Normandy with kids?

[Elinor Everywhere]

We are taking the kids with us to France in the fall, and I wondered if anyone had any suggestions on places to stay or things that were big hits with your kids (mine are 10). I've researched online and also have a couple of books, but anecdotal information would be great. We will be staying with friends outside of Paris for a while, but want to take a side trip to Normandy and the surrounding area.

I'm assuming we will rent a car when we leave Paris, but if it could all be done by train that would be great, too.

Right now the Normandy part of the trip will only be about 3 days. Suggestions for bed & breakfasts or hotels/cabins/apartments accommodating a family would be appreciated.

Thank you!

[strider]

I have not been to Normandy. However, each time I have traveled to Europe I have had wonderful luck with resources recommended by Rick Steves. Check out his website/books.

[Sebastian (a lady)]

We are taking the kids with us to France in the fall, and I wondered if anyone had any suggestions on places to stay or things that were big hits with your kids (mine are 10). I've researched online and also have a couple of books, but anecdotal information would be great. We will be staying with friends outside of Paris for a while, but want to take a side trip to Normandy and the surrounding area.

I'm assuming we will rent a car when we leave Paris, but if it could all be done by train that would be great, too.

Right now the Normandy part of the trip will only be about 3 days. Suggestions for bed & breakfasts or hotels/cabins/apartments accommodating a family would be appreciated.

Thank you!

I think the hotel we used in the town with Gold Beach was Hotel Marina. This was a very nice hotel that was half pension (ie, both breakfast and dinner). While we were initially doubtful, it turned out to be a great thing because we always knew where dinner was going to be. It is really countryside in that area and there weren't always a host of other dinner options available.

We did the Normandy beaches, Utah, Omaha and Gold; Pont du Hoc; the US cemetery in Normandy; German gun emplacements and Pegasus Bridge. We hit a couple of the small museums in the little towns, including an airborne museum at St. Mere Eglise. The Transatlantic Council of Boy Scouts administers historic trails patchs for Normandy and The Battle of the Bulge (http://www.tac-bsa.org/bastogne_hist_trail.pdf) (in nearby Belgium) sites. You don't have to be a scout to earn the patch. FWIW, the Council also does a camporee every few years at Normandy. This is the link to the event info (http://tac-bsa.org/normandy/), which includes some info on bungalows and area hotels that they are recommending for during the campout. You would probably need to contact TAC for the requirements for the historic trail. I am having trouble finding the trail listed on their site (and I remember this being a problem when we went too).

I would recommend the movie The Longest Day and books by Stephen Ambrose like Pegasus Bridge, Band of Brothers or Citizen Soldiers. It made the towns we passed through more familiar names.

Other stuff we did in the area: A day trip to Mont St. Michel. This was much cooler than I thought it would be. There is/was a causeway so there was always access but there wasn't always parking. Bayeaux for both the tapestry and the cathedral. The tapestry takes quite some time. There is a gallery with a photo reproduction of the tapestry that points out a lot of the details and storyline. Then you go into a gallery with the actual tapestry. There is a movie as well as an audio guide.

Have a great time. My kids will be jealous. They loved that trip and want to go back.

[TRILLIUM]

We were in Italy with my then 10,13 and 15 yo last year and the trains were a hit with them. We all packed in backpacks so we could get from the train stations to where we stayed easily. For 5 people we found renting apartments a better deal than hotels. We just found them on the internet. Our rental places were all Italy specific. We looked for apartments with washers so we could clean clothes and pack light. Note in Europe having a washing machine does not mean you have a drier.

[Tarheel Heather]

We are taking the kids with us to France in the fall, and I wondered if anyone had any suggestions on places to stay or things that were big hits with your kids (mine are 10). I've researched online and also have a couple of books, but anecdotal information would be great. We will be staying with friends outside of Paris for a while, but want to take a side trip to Normandy and the surrounding area.

I'm assuming we will rent a car when we leave Paris, but if it could all be done by train that would be great, too.

Right now the Normandy part of the trip will only be about 3 days. Suggestions for bed & breakfasts or hotels/cabins/apartments accommodating a family would be appreciated.

Thank you!

I went to France in high school, and Normandy was very moving. Just seeing the beach and what those men had to do, unbelievable.

[Elinor Everywhere]

I have not been to Normandy. However, each time I have traveled to Europe I have had wonderful luck with resources recommended by Rick Steves. Check out his website/books.

For some reason I wasn't thinking of Rick; I'm sure he's been to Normandy and has some suggestions for me. Thanks for the reminder!

