is also a little train tour that includes a short stop at one calanque. Depending on the time of year, you can also hike along the cliffs.

It's all quite spectacular. I'm not sure very young children will appreciate much of it, but they would definitely enjoy the boat ride.

Kathy

Thanks, Kathy. Your photo is wonderful... the calanques certainly are impressive.

On a different note, I just read your account of your canoe trip down the Sorgue(?) river, as I thought we might be interested in that. Hilarious! Glad I read it, though, because I don't think we would enjoy it, actually.