Expert: Terry Casey - 2/10/2007

Question
Terry thanks so much for your reply.  I think I am asking too much, I think we
just need to know an area that is beautiful and where we can drive to an area
where we can canoe with young children, so the river should not be with too
much of a current.  I have been searching on the internet but everywhere
sounds lovely.  We enjoyed Sarlet as it was in a beautiful location, near the
river and very easy to drive to around.  We are not into big crowds or where
there is lots of hustle and bustle (we live in London UK so would be nice to
get away from that).  Our budget for accommodation is about £500 sterling a
week.  We would like to spend a 5 days or a week in a place mid way from
Calais and Provence to break the journey up.  Any ideas where to stay?  Sorry
to sound so vague.  Once again thank you for your help.  Rita
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The text above is a follow-up to ...

-----Question-----
Hello, we are planning to take three weeks travelling to Provence and back
again (Calais) in August (school hols).  We have two children a 3yr old and a
5yr old who has brain damage but very mobile and loves water.  We need to
find a place which is near a beautiful river beach where we can go canoeing,
horse riding and has a swimming pool pref. with a slide.  Also is there
anywhere not so invested with flies or mosqutoes?  We went to Scarlet in the
Dordogne last year and stayed in a great campsite called Soleil la plage, so
anthing like that would be wonderful.  Your help would be much appreciated.
Happy for camp site or gite. Thank you
-----Answer-----
Hi . . . Rita!

For three weeks traveling in the Provence or SW France areas in August, there
are many, many options!  That’s the good news!  BUT,  I am not sure how
many potentials fit the ticket for being a “beautiful river beach” with
canoeing, horse riding and a swimming pool with a slide.  

Not knowing your budget, it seems that you are looking for a bit of a “needle
in the haystack” to meet ALL of your needs and wishes.  Tell me more on your
budget range, past France travel experiences, etc.

On avoiding flies or mosquitoes, I am not a bug expert.  My guess is,
however, that you just going to have to be lucky depending on how the
weather goes in this upcoming season.  Depending on the temperatures and
amount of rain, an area could be trouble free or the conditions could be right
to breed more of the pesky insects.  Being near the water, you’ll have those
risks at a higher level.  You’ll just have to hope for the best conditions to
avoid that problem.  And taking the bug repellant sprays or lotions will be
wise.

On a place to stay, farm houses or a gite, I would suggest doing digging and
checking on these two websites:
www.vrbo.com/vacation-rentals/europe

OUTSIDE PARIS ACCOMMODATIONS OPTIONS:
www.gites-de-france.fr
for farmhouse and these types of options

VRBO covers a wide range of places to stay where you are renting through the
owners.  On both websites, you will have to do lots and lots of looking and
digging . . . doing it soon as possible with August being the peak season for
vacations in this busy and popular part of France.  You are seeking a very,
very narrow type of place to stay and it will take some work and luck to find
it.  With VRBO, I would suggest checking with them via e-mail on some
decent potentials, asking them how close such river beaches might be,
seeking any suggestions they have, etc.  In general, many of the rivers in the
Provence area are wider and might not be as ideal for that river beach as you
could have found in the wonderful Dordogne region.  We have stayed near
Sarlat and loved this region.  But the topography is much different than in the
Provence which is a little flatter. Below are my tips and suggestions for
Provence.

Does this help?  Sorry for my delay in responded as was out of town on
business. What are your reactions and needs for added information?  Be
happy to provide additional info and answer other questions after learning
more from you.  ENJOY!  Merci Beaucoup!

Thanks.  Terry Casey in Columbus, Ohio

PROVENCE: WHY IT IS A GREAT PLACE?  ITS WONDERFUL OPTIONS:

Why do people love Provence?  It is a region having a love affair with the land,
earth and environment.  The landscape is lush and verdant.  Open-air
markets have baskets of fresh herbs, fruits, flowers, fabrics, etc.  The colorful
spirit of the Mediterranean fills the air.  Provence is nature at its purest.  The
sky is a piercing shade of blue.  Fields are abundant and the air is clear.  The
climate ensures that spring, summer and fall yield magnificent and varied
harvests.  Throughout France, Provence is known for the best of everything
natural.  People in the area take great pride in these natural traditions for
what they grow and how it is prepared in each village and every kitchen.