[Elinor Everywhere]

I think the hotel we used in the town with Gold Beach was Hotel Marina. This was a very nice hotel that was half pension (ie, both breakfast and dinner). While we were initially doubtful, it turned out to be a great thing because we always knew where dinner was going to be. It is really countryside in that area and there weren't always a host of other dinner options available.

We did the Normandy beaches, Utah, Omaha and Gold; Pont du Hoc; the US cemetery in Normandy; German gun emplacements and Pegasus Bridge. We hit a couple of the small museums in the little towns, including an airborne museum at St. Mere Eglise. The Transatlantic Council of Boy Scouts administers historic trails patchs for Normandy and The Battle of the Bulge (http://www.tac-bsa.org/bastogne_hist_trail.pdf) (in nearby Belgium) sites. You don't have to be a scout to earn the patch. FWIW, the Council also does a camporee every few years at Normandy. This is the link to the event info (http://tac-bsa.org/normandy/), which includes some info on bungalows and area hotels that they are recommending for during the campout. You would probably need to contact TAC for the requirements for the historic trail. I am having trouble finding the trail listed on their site (and I remember this being a problem when we went too).

I would recommend the movie The Longest Day and books by Stephen Ambrose like Pegasus Bridge, Band of Brothers or Citizen Soldiers. It made the towns we passed through more familiar names.

Other stuff we did in the area: A day trip to Mont St. Michel. This was much cooler than I thought it would be. There is/was a causeway so there was always access but there wasn't always parking. Bayeaux for both the tapestry and the cathedral. The tapestry takes quite some time. There is a gallery with a photo reproduction of the tapestry that points out a lot of the details and storyline. Then you go into a gallery with the actual tapestry. There is a movie as well as an audio guide.

Have a great time. My kids will be jealous. They loved that trip and want to go back.

Sebastian, thanks so much for your post. Very helpful! That's the kind of personal, been-there information I was hoping for. I really appreciate the hotel info and also the links.

So, would you say the Bayeaux is one full day, by the time we see both the tapestry & cathedral?

[Elinor Everywhere]

We were in Italy with my then 10,13 and 15 yo last year and the trains were a hit with them. We all packed in backpacks so we could get from the train stations to where we stayed easily. For 5 people we found renting apartments a better deal than hotels. We just found them on the internet. Our rental places were all Italy specific. We looked for apartments with washers so we could clean clothes and pack light. Note in Europe having a washing machine does not mean you have a drier.

We rented an apartment for a month in Florence and then took the train to all the places we wanted to see. What a great system! One of my favorite things about Italy was that we didn't need to spend any money on a rental car. We loved being there, and we all hope to do the trip all over again!

[Elinor Everywhere]

I went to France in high school, and Normandy was very moving. Just seeing the beach and what those men had to do, unbelievable.

I'm really looking forward to seeing it.

We just finished Year 4 (Sonlight) & so WW2 is fresh in the kids' minds. I've been to France a few times, but not with the kids & I've never been north of Paris. We're excited about it!

[HSMom2One]

It is an ancient place with an abby and a great walk up the hill from the seashore. There is a real sense of adventure since the hill is just off shore and you have to cross over and hike up to the abby. There is so much history there and plenty of inspiration. I was there without kids, but would have loved to take them there.

If you head back to Paris, another great stop is Chartres Cathedral and the surrounding village. The stained glass windows in that cathedral are the most amazing in all of France. People of all ages would love to visit Chartres.

Let us know how the trip goes!

Blessings,
Lucinda

[Lorna]

We were in Normandy in September and I have a couple of blog entries about our trip. Click on the links to see them.
We loved Mont St Michel (http://socksandbooks.blogspot.com/2008/01/hogwarts-castle.html).
Chateau Gaillard (http://les-andelys.com/chateau-gaillard/), (on another site) overlooking Les Andelys, was another hit. It is a former stronghold of Richard Couer de Lion and has a strategic view over a very snaky part of the River Seine. Bellerophon books (http://www.bellerophonbooks.com/shopsys/shopdisplayproducts.asp?id=25&cat=Medieval) do a wonderful cut out and assemble castle of Chateau Gaillard which you can make before you visit.
A bit out of your way perhaps is Chartres Cathedral (http://socksandbooks.blogspot.com/2008/02/chartres-cathedral-and-tante-leonies.html). The centre of Chartres is very pretty and the cathedral is magnificent and still a place of pilgrimage and peace.
We were camping in a little town called Villedieu (Les Poêles) which has lots of copper shops and, of course, some great bakeries.

