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France
 France is a perfect country to visit in all seasons; however, some vacationers are partial to visiting
Paris in the spring! Flights from major American cities to
Paris are frequent and at convenient times. Additionally, flying or taking the train through the tunnel under the
North Sea to
Paris
via London is a wonderful vacation experience. For
travelers, who prefer to visit
Lyon in central France
or Nice on the Mediterranean, it also is easy to fly into
Amsterdam and take short, city hopper flights to regional airports. France has high speed train connections emanating from
Paris as well as a network of convenient railroad connections between most of its
cities. For example, there is a train that runs from east to west across
southern France
that connects Nice with almost every town and village in the
south of France.
La Belle
France, beautiful France, is the largest country in Europe and touches the
Atlantic Ocean,
Mediterranean Sea, and
English Channel. Since the American Revolution, the United States and
France have had close ties. Belgium,
Luxembourg,
Germany,
Switzerland,
Italy, and
Spain border France. When planning a European vacation, tourists should think about regional excursions which would include
visiting France and its neighbors. This can be done in any season, even in the winter to include
skiing in France,
Switzerland and
Italy or in the summer for a coastal tour of
Spain, France, and
Italy.
France is famous for its arts,
food,
fashion, and style. Each area or province of
France has its own classic regional
cuisine often based on the fresh fruits and vegetables grown in an area and depending on its proximity to the sea. Furthermore, every region has special wines to accompany the great food. Visitors to Provence love cuisine that features olives, tomatoes, lemons, and local rose wines. Paris is the international capital of fashion and style with intriguing designs of furniture and accessories for luxurious living; however, regions like Provence have their fashion, style, classic perfume fragrances, and special fabrics in bold yellows and blues.
Biot, in the south of France, for example, is famous for its glass blowing artisans. There is something about the French light and ambiance that draws visual artists to
France from the salons of Paris to the gardens of the Mediterranean coastline, including modern artists of the 21st Century and the Impressionists of a bygone era. Almost every town has a museum or gallery displaying the works of internationally
famous artists.
Surprisingly,
outdoor adventurers love France. Throughout the country,
bicyclists can tour the entire country or join touring races in the flat regions or the mountains. The
French Alps have fabulous skiing and snowboarding in the winter and mountaineering in the other seasons. Trekking and mountaineering also are popular in the Pyrenees and Mediterranean Alps.
Golfing is available all year round in the south. Windsurfers love catching the Mistral winds in the Mediterranean and
Atlantic Ocean. Surfers also like to catch the waves of the Atlantic Coast. The French coasts are perfect for sports fishing,
sailing, and yachting. For indoor adventurers, there is gaming in the
casinos in Nice and in the principality of Monaco.
Visitors to France can start with a tour of Paris, visiting its famous sites and elegant sidewalk cafes. Although there are plenty of taxis as well as convenient public
transportation in Paris, it is a city for walking and slowly taking in all of its beauty. Strolling across the many
bridges over the River Seine, which divides the city into the Right and Left Banks is pleasant, is a way to ensure that nothing is missed including the
Ile de la Cite, an island in the middle of the Seine. For walkers, who want a rest, there are sightseeing boats on the Seine. Visitors to Paris should not miss the
Musee du Louvre (museum), its many gardens, the Arc de Triomphe, Tour Eiffel, and
cathedrals, including
Notre Dame. Paris has many other museums in addition to the
Louvre such as the
d'Orsay and
Pompidou. At the Opera, visitors can see the rich and colorful costumes worn some of the classic operas dating back over 100 years. Paris even has unusual cemeteries where many internationally famous authors, writers, and musicians are interred.
Famous castles and palaces surround Paris such as
Versailles and
Fontainebleau. History buffs can trace the pathway of the
French Revolution by visiting Versailles and the Bastille in Paris.
After visiting Paris, some vacationers enjoy going to
Normandy or
Brittany in the north. Historians like to visit Normandy to see the
World War II memorials and
battlegrounds. Others go to Normandy and Brittany to study the interesting regional cultures or trace their
Celtic roots. Agri-tourists as well as those interested in birding find northern
France to provide rich venues for studying the habitat.
Le Mont St Michel in northern France should be on everyone's must see list. Some visitors prefer to travel southwest from Paris and visit the beautiful castles in the
Loire Valley. Buses are available in Paris for day trips to visit some its famous castles which are among the most beautiful in the world.
In Lyon, visitors can find the typical French ambiance, culture, and cuisine. It is a city of contrast that mixes the old and classic architecture with modern art and outdoor sculpture.
Lyon has two rivers that dissect it to form the
Presqu'Ile, a parcel of land between the two rivers. It has some interesting restorations in the old city to see as well as cathedrals, museums, and gardens. It has very glamorous sidewalk cafes where visitors can sample its famous
Lyonnaise cuisine that features fresh salads and potato specialties. Lyon has a heritage in the silk industry, and in 1600, it was the center of the European
silk industry. Visitors can trace the history of the silk industry in its museum and purchase fine samples of Lyon silk.
Nice not only has great
beaches, which are open from April through October, it also has
casinos, shopping, and
gardens. Additionally, it has the exciting Nice
Carnaval in February and Nice
Jazz Festival in July. Furthermore, it is the gateway to the
Cote d'Azur and Mediterranean Coast. Visitors to Nice can visit the many area museums and art galleries celebrating
Matisse,
Picasso, and other French artist from the Impressionist School of Art. The city has a great history that blends the French and Italian cultures. After visiting Nice, tourists can travel east to Monaco or
Italy, sail to
Corsica, or drive along the D4 expressway to
Antibes,
Cannes, and other cities on the Mediterranean coast. In Antibes, there is a beautiful harbor where many sailors and
yachtsmen, who circumnavigate the Mediterranean Sea, stop for a rest and to visit the chandlers at the port. The
Picasso Museum is very interesting as are the restaurants, night clubs, and shopping. Cannes hosts the film festival and is an exciting place to visit and people watch.
Grasse, which is north of Cannes, is the perfume capital of the world.
Visitors to the south of France can continue along the coast to St. Tropez and
Marseilles-then Spain-or go to Aix-en-Provence and
Avignon. Avignon was the home of the popes that reigned during the schism in the Catholic Church. The architecture of the city and religious buildings are incredible. In July, Avignon host a festival which includes reenactments of the historical presence of the former pope and royalty.
Visitors planning a trip to
France should make their arrangements now. Spring is a popular time to visit the country and reservations become hard to book. In August, almost everyone in France takes a vacation. At that time, lodging is difficult to find and travel arrangements are hard to make. Therefore, plan ahead and book early.
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