Miranda

My beau and I are spending 3 days in Paris, then have 4 days free before we have to be in Holland for a friend's wedding. Because of our end destination and time constraints, we hate to travel too many hours to the South or West of Paris. Any recommendations for great get-a-ways, charming towns, vineyards, resorts, countryside, whatever, etc. that wouldn't force us to spend too many hours in transit?

Thanks, All! You guys are the best!

Library Dragon

I would suggest that you visit Belgium. Brussels is one of the cultural capitals of Europe for this year. Bruges is lovely. Great food, art, history, etc. How will you be traveling? I recommend a car.

TAKEOFF2DAY

I was just there last April and we took a trip to Brussells on the Thayls from Gare Montparnasse which was a nice day trip.(They have a website with the schedules, if you go, the name of the stop is "Bruxelles Midi" then take the train to the right of the tracks for a short ride and you are there!) We wanted to go to Bruges but the train departed back to Paris too early not leaving enough time to spend the day there, check the schedule as it may have changed. If so, I would go to Bruge, it's supposed to be lovely. Then we took a trip to Giverny, Monet's garden which was delightful, pack a lunch and enjoy the day! The Sacre Cour is also a nice trip, not too far to go, but its great to wander around in the shops. Have a wonderful time!!! We loved Paris and there's so much to see and do! Enjoy!!

mileonaire

After Paris, why not set up camp in Brussels for four days? There is lots to see and do there, and side trips to Bruges (aka Brugge) the Venice of the North and Antwerp (Antwerpen) for odd days out are easily arranged.

You could hire a car, but the travel could be just as easily done by rail. You will then be well placed for a short hop to Holland, and you can probably buy one train ticket for the whole journey.

PS Since you mentioned vineyards, while in Paris, the county of Champagne and the town of Reims is just 1 1/2 hours away by high speed train. How about a visit to a Champagne house and cellars, together with a tasting?

BearX220

From Paris, the whole north coast of France is only a couple of hours away. Much of it is really charming. You can go northwest from the city into Calvados country, Normandy, and visit Caen or Bayeux or, a little further east, Deauville... a nice little resort town. All on the Channel coastline. (If you are interested in D-Day history, Omaha Beach is not far from Bayeaux and well worth a visit.)

Or strike out north-by-northeast from Paris and head for Le Touquet, a small elegant casino town, also on the coast. Calais is a bit further east and has some charm apart from being a massive tunnel/ferry embarkation point. Then another couple of ticks east and you're in Belgium... Ostend, on the coast, and Brugge are just a skip away. I drove through there westbound last summer on my way to the UK and it was very nice... friendly people, plenty of restaurants and hotels, nice countryside if you've seen enough cathedrals and market squares.

Efrem

Weather permitting and if you like Monet, his house and gardens at Giverny are a delightful outing. Take the train (I forget the station, but any hotel concierge, railroad station or tourist info bureau can tell you) to Vernon, the nearest stop. You can then walk the few miles to Giverny along an abandoned railroad bed, rent bikes at the RR station (not great, but they'll do) and ride along the same route or the road, or take a bus or taxi. Buy some cheese, bread and wine or water and have a meal/snack in the parking lot when you get there. You take a guided tour of the house & wander the gardens on your own. Everything is kept as much as possible as it was when he lived and painted there.

The good news about your trip is that it's really hard to go wrong. Enjoy!

protomartyr

Two words: Saint Michel