[Elinor Everywhere]

Thanks, both of you--I really appreciate the input! I'm saving all the info and reading it as I plan.

We'll be in Paris for about 6-8 days I think, then we'll head to Normandy for a few days, and probably spend another 2-3 days in Paris. We are staying with friends who live outside Paris (on the Versailles side), and it's easy to get into the city.

Thanks again--I value hearing about it and it helps make my planning decisions easier.

[HSMom2One]

I can't encourage you enough to include a visit to the small royal cathedral called Ste. Chapelle (http://www.buildordie.com/travel/VDTA_Paris.pdf). You could easily do it along with a visit to Notre Dame Cathedral.

Ste. Chapelle is one of the lovliest little cathedrals you can imagine. It still has painted walls, which the other cathedrawals don't have anymore. Anyway, Ste. Chapelle has breathtakingly beautiful stained glass that you and your family would remember for a lifetime.

I'm glad to be of help. :)

Blessings,
Lucinda

[HSMom2One]

I can't encourage you enough to include a visit to the small royal cathedral near the palace called Ste. Chapelle (http://www.buildordie.com/travel/VDTA_Paris.pdf). You could easily do it along with a visit to Notre Dame Cathedral.

Ste. Chapelle is one of the loveliest little cathedrals you can imagine. It still has painted walls, which the other cathedrals no longer have. Anyway, Ste. Chapelle has breathtakingly beautiful stained glass that you and your family would remember for a lifetime.

I'm glad to be of help. :)

Blessings,
Lucinda

[Sebastian (a lady)]

So, would you say the Bayeaux is one full day, by the time we see both the tapestry & cathedral?

I think that we did Bayeaux as a longish half day and then drove on to Belgium. However, the tapestry museum can take a couple hours. And we had already seen several medieval churches by this part of our tour. So we probably skimped on the church. The town of Bayeaux is wonderful, with lots of old houses to gawk at. We also did not do any shopping in town. So it could be either a full day or a long half day.

I wanted to add that you probably need to have a car in Normandy. You might be able to get there from Paris on a train, but once you were there, I think you would want to have a car to get from one site to another.

If you are staying near one of the invasion beaches, then you definitely need a full day for Mont St. Michel, if only because of the distance. You will also want to budget book money for the bookstores in Mont St. Michel. Not only are the official gift shops quite good, but there are lots of little shops on the pilgrim paths. If anyone in the family is studying French, this is a good place to get children's books, especially of Bible stories. We saw, for instance, the French edition of Selena Hasting's Bible Storybook.

You might also want to look into visiting Brittany. This part of France is one of the areas where we left and I really felt that I could have stayed a couple more days. Have a great time.

[Elinor Everywhere]

I think that we did Bayeaux as a longish half day and then drove on to Belgium. However, the tapestry museum can take a couple hours. And we had already seen several medieval churches by this part of our tour. So we probably skimped on the church. The town of Bayeaux is wonderful, with lots of old houses to gawk at. We also did not do any shopping in town. So it could be either a full day or a long half day.

I wanted to add that you probably need to have a car in Normandy. You might be able to get there from Paris on a train, but once you were there, I think you would want to have a car to get from one site to another.

If you are staying near one of the invasion beaches, then you definitely need a full day for Mont St. Michel, if only because of the distance. You will also want to budget book money for the bookstores in Mont St. Michel. Not only are the official gift shops quite good, but there are lots of little shops on the pilgrim paths. If anyone in the family is studying French, this is a good place to get children's books, especially of Bible stories. We saw, for instance, the French edition of Selena Hasting's Bible Storybook.

You might also want to look into visiting Brittany. This part of France is one of the areas where we left and I really felt that I could have stayed a couple more days. Have a great time.

Thanks for more great suggestions.

We've decided to rent a car from the town we'll be staying in (outside Paris) and then we'll be free to drive wherever we like. I can relate to your skimping on time in the church--after a month in Italy I said I'd be just as happy never to see another old famous church again! :) But that was 2 years ago, so I'm ready now...

Both my dd and I are studying French, so I appreciate your tip to get books in Mont S. Michel. We will allocate more time there based on your advice.

Thanks so much!

[Elinor Everywhere]

I can't encourage you enough to include a visit to the small royal cathedral called Ste. Chapelle (http://www.buildordie.com/travel/VDTA_Paris.pdf). You could easily do it along with a visit to Notre Dame Cathedral.

Ste. Chapelle is one of the lovliest little cathedrals you can imagine. It still has painted walls, which the other cathedrawals don't have anymore. Anyway, Ste. Chapelle has breathtakingly beautiful stained glass that you and your family would remember for a lifetime.