LOCATION: Provence has at its southern edge the famed Cote d’Azur with its
wonderful coastline along the Mediterranean Sea.  Generally Provence is
consider the area east of the Rhone River with the Alps being the eastern
border.  Provence enjoys a southern sun that shines 320 days yearly, giving
the region blue skies and mild temperatures year round.  It is most
picturesque in the spring with its flowering trees and shrubs.  Summer offers
local markets full of fresh harvests.  Mid July is when the lavender field are in
full bloom, filling the country air with a soothing fragrance.  The Mistral
winds can bring icy temperatures on bright sunny days. Getting lost can be
fun in Provence.  You can stumble across a charming village, history abbey or
great tree-lined roadway.

KEY PROVENCE LOCATIONS:
AVIGNON is "one of the great art cities of France".  Its old part of town has the
Papal Palace, seat of Popes 1309-1377, street musicians perform near palace;
art museum in Place du Palais open Wednesday through Monday, population
of 87,000, town is on Rhone River. Once the religious, political and financial
capital, Avignon is today a cultural capital and plays host annually in July to
the largest festival of live theatre in the world. It has some of the best
example of Gothic architecture in Europe.

AIX-EN-PROVENCE (population of 125,000) with Cezanne's studio on the road
to Entremont; university town founded 122 B.C. as first Roman settlement in
Gaul, near thermal springs, dining at Gu et Fils. An elegant and beautiful
town, the visitor will enjoy discovering its ‘thousand fountains’ as he or she
roams through its labyrinth of narrow streets. Aix-en-Provence is also
renowned worldwide for its unique classical music festival.

Car travel to such nearby areas as ARLES, highest priority area city with
Roman ruins, including 20,000 seat arena where bull fights are held in the
summer; founded 49 B.C. by Julius Caesar, population of 52,000, Van Gogh's
former home. Tarascon has its 15th century castle. LES BAUX is a very neat
medieval village with great views that has no major population now, but
tourist flock to soak its history and great views. You should dine right near
there at L'Outau de Beaumaniere for ONE OF THE BEST MEALS YOU CAN HAVE
IN FRANCE (lunch is more affordable).  NIMES has its Roman ruins and great
old arena.  Nimes was settled 121 B.C. and has a population of 140,000.

ST. REMY his its Roman ruins, a population of 9000 and is the setting of
world-famous literature.  Saint-Remy is one of the most representative of
Provençal towns and allows the visitor to appreciate the true charm of this
oft-celebrated region of the country. It comes as no surprise that Saint Remy,
like Cannes or Saint Tropez, is a destination for many well-known
personalities.  This Gallo-Roman village is on the plains 20 km south of
Avignon. Residents more recent than the Romans include Dr. Schweitzer, Dr.
Nostradamus and Van Gogh. The picturesque, old village is protected by the
circular 14th-century wall which is lined by its protective circle of buildings.  
Its dolphin fountain is located in the shaded square in front of a 16th century
old convent.  This is a busy, active village, with a good selection of
restaurants and hotels for the traveller. Among the shops are a few with some
regional pottery, including some beautiful sunflower plates influenced by Van
Gogh.  The road between St. Remy and the autoroute (at Cavaillon, 17 km to
the east) is a scenic drive out of the past: the road is lined by plane trees .

PONT DU GARD (Roman aqueduct/bridge) to the west of Avignon is a must
see; Saturday AM market at Uzes near Pont du Gard can be totally charming
and wonderful.

Try good Provence website of:
www.provencebeyond.com

Answer
Hi . . . again . . . Rita!

Thanks for the added information.  This helps greatly.

You have summed it up very well in saying: "I have been searching on the internet but everywhere sounds lovely."

That's Provence!  Everything sounds lovely because in most cases it is just that.

Part of the charm of Provence, like in Tuscany and some other wonderful parts of Europe, is wherever you are, there are many, many great options nearby.  In fact, if you get lost, you discover some charming little village, marketplace, special site or sight, etc.

We like around Avignon because of the super fast TGV connection down south from Paris in only two hours and 35 minutes.  If you look around Orange or Carpentras (north, NE of Avignon) it starts to get a little more towards the mountains and a wider variety of terrain.  Much around Avignon can be somewhat flat and dominated by the large Rhone River.  You might also try looking around the town of Bagnois, NW of Avignon.

From either the VRBO or gites websites, I would suggest doing lots of e-mails or calls to places that sound nice, probing for more info, seeking the place that best fits your needs, near to what you are seeking.  It is lots of trial and error, but few websites are going to sum it up perfectly to match your exact goal.  If you send out 15-20 e-mails telling them what you are seeking, you will got lots of good information back that will help you get closer to your goal.

Hope this helps.  Let me know any other questions.  As you narrow your location options, I'd be happy to check the exact loction on a very detailed Michelin Atlas that I have and offer any added comments, if that is helpful.

Thanks.  Terry Casey in Columbus, Ohio