I'm glad to be of help. :)

Blessings,
Lucinda

Now how did I miss that when my dh & I were in Paris last year? We went to Notre Dame, but didn't see Ste. Chapelle. It sounds wonderful--and we will definitely be taking the kids to Notre Dame, so we'll visit Ste. Chapelle as well.

Thanks so much!

[Lorna]

Pick up a children's magazine called 'J'aime Lire' whilst you are in France. It is nicely illustrated and there is a CD which follows the stories that comes with it.

[Sebastian (a lady)]

Now how did I miss that when my dh & I were in Paris last year? We went to Notre Dame, but didn't see Ste. Chapelle. It sounds wonderful--and we will definitely be taking the kids to Notre Dame, so we'll visit Ste. Chapelle as well.

Thanks so much!

Oh, yeah! This church is incredible. I was wandering around admiring the architecture in the bookshop and dh pointed out that we were still in the basement, not even in the church proper. It is worth getting the little book that describes all the figures in each window. It would also be a good place to have compact binoculars. The windows are very tall.

A word about getting in. When we were there in 2006, the entry to the courtyard with the church was through the same entry that served the courthouse. There was a line for court attendees and another line for church visitors. This was one of the roughest lines for people pushing that we encountered in all of Paris. Because it required entering the courthouse, everyone went through full security (metal detectors and xray for bags). The line was rather slow because they were also trying to get folks into their court appearances on time. So make sure you are there with plenty of time to spare for the line as well as visiting the church.

BTW, you might want to spend time at the WWI and WWII sections of Les Invalides and skip the WWII museum in Caen when you visit Normandy. I thought the Caen museum had an slant toward the no-war-is-good camp while Les Invalides was firmly in the celebration of the sacrifice of the French military (and others on behalf of France).

Looking at the Rick Steves site for Paris, it looks like there may now be a combo ticket for the Concierge and Ste. Chappelle. If this somehow allowed you to circumvent the line for Ste. Chappelle, it would be well worth it.

[HSMom2One]

I haven't been to Paris since 1992, so the updated info on getting in to St. Chapelle is great. I'm trying so hard not to be envious! :p

Aaaaaaaah, I can remember the aromas coming from the boulangerie, the sidewalk cafe's and bistros with to die for meals....the lingering conversations after dinner, strolls along the Champs Elysées and of course, the ART museums.

You will have such a wonderful time, Elinor.

Blessings,
Lucinda

[Elinor Everywhere]

Aaaaaaaah, I can remember the aromas coming from the boulangerie, the sidewalk cafe's and bistros with to die for meals....t

YES! Yum!! I just love the food and cafes in Paris. I can smell it and practically taste it, which is causing me to positively drool all over my laptop. I'm very excited to share France with the kids this time!

[Elinor Everywhere]

Oh, yeah! This church is incredible. I was wandering around admiring the architecture in the bookshop and dh pointed out that we were still in the basement, not even in the church proper. It is worth getting the little book that describes all the figures in each window. It would also be a good place to have compact binoculars. The windows are very tall.

A word about getting in. When we were there in 2006, the entry to the courtyard with the church was through the same entry that served the courthouse. There was a line for court attendees and another line for church visitors. This was one of the roughest lines for people pushing that we encountered in all of Paris. Because it required entering the courthouse, everyone went through full security (metal detectors and xray for bags). The line was rather slow because they were also trying to get folks into their court appearances on time. So make sure you are there with plenty of time to spare for the line as well as visiting the church.

BTW, you might want to spend time at the WWI and WWII sections of Les Invalides and skip the WWII museum in Caen when you visit Normandy. I thought the Caen museum had an slant toward the no-war-is-good camp while Les Invalides was firmly in the celebration of the sacrifice of the French military (and others on behalf of France).

Looking at the Rick Steves site for Paris, it looks like there may now be a combo ticket for the Concierge and Ste. Chappelle. If this somehow allowed you to circumvent the line for Ste. Chappelle, it would be well worth it.

I've copied this info and put it into my France folder for planning. I will definitely look into the combo ticket; it would be great to avoid the lines. Thanks very much!

[Elinor Everywhere]

Pick up a children's magazine called 'J'aime Lire' whilst you are in France. It is nicely illustrated and there is a CD which follows the stories that comes with it.

I will be on the lookout for this; my dd will love it. Our French is at the beginning stage and we can read it much better than we can speak it, but my dd is a very social creature and she can't wait to try out her French when we get there. Should be interesting!